An employee handbook should do more than gather dust on a shelf. So, what does it take to create an effective employee handbook that strikes the balance between workplace policies and the nuances of your company culture?
In this article, we’ll walk you through seven guidelines to keep in mind as you craft or refine your employee handbook. We’ll even provide actionable tips and share best practices to inspire you along the way.
By the end of this read, you’ll be well equipped to create an employee handbook that protects your company while building a productive and inclusive work environment.
An employee handbook serves many purposes — it’s a tour guide, a rule referee, and a cultural compass all in one. When done correctly, an employee handbook is a living, breathing document that cultivates understanding, facilitates communication, and creates a shared sense of purpose among your diverse team.
But that’s just the beginning.
Let’s explore the benefits of employee handbooks and the ways they supercharge engagement, communicate policies and procedures, and set your organization up for success.
Are you creating your first handbook or overhauling an outdated handbook? No matter where you are on this journey, it’s important you understand the employee handbook basics.
When done effectively, an employee handbook is one of the most valuable items in your HR toolkit. It’s more than a mere list of dos and don’ts; it’s a comprehensive guide that can set your organization up for success.
We’ll explain why you need an employee handbook, how to structure your handbook, and ways to implement your handbook. Let’s get started!
This article will provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to develop a multi-state employee handbook easily and confidently. We’ve done our research and handpicked the three best multi-state employee handbook software solutions.
Creating an employee handbook can be daunting for even the most experienced HR professional — and that’s when you’re contending with just one handbook. The job becomes even more complicated if you operate in multiple states and jurisdictions, each with its own set of laws and regulations.
Let’s explore the best multi-state employee handbook software and what each one offers.
“Employee handbook” and “policy manual” might sound like interchangeable terms, but they’re two separate items, each with their own distinct purpose.
By understanding the differences between an employee handbook and a policy manual, your company can ensure the right people have access to the appropriate level of information. Properly documented and communicated policies can also help you minimize liability risks in the workplace.
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about employee handbooks and policy manuals, including their purpose, contents, and requirements.
We’ll also highlight the main differences between the two documents.
Let’s take a closer look at how to distinguish between employee handbooks and policy manuals.
A signature page gives an employee handbook its power, so it should be a priority when developing your handbook content. Though it can be easy to get caught up in the ins and outs of the policies themselves, your signature or acknowledgement page is what makes things official. By signing, employees affirm that they’ve read the expectations detailed on the acknowledgement page.
In this article, we’ll explore signature pages from all angles, including what they are, best practices (with examples), and how to create and design an effective signature page for your employee handbook.
As a business owner or HR professional, you have many priorities, like hiring, training, and ensuring operations run smoothly. Your employee handbook can help you perform these tasks by giving employees easy access to the necessary information.
Employee handbooks give all employees clear guidance on your company’s policies, procedures, and expectations. Better yet, an effective employee handbook benefits people at all levels of your organization — from new hires on day one to managers celebrating ten years at the company.
In this article, we’ll explain what an employee handbook is, why it’s important to have one, and what it should include.
We’ll also discuss when to create your employee handbook and provide guidelines to help you get started.
Lastly, we’ll go over the various platforms you can use to create your employee handbook, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs, knowledge management platforms, or specialized employee handbook software like Blissbook.
When creating your employee handbook, we know your top priority is to communicate your organization’s policies and procedures. Nobody’s trying to swindle you or lead you to believe otherwise. That said, some handbooks make employees feel like another number (read: a number that can be fired for many reasons). Other handbooks inspire employees to feel like part of a team that happens to have rules to enable everyone to work together successfully.
We prefer the latter.
Here are three ideas to make your employee handbook less of a snoozefest.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, the media has had plenty to talk about. States have quickly worked to pass laws, and organizers have been busy with demonstrations. Let’s not forget all of the in-depth analysis of the decision’s impact on upcoming elections. And, as expected, companies are issuing statements about how they’ll support employees in light of this long-standing change for women’s reproductive rights.
As the nation processes the implications of the decision, there’s a lot for HR professionals to navigate. In the simplest terms, we’ll tell you this: it’s complicated. Thankfully, we had a helpful discussion with attorney Amanda Farahany, a Managing Partner at Barrett & Farahany, who provided insight on some key workplace issues to consider.
The words “code of conduct” may make you think you’re already in trouble. However, a company’s code of conduct is ultimately just a policy that details responsibilities, social norms, and other rules employees should follow in their interactions with others and toward the organization as a whole. Simply put, it lets employees know what you expect from them, which should help create a more harmonious workplace.
A code of conduct is not only beneficial in terms of managing employee behavior, but it can also help establish your company’s culture and core values. Let’s get to it.
