4 Best Multi-State Employee Handbook Software Platforms

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.

What is a Multi-State Employee Handbook?

A multi-state employee handbook is a comprehensive document that outlines the policies, procedures, and guidelines governing employment relationships for organizations that operate in multiple state jurisdictions. 

What sets it apart from a regular employee handbook is the need to address the unique legal requirements and regulations of the various states in which the  company has employees. It’s a resource that ensures consistency in communication, sets expectations, and provides guidance to employees in different states.

A multi-state employee handbook minimizes legal risks and helps avoid penalties by addressing each state’s labor laws, regulations, and other statutory requirements. It also helps establish uniform internal policies and procedures to create a transparent and fair work environment for employees, regardless of their geographical location.

Here are some common scenarios to help you determine if your business requires a multi- state handbook: 

• Businesses with Multiple Branches: If your company has offices, facilities, or branches spread across different states, you need a multi-state employee handbook to communicate geography-based laws and regulations.
• Remote Workforce: In the era of remote work, you may employ people  across several states. Multi-state employee handbooks become necessary to establish policies and explain employee rights based on their physical location.
• Expansion into New Markets: When expanding your business into new states and markets, a multi-state employee handbook helps you adapt your policies and procedures to comply with the specific legal requirements of those regions.

What is Multi-State Employee Handbook Software?

Multi-state employee handbook software is a specialized digital tool designed to assist organizations and HR professionals  as they create, manage, and maintain employee handbooks that communicate the legal requirements of different states. 

With this type of software, you can access customizable templates, ready-made policies, and the latest compliance information for each state. It can help alleviate the stress of ensuring legal compliance across your organization’s various locations.

Think of it as a trusty sidekick that simplifies the entire process and keeps your handbooks updated with changing regulations.

5 Benefits of Multi-State Employee Handbook Software

Multi-state employee handbook software provides benefits to businesses of all sizes. Let’s take a closer look at some of the perks:

• The software helps ensure your employee handbooks stay updated with ever-changing labor laws and regulations across multiple states, reducing the risk of non-compliance and its associated legal issues.
• Pre-built templates, customizable policies, and automated updates help streamline the handbook creation and maintenance processes, saving you valuable time and effort.
• The software helps maintain consistency in policies, procedures, and guidelines across different states, ensuring all employees are treated in accordance with the laws that apply to them.
• You can easily tailor the handbooks to meet each state’s specific needs and requirements, allowing for flexibility while still adhering to all legal obligations.
• It provides a centralized repository for storing, organizing, and accessing employee handbooks, making it easy to manage and distribute them to workers based on their location. 

How to Pick a Multi-State Employee Handbook Software Platform

Not all employee handbook software is created equal. Selecting a multi-state employee handbook software calls for several key considerations. Here are some of the criteria you need to focus on to make an informed choice:

• Features: Look for software that allows you to customize policies and templates to meet each state’s unique requirements. Make sure it provides regular updates on labor laws and regulations to keep your handbooks compliant. To efficiently manage your handbooks, check for features like version control, document storage, and search capabilities.
• User-friendly interface: Your chosen software should have an intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate.
• Accessibility: Consider whether the software is cloud-based or requires installation, and choose a solution that fits your organization’s preferences and accessibility needs.
• Customer support: Look for software providers that offer reliable customer support, including timely responses to inquiries and assistance with technical issues. Check if the software provider offers training materials, tutorials, or documentation to help you maximize the software’s potential.
• Scalability: Consider whether the software can accommodate your organization’s growth and changing needs, such as adding new states or locations.
• Pricing structure: Evaluate the pricing model to determine what makes sense for you — whether it’s a one-time payment, a subscription model, or depending upon your organization’s size and/or usage.

4 Best Multi-State Employee Handbook Software Platforms

To make your decision easy, we’ve shortlisted the three best multi-state employee handbook software platforms we’ve found.  Each of these products comes with powerful features that simplify the task of creating, distributing, and/or managing legally compliant , multi-state handbooks.

Example 1 – Blissbook

Blissbook’s multi-state employee handbook software simplifies the process of managing, and sharing employee handbooks and state-specific HR policy content. It provides customizable templates, policy libraries, compliance updates, and document management features tailored to meet the unique requirements of different states.

Pros

• User-friendly interface and intuitive customization options
• Powerful access limitation that allows you to share state-specific content only with employees in those states, all within one document
• Robust creation, distribution, and compliance features that allow you to create user-friendly employee handbooks and collect electronic acknowledgements
• Efficient document management with version control and search capabilities

Cons

• Doesn’t currently provide content to you (coming soon!)
• Doesn’t have a free version

Pricing

• 1-124 Employees: $75 per month paid yearly
• 125-249 Employees: $7.20 per employee seat per year
• 250+ Employees: Custom plan

Average customer reviews

With an aggregate score of 4.8 / 5.0 based on over 600 user ratings, Blissbook receives  consistently positive feedback from its customers.

Example 2 – Mineral 

Mineral’s Smart Employee Handbook Plus enables HR professionals to create, update, and distribute legally compliant employee handbooks. This questionnaire-based handbook builder also offers HR support, including policy management tools, compliance monitoring, and document storage features.

Pros

• If you have an existing benefits broker, this software may be free (although creating multi-state handbooks will incur additional costs)
• Helps build compliant federal and multi-state handbooks
• Allows you to generate a Spanish-language version to support your diverse workplace

Cons

• The user interface can be improved
• The resulting handbook to distribute is a plain PDF, and you’ll likely want to distribute it and collect signatures yourself
• Caters largely to white-collar workers
• If you’ve chosen a lot of content and/or state policies, the document will get very lengthy (over 100 pages)

Pricing

Custom pricing

Average customer reviews

With 187 reviews on board, Mineral has an average consumer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Example 3 – SixFifty

Together with lawyers, SixFifty built an extensive library of employment documents covering all 50 U.S. states. They offer automated updates to promote compliance with the always-changing legal landscape.

Pros

• Answer a series of questions to create a handbook that meets your organization’s needs
• Develop legally-compliant handbooks without paying high-end attorney fees
• Customize templates based on the specifics of your organization

Cons

• The output is a Word doc or PDF, meaning you still have to decide how to handle handbook distribution and all the little side jobs that come along with that (like signatures, reminders, and manager escalation)
• If you’ve chosen a lot of content and/or state policies, the document will get very lengthy (over 100 pages)

Pricing

A 2021 article priced the Employment Manual product at a starting subscription price of $2,500, with additional costs determined by company size.

Average customer reviews

SixFifty boasts a solid rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Example 4 – XpertHR

XpertHR is another online platform that offers multi-state employee handbook and HR policy content. It provides HR professionals with a range of tools and resources to navigate complex labor laws and regulations at the local, state, and federal levels. They even have international content.

Pros

• Policy statements researched and prepared by top attorneys at Littler on almost every topic imaginable
• Pre-written core resources for your employee handbook to save you valuable time
• Automatic notifications alert you on employment law developments to help you stay ahead of new requirements

Cons

• Not suitable for smaller businesses
• No free version available
• The resulting handbook to distribute is a plain PDF, and you’ll likely want to distribute it and collect signatures yourself

Pricing

Custom pricing

Average customer reviews

XpertHR has an average consumer rating of 3 out of 5 stars, though the sample size is small.

Best Multi-State Employee Handbook Software Programs – Comparison Chart

Software	Free Trial	Free to Use	Template Library	User Friendly	High Customer Rating	Suitable for All Business Types	Helps with Distribution
Blissbook	✓	X	X	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mineral	X	✓	X	X	✓	X	X
SixFifty	✓	X	✓	✓	✓	✓	X
XpertHR	✓	X	✓	✓	X	X	X

Which Multi-State Employee Handbook Software Should You Use?

Well, it depends. If you need content, start by checking out Mineral, SixFifty, or XpertHR. Once your handbook content is solidified, you’ll want to present it in the best way possible. Blissbook is the only platform that enables you to design and distribute your multi-state content in a way that doesn’t overwhelm or confuse employees. And, ultimately, what matters most is the employee experience. 

Plus, it has received glowing reviews and feedback from scores of satisfied customers. With Blissbook, you can streamline your multi-state employee handbook creation process, ensure compliance across multiple states, and maintain consistency throughout your organization.

But don’t just take our word for it! We invite you to experience the power of Blissbook firsthand by setting up a trial.

Use Blissbook to create your customized multi-state employee handbook and see how it simplifies the entire process. Ready to get started? 

Sign up to unlock the magic of effortless employee handbook management.