Employee handbooks play a key role in the workplace. They lay out the rules employees need to follow and are meant to make sure everyone knows what is expected, which helps your workplace run smoothly.

Before you share your handbook with employees, there’s a big question you must answer: Could your handbook create legally binding employment contracts? This is an important question with serious implications. If your handbook can be deemed a promise for employment, then you could be liable for all sorts of things that you don’t expect.

The answer to whether a handbook could be considered a contract varies depending on how the handbook is worded and the laws in the specific location. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow to avoid your risks here.

Let’s dive into these issues, with explanations and insights into why the status of employee handbooks as contracts is a significant matter for everyone in the workplace.