Does your business really need an employee handbook or human resource manual? The answer is yes. Employee handbooks are important because they list – clearly in black and white – expectations, policies, company values and other important items. They also can protect companies in situations where legal issues may arise with employees.
Creating a document of all HR policies and procedures is a useful exercise for any organization. It allows a company to establish and maintain consistent workplace practices, and have a resource document outlining topics such as schedules, benefits and responsibilities. It is a good reference for employees and management alike.
Purpose:
Employee handbooks are usually delivered to employees on their first day of employment, but may even be delivered during the hiring process. Workplace policies and expectations are clearly outlined in the document. Human resource manuals are equally valuable to employers and employees alike, because – when crafted correctly – their contents protect the rights of each.
Expectations:
Having a well-written, concise and informative human resources manual is a necessary tool for any organization. Employees truly want to understand what is expected of them. Detailed information listing benefits, responsibilities and even consequences for improper actions give employees a very clear picture of your company culture. Employee handbooks list a variety of policies and procedures – which vary depending upon your industry – and these create a sense of order, control and fairness within your organization. This documentation also ensures company compliance with employment legislation.
Legal considerations:
There are no federal or state laws that require companies to have an employee handbook, but companies are required to fully inform employees about their rights. Having a complete and thorough handbook helps with this process and can help you avoid confusion or misinformation. Many companies do not have a handbook, but display a variety of mandated workplace signage with similar, abbreviated information.
Should you write it yourself?
There are employee handbook templates available online, or your human resources staff may attempt writing a HR manual on their own, mirroring manuals available at other organizations or making their best attempt on their own. The handbook is a very important communication tool that is full of legal language, safety and security topics, expectations, agreements, notices and more. And handbooks need to be updated, edited and changed over time. So, the task is daunting to say the least.
Consider hiring an HR consulting team to help you tackle your employee handbook. Whether you’re starting from scratch or need a full document revision, HR consultants can help you outline policies and practices to create a comprehensive guidance document for your organization. Handbooks can be customized to showcase your corporate branding, values and culture. And expert HR consultants will ensure that your document complies with all local, state and federal laws.
Do you need help crafting or revising an employee handbook or HR manual for your organization? Contact the experts at Wild Coffee HR today. We love partnering with companies to help them thrive. It’s what we do.