Employee Handbook

Many organizations don't have employee handbooks. You aren't alone in that regard. Creating an employee handbook is challenging but valuable. It gives staff essential information. A well-designed handbook also helps foster a positive workplace culture. Another challenge is getting staff members to read the manual.

Some employers wait to consider having an employee handbook until they absolutely must. This is particularly true for small organizations, which frequently conduct administrative tasks on a need-basis.

But confusion, anarchy, and poor communication can result from this quickly. Therefore, the creation of an employee handbook ought to be required. The first step is to acknowledge the employee handbook's importance to the organization's performance. Examining employee handbook meaning created by other companies is also beneficial.

What Is Employee Handbook?

Employees can use a business handbook, also called an employee handbook, as a resource to familiarize themselves with all the information necessary to succeed and maintain their safety at work.

For example, it offers direction and details regarding a company's:

• Goals, objectives, and principles
• Guidelines and protocols
• Code of conduct in the workplace

It also assists in safeguarding employers from allegations of discrimination or unfair treatment by the efficient dissemination of these rules.

What Do The Best Employee Handbooks Typically Include?

Every business is unique. Your corporate values and objectives, as well as other distinctive aspects of your organization and workplace, should all be covered in your employee handbook.

However, the best employee handbooks typically contain the following details:

• The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) statement; a welcome letter and introduction to the company that covers its history, mission, values, and culture; workplace policies and procedures.
• Rights of employees under applicable employment laws, including those pertaining to pay and benefits, workplace safety, and employee benefits
• Code of behavior pertaining to the employment relationship between the employer and employee, including dress code, alcohol and drug policy, ethics policy, and conflict of interest
• Disciplinary measures, encompassing the categories of employee conduct that may lead to employee discipline
• Recognition of receipt. Employees are required to sign this statement attesting to having received and read the handbook.

The Employee Handbook Examples

• Nordstrom. Although their one basic rule method doesn't cover all the bases, it effectively conveys the concept of simplicity to many firms. Start with a single, basic rule, and you may easily add more later. A Nordstrom representative told Business Insider, 'Our employee handbook is a single card that says 'Use good judgment in all situations.''
• Valve. It's possible that someone brought up Valve's employee handbook if you've been asking around about them. Its flawless execution, which touched on everything from company philosophy to guiding new hires through their first day of work, caused it to go viral a while back.
• HubSpot. This manual is included on the list because it does so much with a conventional PowerPoint style. HubSpot shares it on SlideShare to show its dedication to openness.

What Advantages Do Employee Handbooks Offer?

Your company's handbook should clearly explain employer expectations and employee entitlements. The handbook is often given on the first day of work or even earlier. It helps new hires understand your company's policies and prepares them for their roles. After onboarding, it can also be a useful tool because staff members can review their benefits information or ask questions by consulting your organization's regulations.