By The Book - Does Your Business Need An Employee Handbook?

Originally published in TACTICS, May 2012

Does your business need an employee handbook? For all but the smallest employers, the simple answer is "yes."

Employee handbooks provide consistent information to employees, address frequently asked questions, set the workplace tone and help defend or prevent litigation.

Crafting a thoughtful handbook can save employers a great deal of time, trouble and expense down the line. It also forces an employer to clarify its policies and provides concrete expectations and procedures for which the employer can hold employees accountable.

Some helpful items to include are:

A disclaimer clearly stating that the handbook is not an employment contract and that the employer reserves the right to change it at any time An acknowledgment for the employee to sign and date (you should keep a signed copy in the employee's personnel file) Instructions on who to contact and how to do so if an issue arises on the job Paid and unpaid employee leave policies, addressing common reasons (maternity, parental, illness, injury, military) Information regarding how an employee can initiate a request for a workplace accommodation (employers are expected to recognize accommodation requests for religious beliefs and disabilities) An explanation of disciplinary policies, harassment reporting procedures, behavioral expectations, benefits summaries and corporate missions, goals and values There are also three emerging issues to consider whether you are preparing your first or your 50th employee handbook. These are:

  1. Gender identity: Review personal appearance, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies to be certain that they comply with new protections for gender identity. In many states, courts have recently recognized that discrimination against an employee for being transgender is a form of...

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