Let’s cut to the chase: legally, there is no requirement for employers to provide their employees with an employee handbook. Many companies have successfully operated for decades without giving employees a hard copy of their expectations and requiring employees to sign it and acknowledge that they received these policies. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t serious value in an employee handbook. Before discounting an employee handbook at your business, consider these reasons why you can’t live without one.
It’s Incredibly Easy to Create
With an employee handbook, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. An employee handbook should be filled with the information that is already available in your policy and procedure manual. From uniforms to your attendance policy, an employee handbook simply takes these policies and formats them for the employee to take home and refer to when they have questions. With a little bit of time, managers can create a clear, clutter-free employee handbook for their staff.
It Provides Clear Expectations
If you have ever shown up to a cocktail party in jeans, you know how essential clear expectations are. When you don’t receive good information, you sometimes make really bad choices. Whether it’s wearing a priest costume to a masquerade party or showing up to casual Friday in your bathing suit, the best way to avoid embarrassing situations is straightforward information. Employee handbooks should address the specifics of what is expected and required of the employee during their time at work.
It Resolves Conflict
Few things are more frustrating than being held to a standard you don’t understand. Employees should be empowered to follow policy and part of that empowerment is being able to see the exact language of the company policies. An employee handbook gives staff that access and can resolve tension or misunderstanding between employees and managers. When there is a conflict over employee appearance or expectations, both sides have access to the company’s policies.
It Prevents Legal Issues
We live in a litigious society, and some employees see termination or reprimands as an opportunity to sue for a windfall. An employee handbook isn’t just a benefit to employees but also employers. Including a sheet that affirms the employee has received and signed the employee handbook provides employers with proof that employees have received company policies and have agreed to follow them.
You Can Think Outside the Book
One drawback to the employee handbook is how impractical it is in today’s world. Who carries around a small book to reference? Often, employee handbooks are tucked into drawers or lost at home and employees end up in the same position they started. Thankfully, employee handbooks have evolved with workplaces. Today, you can post your employee handbook on a cloud-based system to allow employees instantaneous access to company policies from work or from home. Rather than calling their manager on a snow day, they can access the inclement weather policy to find out how they can determine whether they should head to work or look up if they can work from home that day. Workplaces are evolving and employee handbooks can evolve with them.
Employee handbooks are simple to build, easy to distribute, and necessary for employees and employers alike. While not required, they provide many benefits for very little effort. If you aren't already issuing an employee handbook at your workplace, now might be the time to start.
