An employee handbook is a detailed document that lists down all policies and guidelines that are specific and unique to your organization. The handbook sets clear expectations for employees in your organization and meets all the legal obligations required from your side, along with defining employee rights.
The employee handbook is your go-to document in the case of an employee claim or lawsuit related to harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination or workplace injury. The handbook should cover all crucial topics to ensure that new and old hires are all aware of the policies and guidelines you have.
As a small business owner, you might not be in favor of having an employee handbook, but the moment you hire your first employee, it is absolutely necessary for you to get a handbook.
In this article we mention some of the reasons you need a dedicated employee handbook for your organization. Go through these reasons and decide what is best for your organization.
Introduces Employees to Culture, Values and Mission
An employee handbook does a decent job at introducing all your employees to the culture, values and mission inside your workplace. You want your staff members to be aware of your cultures and values, so that they can easily integrate within the setup you have created. Additionally, the handbook should also make it easy for employees to track the organizational mission and identify the role they play in it.
Communicate Desired Employee Behavior
The new employees you hire come from all sorts of different backgrounds and jobs. The best you can do is to ensure that they easily conflate within your rules and culture. Now, you can’t expect individuals to immediately start behaving the way that you want them to, without clearly mentioning what you require.
An employee handbook comes in handy here, as it can help mention in detail the kind of clothing, behavior and other aspects you expect from your employees. It also helps tell employees just how they should behave during working hours and what your policies regarding leaves and absences are.
Ensures Compliance With Federal and State Laws
Regardless of the state you do business in; you would want your employee handbook to have guidelines and policies in compliance with federal and state laws. Your handbook is also the legal protection you have when it comes to cases and claims against you. Employees can take to the court of law when it comes to harassment, unlawful termination, discrimination or other injustices. Your handbook will come in handy during such proceedings to safeguard your interests.
We at JS Benefits Group have worked with numerous clients to discuss the reasons you should have a dedicated employee handbook in your workplace. You can get in touch with JS Benefits Group immediately to discuss and devise a policy.
