.
.
A handbook is a compilation of an organization’s employment policies that comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Although it is not a legally required document, it is a helpful tool to assist with onboarding new employees and a useful guide for managers when situations arise.
No two handbooks we create are the same; our handbooks are fully customized based on each individual client’s culture, policies, size, location, industry, and desired handbook tone. The key topics we include in employee handbooks cover general employment matters, leaves of absence, compensation and timekeeping, benefits, and safety and health policies. Examples of specific policies that we customize for each client include the company’s mission statement and history, employment classifications, medical leave, bereavement leave, punctuality and attendance, lactation breaks and accommodation, company paid time off, remote work policy, bring your own device, and drug-free workplace policy.
In a perfect scenario, a handbook would be created when your first employee is hired, however, it is never too late to start. We help many clients create their first handbook after being in business for many years and onboarding a full team of employees.
While handbooks are not legally required, they are highly recommended to organize and present key employment-related information to employees. If a handbook is utilized, some states, including California, require certain policies to be included. For organizations with employees based out of multiple states, we suggest creating a base handbook that applies to all employees as well as addendums for each state that only include policies applicable to employees working in those states. We look at state headcount as well as total employee headcount to evaluate which laws and regulations apply to the organization.
A well-written employee handbook can provide legal protection for organizations. However, if the handbook is out of date and includes inaccurate, outdated, or missing information, it can also become a liability. We advise reviewing employee handbooks annually to capture recent legislation changes as well as possible changes to employee headcount and worksite locations.
A typical employee handbook created by our team ranges from 40 to 50 pages, however, the total length varies depending on factors including company size, location, industry, and if it incorporates additional company policies, such as travel and expense reimbursement.
Our employee handbooks are crafted by our experienced HR consultants using our policies, which have been reviewed by our employment attorney, yet customized for each client based on their needs and preferences.
Interested in learning more about our handbook services? Contact us to learn more.
