If you run a business, then you are going to have to update your employee handbook at one time or another. Laws and regulations change, and the rules you want in your workplace may change as well.
If you have not updated your employee handbook in a while, then it is a good time to go back and review it.
What is the purpose of an employee handbook?
Your employee handbook has several important purposes. These include:
- Setting expectations for any new employees
- Organizing company policies in an easy-to-read manner
- Making training easier
- Making enforcement easier
- Simplifying the onboarding process
- Protecting your company from compliance violations
The employee handbook is a go-to authority for all of the policies in your workplace. It expresses all of the formal policies that you have. Sometimes, employee handbooks do have to be updated to include new policies, such as changes to paid time off or new policies about drug use or ethics.
Oftentimes, updates come with changes in law. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep your attorney informed and up-to-date on your current employee handbook. They will be able to tell you if there are any major changes in law that should be addressed in your next manual.
You should think of an employee handbook as a living document. It will change and fluctuate over time. Each time you have a new handbook, you should let your employees review it and have them sign that they have read it. This will help protect you in case they claim that there were changes they didn’t know about.
