Does Your Workplace Need an Employee Handbook?

Nothing builds ill will or decreases morale in a
workplace than treating each employee differently on the same issue.  Well, you say, each employee has a different
story as to why they need you to treat them special.  While that may be true, having the company
policy in writing will ensure you treat everyone fairly.

Employee handbooks not only help the employee better
understand the company and how they want their employees to conduct themselves
in the workplace, but they potentially could keep you, the business owner, from
an employee lawsuit in the future. 

Employee handbooks should include an introduction page
that explains the company’s history and business culture.  Other items that should be included are:  Hours – do you have full time and part
time employees?  How is overtime
calculated?  Who is entitled to
overtime?  Pay and Salaries – how
do you set pay and raises?  Do you have a
bonus program and if so, how does it work? 
Benefits – explain vacation pay, sick pay, unpaid leave,
etc.  Do you have medical and dental
benefits? Retirement benefits?  Drug
and Alcohol Abuse – Do you require drug testing?  Do you have a policy prohibiting employees
from using drugs and alcohol in the workplace? 
Do you offer help for employees with drug and alcohol related issues?  Harassment – Remind employees that any
form of harassment is illegal and you take it seriously.  Specify how and to whom employees can make
complaints, what procedures should be followed, how the complaint is
investigated, and what actions will be taken against harassers.  Attendance – Explain what happens if
there are numerous unexplained absences or repeated tardiness.  What are the normal business hours? Discipline
– What types of conduct can get employees into trouble?  What are the steps for disciplining
employees?  Employee Safety – Do
employees know they need to follow safety rules and report any unsafe
conditions?  Smoking – Do you have
a written policy for on-the-job smoking? 
Are your rules in compliance with your state law?  Complaints  – do you have a procedure in place for
employee complaints?  Who receives
complaints?  Who enforces the complaint
procedure?  Electronic Communications
– Do you have a policy on use of email? 
The internet?  Social networking
sites?  Blogs?  Workplace Civility – State how
employees are to act toward each other

This listing is in no way all inclusive; you cannot
possibly cover every possible workplace situation that could arise and you should
state this in your handbook as well. 

Writing an employee handbook can seem like a daunting
task and very time-consuming but there are easy (and free) ways to get it
written.  Many corporate benefit
companies have free online HR help that includes forms, legal guidelines,
employer mandatory posters, and generic handbook samples that you can quickly
modify with your information/logos, etc for a simple and easy employee
handbook! 

The chamber has several members who offer corporate
benefits (look in our Small Business Toolkit at http://www.rogerslowell.com/live_and_work/small_business_toolkit.aspx)
and would be a great place to start your search for getting help in creating
your employee handbook.  You and your
employees will feel better knowing what the written rules are in the
workplace.