By: Janine Springer, IOM
\nChief Financial Officer
\nRogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce<\/p>\n
Do you and your
\nemployees a favor \u2013 create an Employee Handbook<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n
\nworkplace than treating each employee differently on the same issue. Well, you say, each employee has a different
\nstory as to why they need you to treat them special. While that may be true, having the company
\npolicy in writing will ensure you treat everyone fairly.<\/div>\n
\nunderstand the company and how they want their employees to conduct themselves
\nin the workplace, but they potentially could keep you, the business owner, from
\nan employee lawsuit in the future. <\/div>\n
\nthat explains the company\u2019s history and business culture. Other items that should be included are: Hours<\/u> \u2013 do you have full time and part
\ntime employees? How is overtime
\ncalculated? Who is entitled to
\novertime? Pay and Salaries<\/u> \u2013 how
\ndo you set pay and raises? Do you have a
\nbonus program and if so, how does it work?
\nBenefits <\/u>\u2013 explain vacation pay, sick pay, unpaid leave,
\netc. Do you have medical and dental
\nbenefits? Retirement benefits? Drug
\nand Alcohol Abuse<\/u> \u2013 Do you require drug testing? Do you have a policy prohibiting employees
\nfrom using drugs and alcohol in the workplace?
\nDo you offer help for employees with drug and alcohol related issues? Harassment<\/u> \u2013 Remind employees that any
\nform of harassment is illegal and you take it seriously. Specify how and to whom employees can make
\ncomplaints, what procedures should be followed, how the complaint is
\ninvestigated, and what actions will be taken against harassers. Attendance<\/u> \u2013 Explain what happens if
\nthere are numerous unexplained absences or repeated tardiness. What are the normal business hours? Discipline<\/u>
\n\u2013 What types of conduct can get employees into trouble? What are the steps for disciplining
\nemployees? Employee Safety<\/u> \u2013 Do
\nemployees know they need to follow safety rules and report any unsafe
\nconditions? Smoking<\/u> \u2013 Do you have
\na written policy for on-the-job smoking?
\nAre your rules in compliance with your state law? Complaints <\/u> – do you have a procedure in place for
\nemployee complaints? Who receives
\ncomplaints? Who enforces the complaint
\nprocedure? Electronic Communications<\/u>
\n\u2013 Do you have a policy on use of email?
\nThe internet? Social networking
\nsites? Blogs? Workplace Civility<\/u> \u2013 State how
\nemployees are to act toward each other <\/div>\n
\npossibly cover every possible workplace situation that could arise and you should
\nstate this in your handbook as well. <\/div>\n
\ntask and very time-consuming but there are easy (and free) ways to get it
\nwritten. Many corporate benefit
\ncompanies have free online HR help that includes forms, legal guidelines,
\nemployer mandatory posters, and generic handbook samples that you can quickly
\nmodify with your information\/logos, etc for a simple and easy employee
\nhandbook! <\/div>\n