How to Build a Bulletproof Employee Handbook
1. WHY IT MATTERS –
Clear, written employment policies are essential for setting employee expectations and ensuring consistent workplace standards. They help protect employers against legal claims, reduce the risk of accidental law violations through proper training, and promote fair treatment by guiding managers in handling issues consistently. Additionally, well-crafted policies reflect professionalism and give employees a sense of security and clarity.
2. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY –
Clear, written employment policies are essential for setting employee expectations and ensuring consistent workplace standards. They help protect employers against legal claims, reduce the risk of accidental law violations through proper training, and promote fair treatment by guiding managers in handling issues consistently. Additionally, well-crafted policies reflect professionalism and give employees a sense of security and clarity.
3. DISCIPLINE & GRIEVANCE PROCESS –
Having a written procedure promotes fairness, consistence, and are a key part of avoiding or defending legal claims of unfair treatment. It is important for employees to understand what constitutes misconduct or a violation of policy and the consequences of misconduct. These procedures will also provide guidance to supervisors and managers initiating discipline against an employee.
4. LEAVE POLICY –
Similar to discipline procedures, having a clear leave policy tells employees the kinds of leave that are available to them, how much they can take each year, how to request it, and what they will need to provide to their supervisor in order to take the leave (ex. doctor’s note, written notice in advance to supervisor, etc.). These policies also ensure legal compliance with laws that require certain types of leave (ex. FMLA, military leave, etc.). Lastly, leave policies help managers plan for coverage and business continuity when employees are on leave.
Originally posted on Bridget’s LinkedIn