October 11, 2021, by HR Search & Rescue Have you ever wondered if employee handbooks are actually necessary? As it turns out, employee handbooks actually play an important role within organizations and help to maintain workplace habits and culture throughout the company. The most effective employee handbooks offer important info regarding what is expected of employees. Not only that, but it is essential for reminding employees and leadership of the vision of the company and what is expected both behavior and work ethic-wise. Now that we understand why employee handbooks are essential, let’s take a look at why every organization should seriously consider utilizing professional employee handbook services. 1. Introduce Employees To Culture, Mission, And Values As we mentioned, one of the most important aspects of an employee handbook is to familiarize the reader with who the company is and what they stand for. When this is done effectively, it can unite an organization behind a common set of goals and values. The difficult part, though, is executing this wording effectively and ensuring that you get your message across. This is where employee handbook services can come into play and help you perfectly execute your handbook to everyone across the organization. 2. Establish Employee Expectations Many common workplace disputes arise from a miscommunication between employees and leadership. This is why creating a well-written employee handbook is essential. It should establish the foundation of what is expected of employees and ensure that it is written in a way that leaves little room for error or misinterpretation. 3. Ensure Compliance With Regulations One of the main objectives of a professionally crafted employee handbook is to ensure that you are in-line with all of the necessary federal and state employment laws. Your handbook not only communicates these various entitlements and obligations to employees but is useful in demonstrating that your organization strives to be compliant with these regulations. 4. Helps Defend Against Employee Claims Employers should consider it a matter of when, and not if, they will face a lawsuit or similar challenge from a current or former employee. When this happens, one of the most useful documents you can provide your attorney or third-party investigator will be a copy of your handbook. A thorough and compliant employee handbook will help to show that the organization exercised “reasonable care” towards its employees. The employee’s signed acknowledgment page will show that the employee had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the organization’s policies, a chance to ask related questions, knew whom they could turn to for help within the organization, and agreed to follow the terms and conditions of employment set forth by the organization. A well-made employee handbook will leave no room for interpretation in this area and will make it obvious that the employer has done everything in their power to educate and be fair to employees. 5. Informs Employees Of What To Expect From Management An employee handbook provides descriptions of the objectives and leadership styles that management is expected to adhere to. This section is key because it should clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of management so that employees know where they stand. This makes sure that, in the case of employee-manager disputes, there is little gray area and that managers should understand the limits to their responsibilities in the workplace. Furthermore, a complete employee handbook advises employees of their various entitlements to federal and state leaves, such as the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or Jury Service Leave. Reach Out To HR Search And Rescue Overall, an employee handbook is a critical piece of documentation that, when completed professionally, can dramatically reduce disputes and ensure a cohesive and seamless workplace dynamic. So, make sure you focus on creating a well-thought-out and comprehensive handbook that covers all of the topics that are essential to your organization. HR Search and Rescue is a full-service HR consulting service that focuses on helping organizations solve difficult workplace challenges. Our team specializes in providing friendly and helpful services that help to maximize workplace efficiency. Contact us online to learn more about employee handbook services and to get started today.
