Large corporations use employee manuals to both educate employees about policies and protect themselves legally. Whether or not you need an employee manual is your decision, though it can be a great tool for keeping your policies consistent.
Make sure you have your employee manual reviewed by a lawyer to make sure it is compliant with local and federal laws. Some employers also require employees to sign a document stating that they have read and understand the policies in the guide.
The following is a sample outline that you can use as a guideline for your manual:
1.Welcome & Introduction
2.Purpose of Handbook
3.Company Mission Statement
4.Company History
5.Employee Responsibilities & Code of Conduct
6.Discipline Procedures
7.Attendance and Punctuality
8.Time Cards
9.Work Hours, Breaks & Lunch Breaks
10.Overtime Policy
11.Payday
12.Payroll Deductions
13.Performance Reviews and Wage Increases
14.Promotions
15.Resignation and Termination
16.Telephone Usage
17.Benefits Overview
a.Medical
b.Dental
c.Vision
d.Employee Assistance Program
e.Vacation
f.Sick Time
g.Tuition Reimbursement
h.Life Insurance
i.Disability Benefits
j.Employee Discount
k.Employee Referral Bonus
l.Years of Service Awards
18.Leave of Absence
a.Sick
b.Family Leave
c.Funeral
d.Disability
e.Jury Duty
f.Military
g.Maternity
h.Unpaid Leave
19.Emergency Procedures
20.Summary and Acknowledgement
Keep your employee manual current by reviewing the contents and updating it often. You may want to provide each employee with a copy as part of your hiring process. You can protect your business as well as your employees by outlining clear policies and addressing questions early.
Stephanie Chandler is the author of "The Business Startup Checklist and Planning Guide: Seize Your Entrepreneurial Dreams!" and the founder of http://www.BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of free resources for entrepreneurs. Sign up for the BusinessInfoGuide newsletter to receive hot resources and tips every month.
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
If I had $1... Read More
You've heard marketing and advertising gurus quip, "Sell the sizzle, not the steak... Read More
Contrary to popular belief, small businesses can survive a crazy economy by taking some proactive steps... Read More
Buyers want both online and local information about where to buy Most small businesses are local in nature, serving people who live nearby... Read More
Search Engines account for almost 90% of all web traffic!In the Offline world its all about "location, location, location... Read More
When you feel like you're always busy working on your business, but not getting where you want to go, it can be frustrating trying to figure out how to get your marketing on track... Read More
In the book Women and Small Business author gives all the guidelines and tools need to start, operate and succeed in a business of their own... Read More