Making an employee handbook might not be at the top of your to-do list when starting a new business. Yet, if you intend to employ people, you are going to need one and the sooner you get it in place, the better.
Employee handbooks help you communicate important things to your workers. They give them information that can help both you and them. What’s more, by giving that information in this format, you can reduce the chance of misunderstandings.
Handbooks are efficient
Let’s say you start small with just one employee. You don’t feel you need a handbook as you can just tell them everything and they can ask if they are unsure about what you expect from them or what to do if there is a problem. As the business grows it is going to be much harder to communicate with everyone. Handbooks also reduce the chance you forgetting something, which could easily happen if you are passing information on verbally each time.
They can provide important backup
Not all employees will abide by the standards and rules you set. If you reprimand them, they may claim they did not know. If you give them a handbook that includes a page they must sign to say they have read and understood the contents, they can no longer claim this.
Employee handbooks also inform employees of their rights and can guide them on what to do if they have problems, such as if someone is harassing them at work. By pointing them in the appropriate direction you encourage them to report issues so you can deal with the matter then and there rather than it festering to the point where things have escalated and they are considering legal action.
Employee handbooks can be beneficial for employers and employees, but only if they are appropriately written. Seeking guidance to ensure yours covers the legal issues it must and does not say anything that would breach employment laws is wise.
