Once the employer has updated the policies and formalized the common practices, legal counsel should review them, and HR should use these final policies for developing the employee handbook. Employers should also consider the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rulings and guidance pertaining to employee handbooks.
Building or updating an employee handbook and ensuring it complies with all federal and state policies can take as long as 8 weeks without the right tools.
Certain policies are mandatory and must be included in your employee handbook. For example, California employers must have a written harassment, discrimination and retaliation prevention policy. Including these policies clarifies for employees their rights and obligations, and protects you from potential liability.
What should not be included in an employee handbook? Legalese. Company procedures, work processes, and job descriptions should not be included so that you will not need to update the entire handbook each time one of these changes. Health and welfare benefits details.
It has been worth it for me! I was entry level when I took it and it helped me get into that mid level and now managing HR. I'd say it gave me an extra 3 years of experience worth of credibility. Overall, I think it's just a signal that you are genuinely interested in the field and know your stuff.
What Goes Into an Employee Handbook? Company Values and Mission Statement. General Employment Information. Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Laws. Standards of Conduct. Employee Benefits. Confidentiality / Non-Disclosure Agreement / Conflict of Interest. Disciplinary Policies. Disclaimer.
How to write an employee handbook Include your company's mission statement. Write a brief section on company history. State any legal declarations. Explain your dress code. Include details about work hours. Define duties. Include department-specific policies. Describe company benefits.
While the law in California does not require businesses to create or distribute employee handbooks, the law does require every business to memorialize certain workplace policies in writing.
What should a small business employee handbook include? Company values and goals. Basic employment information. Code of conduct. Employee benefits. Anti-discrimination and anti-harassment rules. Discipline and accountability. Disclaimer.