Employee Handbook Guidelines An introduction containing: A welcome to the employees. A statement that the handbook is not an employment contract (California does not view handbooks as employment contracts)
And if your company doesn't have a handbook, managers and employees will need to rely on the company's “institutional memory” to ensure that policies are consistently applied. Work policies and expectations also take on more importance and are more likely to be followed when you codify them in an official handbook.
A handbook is a written document that describes the policies, procedures, and overall expectations of a program or a job. It is meant to serve as a reference and answer frequently asked questions. A handbook is meant to provide the groundwork for success.
The employee handbook policy should include: Workplace policies: Descriptions of the workplace environment, including confidentiality, harassment prevention, and workplace safety. Code of conduct: Guidelines on employee behavior, including dress code, cyber security, conflict of interest, and workplace relationships.
Employee handbooks are not legally binding unless they explicitly state that they are. However, certain statements in the handbook can be interpreted as contractual promises if they are specific enough and imply mutual obligations between employer and employee.
Very few employees read the Employee Handbook they get when they start a new job, but they should. An Employee Handbook can set the expectations for the employee and also what is required by law for the employer. It often clarifies various obligations the employer has both under the law and which it agrees to take on.
Certain federal and New York State policies are required to be disclosed in an established employee handbook. Examples include, but may not be limited to, the following: New York State policies: A disclosure of the meal and rest breaks policy.
It includes discussion of at-will disclaimers, wage and hour policies, leave policies, employee benefits, employee conduct policies, and other provisions. This Checklist is designed to comply with New York law and the law in key local jurisdictions. Other local laws may impose additional or different requirements.
Forget to include any policies you are legally obligated to provide, such as FMLA. Overlook differences in federal, state and local law. Neglect to include information on leaving the company and how resignations, terminations and retirements will be handled.
In New York, the new hire paperwork collection looks similar to that of other states: I-9 employment eligibility verification form (not required for volunteers, independent contractors, or unpaid interns) W-4 federal tax collection form. IT-2104 New York state tax withholding form.