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April 29, 2020

Best Practices for Employee Handbooks: A checklist for HR professionals

By Michelle W. Johnson, Amy B. Cheng

HR Legal & Compliance

Many companies have an employee handbook, but most handbooks have room for improvement. There is no one-size-fits-all formula. There are, however, a number of best practices that can help employers of all sizes maximize the positive impact of this often-overlooked human resources tool and ensure compliance with federal and state laws. A well-written handbook helps make clear the company’s expectations, which in turn helps prevent employee misunderstandings and complaints.

Employee Handbook Must-Haves
No two handbooks are the same, just as no two companies are the same. The contents of an employee handbook will be driven by a variety of factors such as the size of the business, the type of business (e.g. manufacturing, sales, professional services, etc.), the states where the company has employees and the corporate culture. Regardless, there are certain provisions that should be part of every employee handbook.

Reprinted with permission.