Maybe you started your small business alone or with just a partner or two. As you expanded, you hired a few employees. When your company begins to grow, having an employee handbook in place can resolve potential disputes.
These are the three key reasons that small business owners should create an employee handbook.
Get on the same page
Having a handbook helps ensure that the workers you hire are on the same page with your company’s mission, vision and core values. Without these items in alignment, an employee may struggle to fit in at your business or achieve the objectives of his or her role. A well-written employee handbook provides an opportunity to create a cohesive organizational culture. This is especially important for new hires who may feel out of their element in the first few weeks.
Provide mandated information
Employers have a legal obligation to give employees information about federal and state laws that affect their rights. Your employee handbook can offer a reference about these regulations, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, COBRA, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and federal and state anti-discrimination laws.
Establish policies in writing
You can avoid potential disputes with your workers by having clear obligations, expectations and responsibilities spelled out in your employee handbook. For example, you can create rules about social media usage at work, detail timekeeping procedures and establish a system to report grievances. The handbook serves as an immediate reference for your workers.
After your company creates an employee handbook, this document should undergo a legal review. This process ensures that the policies and procedures therein comply with all applicable regulations.
