Top Five Reasons You Need an Employee Handbook

Keep rules and regs updated and easily accessible

By Daniel Abramson, HRSource

 An employee handbook gives your employees a detailed overview of policies that are specific to your store and state, along with other key procedures and employee benefits.

In a nutshell, an employee handbook sets clear expectations for your employees while also stating your legal obligations and defining employee rights. Here’s are the five top reasons you need one:

1.   They’re available at no cost to all BrandSource members.

2.   They introduce employees to the culture, mission and values of your store. 

3.   They serve as a compass for your store’s policies and procedures and communicates to employees what is expected of them. 

4.   They ensure compliance with all federal and state laws (this is important!).

5.   Most important, having a handbook will help you defend against employee claims and lawsuits.

Unfortunately, employers should not consider it a matter of if but when they will face a lawsuit or similar legal challenge from a current or former employee. When this happens, one of the most critical documents you can provide your attorney or third-party investigator will be a copy of your employee handbook.

A thorough and compliant handbook will help to show that the company exercised “reasonable care” towards its employees. The employee’s signed acknowledgement page will also show that the employee had an opportunity to familiarize himself or herself with the organization’s policies and had a chance to ask related questions.

And once again, here’s the best part: A customized employee handbook that’s tailored to your store and your state is available at no cost to all BrandSource members.

 All you need do is fill out a simple questionnaire that asks for such basic information as your store’s size and location and your company’s vacation and uniform policies. It’ll take about 15 minutes to complete and once done, a roughly 60-page customized handbook based on your specific business will be created for you at no charge.

Once you receive and distribute it, don’t forget to regularly review and update your handbook to make sure it accurately reflects your current policies and procedures and complies with the latest federal, state and/or local legal requirements.

To get started on your handbook, scan the QR code below or visit  www.yoursourcenews.com/handbookinabox

P.S. If you’re coming to the BrandSource Convention in Nashville this month, please stop by the HRSource booth and say hello!

Daniel Abramson is managing lead of HRSource, a comprehensive collection of customized employment tools and turnkey solutions exclusive to BrandSource members. Contact Daniel at (540) 535-8484 or dabramson84@gmail.com.

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