Every company has policies and procedures, but they don’t have to be written with “you must” language. There are clever ways to talk about expectations and create a handbook employees will want to keep handy. And, we have an employee handbook template to show you how.
If you’re looking for additional insights, jump to this blog that walks through the four pitfalls to avoid when writing a handbook.
Is your employee handbook gathering dust on a shelf or saved in an abyss of old online files? It’s time to dust yours off and give it a big refresh. It can be so much more than a compliance document.
Check Out our Tips Inside this Example
Why a Refreshed Handbook?
For HR, the employee handbook is a way to let employees know about your company’s culture, policies, procedures, and perks. For employees, it’s a convenient place to find answers to questions or dilemmas, including the ones they might not want to ask a manager or co-worker.
Think bigger, though — a good handbook could also be used for recruiting and onboarding.
New employees are psyched to have landed a job. They come into the company with energy and expectations. Does your employee handbook keep the vibe alive? Or does it rip the plug out of the wall with rules, legal speak, and do’s and don’ts?
Whether it’s being sent to a new hire or refreshed for an existing employee, the employee handbook is often HR’s biggest “customer-facing” communication. It should shine as an example of the department’s friendly voice and willingness to help (and yes, also your knowledge and authority).
Our example above, shows how you can communicate your policies in a way that lets your culture show through. We’re not saying you need a fun, illustrated handbook, but you do need one that’s welcoming and readable… and doesn’t sound like a suspicious neighbor wagging a finger at you.
Related Content:
- If it’s been a while since you’ve updated your employee handbook, there’s a lot of new information to include since the events of recent years.
- If you’re not sure if your handbook needs an update, see how it stacks up against these handbook do’s and don’ts.
- Compliance documents are often chock-full of CYA language and behavior mandates… as in, don’t do these things. But we have a sample Code of Conduct that’s to the point yet casual and easy to read.
