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 An Employee Handbook is a compact reference book for employees. It is a tool to building and preserving good employer-employee relationships. It provides information about the company and the employee's job. It details company objectives, its financial status, its community standing and the employee benefits program, and clearly articulates worker and management expectations.
If properly handled the company handbook can be an effective tool for creating company loyalty and building morale. To gain best results employees are involved in the process of creating the Handbook.
It can contain anywhere from eight to 35 pages. It must be carefully organized and thoughtfully written to convey the intended result.
It could include the following chapters.
- Greetings from Management. Since handbooks are usually given to new employees, it should contain a brief welcoming message from the CEO or Owner. It should convey the importance of people to the success of the company.
- Background. A brief history of the company and highlights of its accomplishments.
- Current Operations. General information about location of facilities, number of employees, detailing products and services, profiles of customers and names of key people (managers, executive).
- Growth Potential. Explains the general criteria by which the company rates performance, and provides information on wage policies, salary reviews and promotion policy.
- Company Rules. Provides expectations governing hours, coffee breaks, safety rules, registering complaints, absences, tardiness, smoking and other policies established within the Personnel Manual.
- Benefits Program. A full listing and detail about the benefits the company provides to employees. It also includes a list and explanation of the mandatory government benefits. This provides employees with an overall view of what they can expect under various circumstances. It also serves as a reminder that the company bears a major burden of the cost of CPP, EI, Disability Insurance and other requirements. Vacations, holidays, sick leave, bonus programs, insurance, training programs, all other elements of the benefits program should be spelled out.
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