What should you include in your employee handbook?

8 of March, 2021

An employee handbook is an important document that contains a lot of valuable information for your employees. In this article, we explain how to write an employee handbook that your workers will actually open and read. We also review all the content that you should include in your employee handbook.

What is an employee handbook?

An employee handbook is also known as a staff manual. Every business must have one and hand it out to their employees. An employee handbook contains the company’s rules and policies. In other words, it states what is expected from the employees, but also from the employer. This is why it is an absolutely essential document that should be carefully redacted. The employee handbook should also be easily available to all employees. New hires are usually handed out a copy on their first day. But it is a good idea to make it available online for everyone to consult. Sesame’s document manager allows you to keep all your documentation organised and to share it easily, including your employee handbook.

How to write an employee handbook?

If you take the trouble to write an employee handbook, you want your employees to actually read it. But they probably won’t if your handbook consists of an indigestible compilation of legal terms and policies. Of course, the employee handbook should include your company’s policies as well as legal information. But you should also enclose material such as the organisation’s history, its missions and values. Put yourself in the shoes of a new employee: you would want to know where you arrived, what the corporate culture is like, as well as when the lunch hour is. A well-redacted employee handbook can thus facilitate your onboarding plan.

Besides, the trick is to present all this information in a clear and inviting way. Use the company’s logo and colours, divide the document in short and coherent sections. That way, your employees will be way more likely to open and read, maybe not the whole thing, but at least the most important parts of the document.

What to include in an employee handbook

Your company’s history, goals and values

For a new hire, it is important to familiarise themselves with the company’s history. Indeed, they want to know how it started, what challenges it overcame to be where it is now. They are also interested in your company’s current goals, so that can understand in which direction it is going. Moreover, you should clearly state the company values as well as the concrete ways you implement them: this will help you secure employee engagement.

Employee benefits and perks

You can dedicate a section of your employee handbook to listing all your company’s benefits and perks for employees. That way, your employees will know exactly which advantages they have a right to.

Your company’s policies

The employee handbook should encompass all your company policies, stated in a detailed but easily intelligible manner. Those include:

• Anti-Discrimination policy;
• Anti-harassment policy;
• Attendance and leave of absence policy;
• Business policies and procedures;
• Compensation policy;
• Communication policies;
• Discipline policy;
• Employee benefits policy;
• General employment policies and practices;
• Health and safety policy;
• IT policy;
• Non-disclosure policy;
• Work conditions and hours;
• Work performance.

Legal information

Finally, don’t forget to mention all the mandatory legal information regarding employment.