Employee Handbook

What is an employee handbook?

An employee handbook is a critical document that outlines a company's policies, expectations, and culture while ensuring legal compliance and fostering clear communication. It serves as a foundational guide for employees, providing essential information about workplace standards, benefits, and procedures. These are often accompanied by a form which employees must sign to verify that they have read and understand the policies contained therein.

When to create an employee handbook

An employee handbook sets forth a business's rules and policies in one accessible place for both employees and management alike. Some states require the development of an employee handbook, while others do not; however, it is important to create an employee handbook to avoid confusion and set employee expectations. After a company has been registered with a state, it is crucial to build an organized and clearly-written employee handbook. 

Employee handbook guide

An employee handbook is designed to help you create comprehensive, state-specific employment policies that are customized to your company's needs. Our handbook includes legally mandated policies concerning payroll, sick leave, paid time off, overtime, benefits, breaks, and jury duty. It also covers vital company policies as well as the protection of confidential information and trade secrets. The following is a brief breakdown of the key components included in our employee handbook:

Company Information

When selecting the state of employment, remember that employment law varies drastically between states. This means that you will need to create a separate employee handbook for each state where your company has employees. The effective date will be the official date that the policies in this handbook become effective as to the employees receiving a copy and signing the acknowledgment on the last page. Usually, you are safe entering today's date for the effective date.

Company Policies

Our handbook automatically includes standardized employee policies including dress code, performance reviews, smoking policy, computer use policy, social media policy, and work from home policy. You also have the option of providing your own customized internal policies to govern employee conduct.

Payroll Information

In compliance with labor law requirements in your state of employment, our handbook allows you to make informed provisions regarding employee payroll frequency and payment methods.

Meal and Rest Breaks

An employee handbook should include information regarding the minimum amount of any meal or rest breaks required by your state. If your state requires one or both of these, your company may still allow more than the state minimum. If your state does not require these, then the form builder will give you the option of allowing these breaks.

Benefits Offered

Besides health insurance and workers' compensation insurance, most benefits are typically discretionary. Federal law requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide health insurance to full-time employees, and state law may impose requirements on smaller employers. Likewise, workers' compensation insurance is typically required for all employers under their respective state laws unless they are very small or some other special exemption applies. Be sure to check your state laws if you think you may be exempt from providing these benefits. 

Sick Leave

Several states and localities have varying sick leave requirements for private employers, depending on the employer size. Our handbook automatically captures the required sick leave provisions in every state of employment. Nevertheless, employers are free to offer sick leave in excess of the minimum amount required by law.

Family and Medical Leave Programs

Under Federal law, employers that are subject to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are required to provide unpaid leave for certain medical situations. 

If a state provides an employee with more generous benefits than the FMLA, employers are required to follow the state law. Applicable state family and medical leave requirements are automatically captured in the handbook.

Probationary Period

Our handbook gives you an option to include a probationary period in the handbook. Probationary periods can help employers evaluate the performance and suitability of new employees. They can also be used for the purpose of determining when employees may begin accruing benefits.