Key Items To Include In Your Employee Handbook

by | Oct 8, 2010 | Human Resources

Is your current employee handbook adequately protecting you and your company?

An employee handbook is the main source for setting expectations for both the employee and employer.  It should describe the employer’s legal obligations as well as the employee’s rights.

Your handbook should be reviewed annually in order to capture the recent federal, state and local laws.  Furthermore, all employees need to sign an acknowledgment of accepting and understanding the employee handbook policies and procedures.

Your employee handbooks should include the following:

  • Non-disclosure agreements
  • At-will statement
  • Conflict of Interest statements
  • Confidentiality/Proprietary Information
  • Employment Definitions
  • Discrimination/Sexual Harassment policies
  • Employee complaint process and procedures
  • Safety policies and procedures
  • Compensation policies
  • Work Schedule and Time Off policies
  • Drugs and Alcohol Abuse policies including testing
  • Smoking/Tobacco Use
  • Cell/IPOD/MP3 Use
  • Employee pay and benefits
  • Organizational leave policies
  • Employee Conduct and Work Rule policies
  • Employee discipline program
  • Employee performance reviews
  • Attendance/Appearance policies
  • Record keeping practices
  • Solicitation/Outside Employment
  • Firearms/Security Camera Policies/Security Inspections & Privacy
  • Company Training programs
  • Company Expenses/Company Travel
  • Technology and Internet Policies
  • Employee Acknowledgment of Understanding Handbook Policies








If you are like many business owners your employee handbook may be out of date or you may not have one.

Our firm can develop a custom employee handbook for you that includes all of the above, plus the required legal compliance, starting at only $550.

Reference:  HR Advisor, August 2010; SHRM HR Essentials of HR Management