The handbook should set the dress code for the company as well as establishing guidelines for the office and field. Details should include guidelines regarding email and telephone use social media and other forms of communication.
In states where “employment at will” provisions are in place, outlining that “the employer is free to discharge individuals-for good cause, or bad cause or no cause at all - and the employee is equally free to quit, strike or otherwise cease work” should be included.Īlign Expectations: The handbook should address consistency and standards for employees. In addition, educational training on harassment-both physical and sexual-should be addressed. Included in the handbook should be a detailed code of conduct policy that sets the standard for employees. Set Team At Ease: The goal of the handbook is to set the bar for how employees should act within and on behalf of the company. Here are some of the items to address when developing a policy and procedure handbook: Remove the ambiguity from the team by aligning the policies and procedures of the company by articulating them through an organized handbook. That being said, the company should still reserve the right, at any time and in its sole discretion, to change, modify, delete or deviate from any guideline in the handbook at any time without notice.
The policy and procedure handbook helps to set the stage for both existing and new employees. They are not intended to create any contracts or binding agreements between the company and any employee or contractor but rather, serve as guiding principles of how the company philosophically operates. Policy and procedure handbooks are designed to serve as guidelines for management and to create a “set of rules” that will be applied fairly to all employees. Without structure on how employees should conduct themselves at work, though, it creates the possibility of inequality as well as abuse by employees. After all, you may only have a handful of employees it is not like you are a large company and warrant a need to issue “badges” in the form of structure. We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ badges!” – from The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.Īs a small business owner, you may wonder why one would need to get organized from a policy and procedure standpoint. By John Matthews, president of Gray Cat Enterprises.