What is an Employee Handbook?

Home » Human Resources » Employee Handbooks » What is an Employee Handbook?

Nearly all businesses—whether big or small—have some sort of employee handbook. An employee handbook is a written summary of company policies, which that company gives to its employees. Employers design handbooks to answer employees’ questions before employees ask them and to advise them on company policies that an employee might have never considered.

In general, an employer will provide a copy of its handbook to new employees—often as a part of new employee orientation. The employee handbook may be a few pages or it may be a few hundred pages, but regardless, each employee should have a copy that he can use for quick and easy reference.

Employee handbooks inform employees what the company expects of them and what they can expect of the company. Common subjects in an employee handbook include acceptable office conduct, policy on time off, and emergency or grievance procedures.

The specifics of an employee handbook, however, will differ based on the specifics of a company. A trucking company employee handbook would include information on using company vehicles while a law firm handbook may devote extensive space to confidentiality. It is important that a company designs its employee handbook with an eye towards the information that employees will actually need to know.



Next Page: Why should my company have an Employee Handbook?

Related Employee Handbooks Articles