How to Develop an Employee Handbook

How To Develop An Employee Handbook......Page 2
CONTENTS......Page 4
PREFACE......Page 9
SECTION 1 DEVELOPING AN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK: OBJECTIVES AND CONCERNS......Page 12
a Advantages of an Employee Handbook to the Employer......Page 13
b Advantages of an Employee Handbook to Supervisors......Page 16
c Advantages of an Employee Handbook to Employees......Page 18
d Advantages of an Employee Handbook to Union-Represented Employees......Page 19
a Employee Handbooks vs. Personnel Policy and Procedures Manuals......Page 20
b Developing Both an Employee Handbook and a Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual......Page 21
d Management's Right to Revise and Update Policies and Procedures......Page 22
f Company Conditions Necessitating Revision of Employee Handbooks......Page 23
g Revising an Employee Handbook May Not Solve Language Problems......Page 25
h Do You Need More Than One Employee Handbook?......Page 27
SECTION 2 DEVELOPING AN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK: RESPONSIBILITIES FOR DRAFTING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING......Page 29
2.01 Assigning Responsibilities for the Initial Draft or Revision......Page 30
2.02 Primary Responsibilities of the Employee Handbook Committee......Page 31
2.03 Supervisory Involvement in Developing an Effective Employee Handbook......Page 32
2.04 Distributing an Employee Handbook Development Checklist to the Management- Supervisory Team......Page 34
2.05 Using Employee Suggestions in the New or Revised Employee Handbook......Page 35
2.06 Sources of Important Personnel Policy/Employee Benefit/Employment Data......Page 36
2.07 What Should and Should Not Be Covered in an Employee Handbook......Page 37
a What Should Be Excluded From Employee Handbooks?......Page 38
b Remember Your Audience When Drafting the Handbook......Page 39
2.08 The Organization and Format of Your Employee Handbook......Page 41
2.09 Writing a Draft of the Employee Handbook......Page 42
a Get the First Draft Proofed and Reviewed......Page 43
2.10 Publishing the Employee Handbook......Page 44
a Getting Ready for Your Next Handbook Revision......Page 45
2.12 Preparing for Final Production of the Employee Handbook......Page 46
2.14 Appendix......Page 47
Exhibit 2-A1. Sample Letter to Employees with Handbook Questionnaire                                .........Page 48
Exhibit 2-A2. Employee Handbook Questionnaire                                                       .........Page 49
Exhibit 2-A3. Sample Table of Contents......Page 50
Exhibit 2-A4. Sample Index......Page 52
3.01 Schedule a Management Meeting Prior to Distribution......Page 54
3.02 Schedule Employee Group Meetings for Distribution......Page 55
3.04 Send a Follow-Up Letter to Employees......Page 57
Exhibit 3-A1.  Sample Disclaimer and Acknowledgment Page                                            .........Page 58
Exhibit 3-A3.  Employee Handbook Receipt and Acknowledgment                                         .........Page 59
Exhibit 3-A4.  Acknowledgment and Receipt of Employee Handbook                                      .........Page 60
Exhibit 3-A5.  Receipt for Employee Handbook                                                        .........Page 61
Exhibit 3-A6. Letter to Employee After Receipt of Employee Handbook                                 .........Page 62
4.01 State and Local Employment Laws......Page 63
a Family, Medical, Pregnancy (Disability), Maternity, Parental, and Adoption Leaves......Page 64
SECTION 5 DRAFTING AND EDITING EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK POLICIES......Page 66
5.01 The Employee Handbook Development Checklist......Page 69
a Employee Introductory Material Checklist......Page 87
Sample Policy 2......Page 88
Sample Policy 4......Page 89
Sample Policy 5......Page 90
Sample Policy 3......Page 91
Sample Policy 1......Page 92
Sample Policy 2......Page 93
Sample Policy 2......Page 94
The Ten Commandments of Good Business: Our Business Is People......Page 95
The Training Scene Today......Page 96
Who Needs Training?......Page 97
What Kind of Training?......Page 98
b Observations and Recommendations: Organizational and Personal Relationships......Page 99
c Employee Orientation and Training Checklist......Page 100
Sample Policy 1......Page 102
Sample Policy 4......Page 103
Sample Policy 1......Page 104
Sample Policy 4......Page 105
Sample Policy 1......Page 106
Sample Policy 2......Page 107
Sample Policy 3......Page 108
Sample Policy 2......Page 109
Sample Policy 5......Page 110
Sample Policy 2......Page 111
Sample Policy 2......Page 112
Sample Policy 1......Page 113
Sample Policy 2......Page 114
Sample Policy 4......Page 115
Sample Policy 7......Page 117
Employee Social Relationships......Page 118
Sample Policy 1......Page 119
Sample Policy 3......Page 120
Sample Policy 3......Page 121
Sample Policy 1......Page 122
Sample Policy 3......Page 124
Sample Policy 1......Page 125
a Observations and Recommendations: How to Pay Your Employees Fairly......Page 126
Employer Advantages of Communicating the Basics of Wage and Salary Program in Employee Handbooks......Page 127
What to Cover in Your Employee Handbook Policy Statements on Wage or Salary Administration......Page 128
What to Exclude From Employee Handbooks Concerning Your Wage and Salary Program......Page 129
Communicate Your Employee Performance Review Policy......Page 130
b Employee Compensation—Wage and Salary Administration Checklist......Page 131
Sample Policy 1......Page 132
Sample Policy 4......Page 133
Sample Policy 3......Page 134
Sample Policy 4......Page 135
Sample Policy 4......Page 136
Sample Policy 2......Page 137
Sample Policy 5......Page 138
Sample Policy 6......Page 139
Sample Policy 1......Page 140
Sample Policy 2......Page 141
Sample Policy 3......Page 142
Sample Policy 5......Page 143
Company Property Escrow Account......Page 144
a Americans With Disabilities Act Checklist......Page 145
Sample Policy 2......Page 146
Job Accommodations......Page 147
Sample Policy 1......Page 148
Employees With Diseases......Page 149
Sample Policy 1......Page 150
a Observations and Recommendations: Importance of an Effective Attendance Improvement Program......Page 151
On Incidental Absence Cases......Page 155
On Disability Absence Cases......Page 156
b Observations and Recommendations: Family and Medical Leave Act......Page 160
c Observations and Recommendations: Job Rights for Members of the Uniformed Services of the United S.........Page 162
d Employee Attendance, Absenteeism, and Leaves of Absence Checklist......Page 165
Sample Policy 3......Page 167
Sample Policy 4......Page 168
Sample Policy 6......Page 169
Sample Policy 7......Page 170
Sample Policy 8......Page 172
Sample Policy 9......Page 173
Sample Policy 1......Page 174
Sample Policy 1......Page 175
Sample Policy 3......Page 176
Sample Policy 2......Page 177
Sample Policy 1......Page 178
Sample Policy 1......Page 180
Sample Policy 2......Page 181
Sample Policy 3......Page 183
Sample Policy 1......Page 184
Sample Policy 2......Page 185
Sample Policy 4......Page 186
Sample Policy 3......Page 187
Sample Policy 5......Page 188
a Observations and Recommendations: Health Care Benefits—How to "Manage" a Benefits Crisis......Page 189
b Employee Benefits Administration Checklist......Page 196
Sample Policy 1......Page 201
Sample Policy 2......Page 202
Sample Policy 3......Page 203
Sample Policy 5......Page 204
Sample Policy 6......Page 205
Sample Policy 8......Page 207
Sample Policy 1......Page 208
Sample Policy 4......Page 209
Sample Policy 6......Page 210
Sample Policy 1......Page 211
Sample Policy 4......Page 212
Sample Policy 6......Page 213
Sample Policy 8......Page 214
Sample Policy 3......Page 216
Sample Policy 5......Page 217
Sample Policy 1......Page 218
Sample Policy 2......Page 219
Sample Policy 2......Page 220
Sample Policy 2......Page 221
Sample Policy 1......Page 222
Sample Policy 1......Page 223
Sample Policy 3......Page 224
Sample Policy 1......Page 225
Sample Policy 4......Page 226
Sample Policy 1......Page 227
Sample Policy 2......Page 228
Sample Policy 1......Page 229
Sample Policy 2......Page 230
Sample Policy 3......Page 231
Sample Policy 2......Page 232
Sample Policy 4......Page 233
Sample Policy 5......Page 234
a Employee Seniority, Promotions, Transfers, and Layoffs Checklist......Page 235
Sample Policy 2......Page 237
Sample Policy 3......Page 238
Sample Policy 4......Page 239
Sample Policy......Page 240
Sample Policy 1......Page 241
Sample Policy 3......Page 242
Sample Policy 5......Page 243
Sample Policy 3......Page 244
a Observations and Recommendations: A Positive Approach to Employee Discipline......Page 245
Guidelines for Effective Employee Discipline......Page 247
A Word About Progressive Discipline and Discharges......Page 248
How to Conduct a Disciplinary Interview......Page 249
How to Prepare Written Warnings and Corrections......Page 250
Minimizing Wrongful Discharge Under "Employment-at-Will" Challenges......Page 251
Termination-for-Cause Checklist......Page 252
b Employee Conduct, Corrective Discipline, and Termination Checklist......Page 253
Sample Policy 2......Page 259
Sample Policy 3......Page 261
Sample Policy 4......Page 262
Sample Policy 5......Page 263
Sample Policy 6......Page 264
Sample Policy 1......Page 265
Sample Policy 1......Page 266
Sample Policy 3......Page 267
Sample Policy 2......Page 268
Sample Policy 1......Page 269
Sample Policy 3......Page 270
Sample Policy 5......Page 271
Publishing Grievance Procedures in the Employee Handbook......Page 272
Training the Managers......Page 273
b Employee Complaint and Grievance ProceduresChecklist......Page 276
Sample Policy 1......Page 277
Sample Policy 2......Page 278
Sample Policy 4......Page 279
Sample Policy 5......Page 280
Sample Policy 6......Page 281
Sample Policy 1......Page 282
a Employment Expenses and Reimbursement Checklist......Page 283
Sample Policy 2......Page 285
Sample Policy 2......Page 286
Important NLRB Case on Handbook Union-Free Policy Statements......Page 288
b Observations and Recommendations: Caution on Publishing Union-Free Statements in Handbooks Distrib.........Page 290
Recommendations for Employee Handbook Statements on Union-Free Environments......Page 291
c Employee Union-Free Policy Statements Checklist......Page 292
Sample Policy 3......Page 294
Sample Policy 5......Page 295
Sample Policy 7......Page 296
Sample Policy 8......Page 297
a Observations and Recommendations: How to Maintain a Drug-Free Workplace......Page 298
Handbook Substance Abuse Policy and Drug Testing: Issues and Risks......Page 300
Recommendations for Developing a Drug-Free Policy:......Page 302
Why Provide Opportunity For Rehabilitation?......Page 304
Ten Essentials for Effectiveness in Intervention and Treatment:......Page 305
State and Local Resources......Page 308
b Employee Health, Safety, and Security Checklist......Page 309
Sample Policy 2......Page 314
Sample Policy 4......Page 315
Sample Policy 5......Page 316
AIDS......Page 317
Sample Policy 2......Page 319
Sample Policy 1......Page 320
Sample Policy 2......Page 321
Sample Policy 3......Page 322
Sample Policy 5......Page 323
Sample Policy 1......Page 324
Sample Policy 1......Page 325
Sample Policy 1......Page 326
Sample Policy 5......Page 327
a Employee Customer Service and Quality Standards Checklist......Page 328
Sample Policy 1......Page 329
Sample Policy 3......Page 330
Sample Policy 6......Page 331
Sample Policy 9......Page 332
a Observations and Recommendations: Developing Policies on Employee Responsibilities and Business Et.........Page 333
b Employee Responsibilities and Business Ethics Checklist......Page 335
Sample Policy 2......Page 338
Sample Policy 5......Page 339
Sample Policy 2......Page 340
Sample Policy 4......Page 341
Sample Policy 3......Page 342
Sample Policy 2......Page 343
Sample Policy 1......Page 344
Sample Policy 5......Page 345
Sample Policy 4......Page 346
Sample Policy 4......Page 347
Sample Policy 6......Page 348
Sample Policy 3......Page 349
Sample Policy 1......Page 350
Sample Policy 4......Page 351
Sample Policy 4......Page 352
Sample Policy 2......Page 353
Sample Policy 1......Page 354
Sample Policy 2......Page 357
a Employee Disclaimers and Handbook Acknowledgment/Receipt Statements Checklist......Page 358
Sample Policy 3 (Pre-Employment Interview Agreement With Job Applicants......Page 362
Sample Policy 4 (Disclaimer Statement Found on Employee Handbook Acknowledgment/Receipt Page)......Page 363
Sample Policy 1......Page 364
Sample Policy 4......Page 365
Sample Policy 6 (Acknowledging Receipt and Reading of Employee Handbook)......Page 366
SECTION 6 RELEVANT FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS AND COURT DECISIONS......Page 367
6.01 Employment-at-Will—Yesterday and Today......Page 368
6.02 The Beginning of Federal Regulations and Restrictions on Employment-at-Will......Page 369
6.03 Wrongful Discharge Lawsuits and Employee Handbooks......Page 370
6.04 Court Rulings Involving Employee Handbooks......Page 371
6.05 "Implied Contracts" and Employee Handbook Policy Statements......Page 373
6.06 Employer Guidelines for Preventing Wrongful Discharge Lawsuits......Page 375
6.07 Federal Regulations Affecting Personnel Policies and Procedures......Page 376
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VI—Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs 42 USC Section 20.........Page 377
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 29 USC Sections 1001–1461......Page 378
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 29 USC Section 2601 et seq.......Page 379
Immigration Reform and Control Act USC Section 1324(a) & (b) (1986)......Page 380
Norris-LaGuardia Act, 1932 29 USC Sections 101–110......Page 381
Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 42 USC Section 2000......Page 382
Service Contract Act 41 USC Sections 351–358......Page 383
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act of 1994 38 USC Section 4301 et. seq.......Page 384
6.08 Appendix......Page 385
Exhibit 6-A1. State Laws That Recognize "Implied Contracts" as Cause for Wrongful Discharge......Page 386
Exhibit 6-A2. Employees' Job Protection Laws and Rights......Page 387
Exhibit 6-A3. Federal Contractor Employees' Job Protection Laws and Rights......Page 392
C......Page 394
G......Page 395
P......Page 396
U......Page 397
W......Page 398
About SESCO Management Consultants......Page 399