5 Good Reasons Your Business Should Have an Employee Handbook

In today's business environment, an employee handbook serves both as a sword to carve out your legal rights, as well as a shield to protect them.  In addition, a handbook sets expectations, encourages employees to behave in certain ways, helps ensure employees are treated consistently, publicizes employee benefits and helps win unemployment claims and lawsuits. These are just a few of the reasons why every employer, regardless of the number of employees, should have one. 

Here are 5 more reasons every business should have an employee handbook.  

1. Set And Meet Employee Expectations

Employees expect their employer to communicate with them in a straightforward, professional way about all sorts of things. Just having a handbook demonstrates that you understand employees' needs for information, and it can go a long way toward making a positive first impression on a new employee. 

2. Get Employees To Behave In A Certain Way

A handbook should outline for employees how to behave and perform and what will happen if they fail to meet those expectations. A handbook should also inform employees about how they can succeed in their jobs. 

3. Treat Employees Consistently

A handbook tailored to the way you do business helps ensure that managers across the organization handle issues consistently. A handbook should not be an "instruction book" on how to manage or deal with every conceivable problem or issue, but it should provide a framework for managers to follow.

4. "Sell" The Benefits You Offer

You spend a significant amount of money on every employee in ways that employees do not see or appreciate. A handbook allows you to take credit for all that you do for workers. 

5. Help To Win Lawsuits

Many employment lawsuits hinge on consistent treatment of employees and/or ensuring that employees were on notice of important company policies and procedures. The page of the handbook containing the applicable policy, as well as the signed acknowledgement form, should be critical to the defense of unemployment or other legal claims. 

KMP Business Consulting Services has years of experience creating employee handbooks all over the world, including, but not limited in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and the U.K. For a minimal investment KMP Business Consulting Services can help you create or update your employee handbook. Considering all of the preceding points, you should make sure that you have an up-to-date, well-written, legally compliant handbook for your benefit, as well as for your employees. 

Disclaimer:  The following resource and all information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. This information is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship, and the receipt or viewing of it does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship. You should not act upon any information contained in this article without consulting an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.