What Should Go in the Handbook

Ideally, your handbook should be more than a compilation of rules and regulations that your employees must live by in the workplace. That's not to say that your policies aren't appropriate to put in a handbook — they most definitely are. But there are other things that you may want to put in your handbook as well.

Information to include. Here's a list of the types of information that can be put in a handbook. Although most of these items are optional, and some may not apply to your particular business, federal or state law may require you to provide written notice of some of the policies:

• welcome and introduction
• purpose of handbook
• company mission statement
• statement emphasizing importance of good customer service
• background information about company
• business's position on unions, if the makeup of the workforce suggests union activity is possible
• suggestion and complaint procedures
• work rules and policies
• introductory or probationary period
• employee's role and responsibilities
• hours of work
• lunch periods and breaks
• overtime policy
• attendance and punctuality
• time cards
• personnel records
• shift premium
• payday
• payroll deductions
• garnishments
• wage and performance reviews
• promotions
• layoff or recall
• resignation or termination
• bulletin boards
• telephone usage
• benefits
  • holidays
  • vacations
  • hospital and medical insurance
  • life insurance
  • disability benefits
  • pension and profit-sharing plans
  • call-in or report-in pay
  • training
  • school or educational assistance program
  • service awards
• workers' compensation
• unemployment insurance
• sale of company products
• sick leave
• disability leave
• personal leave
• funeral leave
• jury duty leave
• military leave
• safety
  • emergency procedures
  • medical services
  • personal protective equipment
  • safety rules
  • how to report accidents
• standards of conduct
  • corrective discipline procedure
• summary and acknowledgment
• disclaimers reviewed by your lawyer