Examining the Latest Legal Developments and their Impact

How to Create an Employee Handbook

If you’ve ever had a position in a company or a business, small or large, you probably know what an employee handbook is. It’s a packet with vital information about what you can expect when working at so and so company, what they expect of you, legal obligations, employees rights and an overall guide to making your job or position at that business all the better. If you want to write an employee handbook, revise it or you already wrote one and you want to make sure that you included everything needed, make sure you keep reading to see which topics you should include and some examples you should put in your employee handbook. It’s also a good idea to go over these guides, especially the legal sections with an employment lawyer.

NDA’s and Conflict Of Interest

Having an NDA is not a legal requirement, but having an employee sign one can be helpful when it comes to protecting any trade secrets or protect certain pieces of information about your company. Some examples of this would be a restaurant having family recipes. These recipes were handed down from generation to generation. If any had these recipes you could potentially go out of business because competitors could steal or buy these recipes from your employees and make them at their own restaurant. In order to stop something like this, you can have all of your employees are just the ones that deal with the recipes, kitchen or food items sign the NDA. Of course there are many other examples of why you would want an NDA signed.

Anti-Discrimination Policies

When you own a business you have to follow and comply with the EEO laws that prohibit things like discrimination, sexual harassment, and harassment and discrimination against people with disabilities that may be working for you. Your employee handbook needs to include which policies you enforce, some examples and how your employees need to comply with these standards.

Compensation and Pay

When it comes to compensation, you need to clearly and concisely example to your employees what deductions you will make for things like federal and state taxes. You also need to explain how much you will take out for things like benefit programs. On the other hand, you also need to include what days employees get paid, how you pay your employees (paper checks, direct deposit, etc.), time keeping records, when breaks are to be taken, how long breaks are, and bonuses. If you want help in dealing with things like wage and hourly laws, taxes for employees, workers comp or work schedules for employees, here are a few helpful links for you to consider:

https://www.sba.gov/content/employment-and-labor-law

https://www.sba.gov/content/business-structure-and-tax-implications

Code of Standards

You also need to put into your handbook how you want your employees to conduct themselves while working for your business. This could include dress attire, not talking on their cell phone while on the clock, loyalty and ethics when it comes to other employees stealing or mishandling money, etc.

Employment Information

Your handbook should also contain an overview of policies in your business regarding job classifications, employee records, job postings, hoe the termination process works, transfers, relocations, and union information as well. Here are a few links that will also be helpful in giving you more information about general employment information:

 

https://www.sba.gov/content/unions

https://www.sba.gov/content/employment-and-labor-law

https://www.sba.gov/content/pre-employment-background-checks

https://www.sba.gov/content/foreign-workers-immigration-and-employee-eligibility

Safety

Make sure that you include any policies for creating a safe and secure environment for your employees. You should also include the compliance regulations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration about how to report an accident, how to report an injury, what to do when it comes to safety hazards, etc. Make sure your employees know that while they do work for you, you do care about their safety in your workplace. Sometimes, especially when it comes to the younger generations, if someone gets hurt or has an accident they are afraid to tell a higher-up. This could lead to potential law issues, so make sure people know that accidents do happen and you would rather it be dealt with at the time than ignored.

Employee Benefits

If you have an employee benefits program, be sure to include this in your handbook as well, including any benefits that are required by law. This is also a great place to include any other featured benefits you offer such as health insurance, wellness programs, discounts, and retirement plans. Make sure you also state whether they are for full time employees, part time employees or both so that people will be aware what is available to them.

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