What is a Staff Handbook and Why Do I Need One for My Employees?
A staff handbook, also known as an employee handbook, is an important document to outline your company’s policies, procedures, and expectations for employees (the ‘rules of the game’).
It also outlines your company’s values, culture, and how one should operate in your company.
Why Do You Need a Staff Handbook?
- Rules of the Game: A staff handbook provides clear guidelines and expectations, ensuring all employees are on the same page. This clarity and consistency will help create a fair and open work environment. It provides clarity in resolving issues, disciplinary actions and grievances to ensure all employees are treated fairly.
- Legal Protection: A staff handbook can help protect your Company from potential legal disputes. In documenting policies and procedures, you can demonstrate that employees have been informed of their rights and responsibilities whilst in your employment.
- Better Communication: The Staff Handbook is a great communication tool between the employer and employees. It communicates to all employees what the Company expects from them whilst in employment. It also outlines your Company’s commitment to their health and well-being, professional conduct, fair treatment and opportunities for all employed
What is Included in a Staff Handbook?
A staff handbook typically includes Contractual Policies and Non-Contractual Policies and should include:
- Company Introduction: To your Company’s history, mission, and values.
- Employment Policies: Details on employment contracts, probation periods, and job duties.
- Code of Conduct: Guidelines on acceptable behaviour, dress code, no-smoking, mobile phone use, alcohol & drugs, ant-bribery and workplace ethics.
- Disciplinary & Grievance Procedures: The process in handling disputes, investigations, disciplinary matters and grievances.
- Equal Opportunities: Includes dignity at work, preventing discrimination, promoting diversity and opportunity.
- Data Protection: Policies regarding the handling of personal data and intellectual property.
- Social Media: YourCompany to have social media rules in place to protect its employees, brand and reputation.
- Leave Policies: Information on holiday leave, sick leave, maternity/paternity leave etc. and reporting absence from work.
- Health and Safety: Policies and procedures to maintain a safe working environment to also include a medical examinations policy.
- Return of Company’s Property & Equipment: Upon termination of employment, the rules to returning all that belongs to your Company.
- Whistle Blowing: To give the employee guidance on what to do if they discover misconduct in the workplace.
- Non-contractual policies: A further 40 plus non-contractual policies may also be relevant to your business.
A Staff Handbook is an essential tool for any business. It not only outlines how employees are expected to operate but also protects both them and you (the employer) by outlining key policies and procedures. By taking the time to develop a comprehensive Staff Handbook or delegating it to a HR Consultant to do it for you, you can create a positive, informed, and productive workplace environment.
If delegating the work to create or update your Company’s Staff Handbook to an HR Consultant, please make sure they first know how your business operates, to make the policies and procedures bespoke to your Company.
We can create your Staff Handbook for you. Simply get in touch with us for more information: Call 01752 220 377 or email [email protected]
