Having an employee handbook or a written set of policies and procedures is crucial in educating your employees as to how you expect them to behave, what they can expect from the company, and how the company will deal with infractions or disputes. An employee handbook does not need to be exhaustive, but it should be clearly written with enough detail necessary to minimize ambiguity.

An employee handbook is only a valuable means of minimizing a company's exposure to employment related disputes if the employment policies are actually applied and enforced. That is why it is crucial that the employment policies and procedures determined by you and your attorney are suited to your company's culture, size, and general practices. Using a form handbook is generally a bad idea, especially if you don't read it carefully and don't understand what it conveys.

At a minimum, your employee handbook should provide employees with the following:

• An introduction and general overview of the company's mission and philosophy.
• An Equal Employment Opportunity Statement.
• Information regarding work hours and attendance.
• Payroll policy.
• Vacation, holiday and leave policy.
• Safety and accidents rules and procedures.
• Confidentiality and use of company property.

Once your employee handbook is drafted, make sure each employee receives a copy and acknowledges receipt in writing. Keep in mind that it will be easier to enforce the rules if you employees know the rules.

The Prinz Law Firm can help you create and implement employee policies to protect your business and create a more efficient workplace. Call at 312-212-4450 or email us today.