An employee’s first day at work is often overwhelming for them and the hiring manager. They need to quickly transition into the company’s culture and start to work. You need to guide them into their new role and explain how the company operates—and that can be too much to undertake.
Hence, to reduce your involvement and turn the first-day jitters into an exciting experience, an employee policy handbook is a must-have. Often, many employers do not think about an employee handbook until the onboarding process becomes overwhelming or various issues arise.
Having company policies in an employee handbook can save you hours or days of putting out fires when you should be advancing your business mission. In the next section, we will discuss the policies and areas covered in an employee handbook and explain how it helps you onboard employees.
Employment Basics
This section comes at the beginning and provides basic information about the company and job classification. It covers employment-related questions and definitions. It also includes rules pertaining to attendance and what the company requires of them. Examples of these policies are:
- Contract types: Outlines what full-time and part-time contracts entail.
- Hiring process: Explains how recruitment and selection occur.
- Hierarchy chart: Shows who’s who in the company.
- Attendance: States rules regarding work attendance.
- Equal opportunity: Shows your dedication to fair hiring practices.
Due to the sensitivity of some sections, you may need to hire a Dallas business law attorney to protect your company from future legal challenges.
Code of Conduct
This section provides a guideline for employee behavior in the workplace. It discusses how you expect employees to treat each other and other business-related parties. Its primary purpose is to promote a safe and professional environment for everyone. These policies include:
- Dress code: States what attire employees should wear.
- Conflict of interest: Describes what you consider a conflict of interest in your line of work.
- Employment relationships: Provides some basic rules on how employees can relate and what is considered unprofessional.
- Digital devices and cyber security: Lays out guidelines for using the internet, cell phones, and other digital devices.
Workplace Policies
This section discusses your workplace environment and what it should be like for the employees. It details what you have put in place to ensure the workplace is conducive and pleasant for employees to thrive. Some policies in the handbook include:
- Workplace safety and health: Contains guidelines employees must follow to promote a safe and healthy environment.
- Harassment and violence: States your commitment to eliminating violence or harassment in the company.
- Confidentiality and data protection: Gives basic rules on the state or local laws you must adhere to regarding information protection.
Hire an Attorney to Create an Employee Policy Handbook
Drafting an employee policy handbook is not an easy task. It needs precise knowledge of employment laws, industry regulations, and labor laws. It is in your best interest to hire a business law attorney to ensure the policies you include are legally compliant and protects your company’s interests.
At Sul Lee Law Firm, we help businesses create employment policies tailored to their particular needs. Schedule a call with us today and let us ensure your employee policy handbook covers all legal grounds.
The Sul Lee Law Firm, PLLC assists clients throughout Dallas and the rest of Texas with drafting employee handbooks and company policies. We have helped employers and business owners in Plano, Richardson, Fort Worth, Irving, Frisco, Carrollton, Taylor, Garland County, and Collin County establish stable and intuitive employee handbooks, policies, and codes of conduct while representing the business’ best interests.