Yesterday, we looked at some of the common questions that arise relating to employee handbooks. Today, a few more—plus an introduction to a must-have handbooks resource, specifically for California employers and fully updated for 2012.
Click here for yesterday’s Q&A.
Q. We have an employee handbook, but the policies in it are followed inconsistently. How big a problem is that?
It’s extremely dangerous to have a handbook but ignore it in day-to-day operations. Inconsistent application of or adherence to company policies can be used to demonstrate that an employer acted with bias or has retaliated against particular employees.
Failing to follow the company handbook can even be used to demonstrate that an employer willfully disregarded employment laws, as the handbook shows that the employer was indeed aware of those laws.
Q. How often should an employer revise the company’s employee handbook?
A. Employee handbooks should be revised at least annually and perhaps more often if major changes in the law occur mid-year.
It is also important that each version of the handbook be dated with the effective date, so you or your attorney can go back and determine which policies were in place at any given time if necessary.
This is especially important if you’re sued over a policy for which the law has changed or will continue to change frequently—for example, California’s meal and rest period laws.
Q. What’s the best way to distribute the handbook to employees?
A. All employees, no matter how long they’ve been with the company or how senior they are, should get a copy of every updated version of the handbook. You should also keep a copy of all versions of the employee handbook going back at least five years.
If you have an internal company network (an “intranet”), post a copy of the handbook—and each updated version—in a place that employees can easily access, and make sure that you notify employees that it’s there. (This is in addition to providing each employee with an individual copy.)
You can also distribute employee handbooks via email, but always send a PDF and not an editable version. Emailing the handbook is a wise choice where available because the act of emailing it creates a record that the handbook was in fact sent to each employee.
HR Management & Compliance Report: California Employee Handbook Template
101 Must-Have Policies—Fully Editable and Customizable for Your Workplace, and Newly Updated for 2012!
Whatever shape your employee handbook’s in, it could probably be better. More comprehensive. More clear. More helpful for communicating your rules and expectations and keeping you out of a lawsuit.
An incomplete or incorrect handbook is more than just a nuisance. If it’s not drafted correctly, your handbook can actually lead you down the very path you’re hoping to avoid: The one that leads to the local courthouse.
Our fully updated HR Management & Compliance Report, the California Employee Handbook Template, includes 101 vital policies—written specifically for employers in California—including:
- At-Will Employment
- Employee Classifications
- Social Media Code of Conduct
- Right to Observe Employees
- Voice Mail, Email, Electronic and Computer Files, and Usage
- Appearance and Courtesy; Uniforms
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Harassment Prohibited
- Retaliation Prohibited
- Bullying Prohibited
- Accommodation of Disabilities
- Zero Tolerance for Drugs or Alcohol in the Workplace
- Terminations
- Final Pay
- Progressive Discipline
- Rest Periods
- Meal Periods
- Overtime Pay, Authorization, and Mandatory Overtime
- Payroll Deductions
- Travel Time Pay
- Bereavement Leave
- COBRA Coverage for Health Insurance
- And 79 more!
Click here for a full Table of Contents.
All of the policies are fully editable and customizable—when you order, you’ll get a link to editable Word versions of all 101 policies.
All of the policies in the California Employee Handbook Template have been drafted by an experienced California employment lawyer. Plus, we’ve provided practical information for every single policy on:
- Which employers the policy applies to
- Which employees the policy applies to
- Whether the policy is required or optional
- Special considerations
It’s like having a California employment lawyer on call, working on your handbook 24/7, at a fraction of the cost!
Best of all, we’ll send you a brand-new edition each year so you always have the most up-to-date policies available. Don’t delay—order today and get all your handbook questions answered once and for all.
Download your free copy of
20 Must-Have Employee Handbook Policies today!