February 2025 Newsletter

Employee Handbook Reviews

The employee handbook is a very important tool for communicating company policies and expectations to your employees. Handbooks also help to ensure that staff and management are aligned with company  guidelines. Handbook reviews help ensure everything is up to date and help keep your company compliant and ensure your employees receive correct information.

Conducting an annual review of your handbooks is important for several reasons:

1.       Legal Compliance. Laws change at the federal, state and local levels. Annual reviews ensure your handbook contains current legal requirements. This helps to protect both the employer and employee from legal disputes.

2.       Policy Changes. Policies often change as companies change. Annual reviews help ensure policies are relevant to the current state of the organization.

3.       Best Practices. Making sure your company aligns with current best practices staying competitive with employee engagement, retention, and attraction.

4.       Technological Issues/Advances. Technology changes fast often requiring updated policies such as those for cybersecurity, work from home rules, and social media usage.

5.       Risk Management. Updates help reduce the risk of outdated policies that lead to misunderstandings or conflicts which can result in grievances or, even worse, lawsuits.

6.       New Employee Information. An up-to-date handbook ensures new employees receive consistent and current information about company policies during their onboarding process.

An annual review of your handbook is the best practice. Reviews often fall to the wayside with so many other and important tasks, but a review is critical for the health of your company and its culture.