Employee Handbook is More Than a Rule Book
An
Employee Handbook should give more information than just set out a list of
rules. It gives management the opportunity to communicate the company's
mission and culture together with setting expectations.
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What should be the main purpose of an employee hand book?
Should it be the
rules that employees are expected to follow?
Should it be a marketing
vehicle for enticing prospective employees to seek job opportunities in the
company?
Or, should it contain a roadmap to assist in business decisions
which impact employees?
Various forms of employee handbook have been adopted depending upon the
message management wants to deliver. It might be worth considering the
features of the three different types of handbooks before finalizing one for
your organization.
Rules dominated handbook will tend to ultimately constrain your employees.
Handbooks written using this predominant theme will indicate that employees
are expected to embrace a legal document.
The handbook mostly deals with
specific policies and procedures that appear to cover legal aspects designed
to protect the company. It is important to outline such doctrines as
"employment-at-will," and handbooks should include important issues as equal
opportunity and harassment in the workplace. However, any legalistic tone to
your employee handbook also clearly sends signals about the culture of your
company.
Marketing driven handbook is broad in its coverage, and contains positive
and motivating terminology. The handbook contains generalities designed to
make the employees "feel good." A positive marketing message can excite
existing and prospective employees alike.
It gives them an idea of your
company's culture and values. However, a "feel good" handbook alone may not
serve you well in the long run. And if it is overly filled with superficial
marketing messages, employees and prospects will see right through it.
Besides, it may fall short of providing clear guidelines and establishing
clear decision-making parameters.
Business decision handbook assists in providing guidelines to make solid
business decisions that impact your employees.
In other words, it is your
"business HR guide" that doesn't constrain employees. On the contrary,
it
liberates and allows for faster and easier business decisions. It is a
reference manual that gives leaders, managers and employees the information
they need to make informed decisions, without being rules driven.
You may wish to create your own handbook; or use legal experts; or use
employee handbook software program, or engage an outside consultant to
assist you draft one. Whichever method you choose, the final content must
meet the criteria that satisfy the purpose and intent of your manual.
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