Preface

Section 1: Developing an Employee Handbook: Objectives and Concerns

1.01 Management Objectives

a. Advantages of an Employee Handbook to the Employer

b. Advantages of an Employee Handbook to Supervisors

c. Advantages of an Employee Handbook to Employees

d. Advantages of an Employee Handbook to Union-Represented Employees

1.02 Management Concerns

a. Employee Handbooks vs. Personnel Policy and Procedures Manuals

b. Developing Both an Employee Handbook and a Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual

c. When to Revise or Update an Employee Handbook

d. Management's Right to Revise and Update Policies and Procedures

e. Caution on Revising Handbooks for Union Employees

f. Company Conditions Necessitating Revision of Employee Handbooks

g. Revising an Employee Handbook May Not Solve Language Problems

h. Do You Need More Than One Employee Handbook?

Section 2: Developing an Employee Handbook: Responsibilities for Drafting, Editing, and Publishing

2.01 Assigning Responsibilities for the Initial Draft or Revision

2.02 Primary Responsibilities of the Employee Handbook Committee

2.03 Supervisory Involvement in Developing an Effective Employee Handbook

2.04 Distributing an Employee Handbook Development Checklist to the Management-Supervisory Team

2.05 Using Employee Suggestions in the New or Revised Employee Handbook

2.06 Sources of Important Personnel Policy/Employee Benefit/Employment Data

2.07 What Should and Should Not Be Covered in an Employee Handbook

a. What Should Be Excluded From Employee Handbooks?

b. Remember Your Audience When Drafting the Handbook

2.08 The Organization and Format of Your Employee Handbook

2.09 Writing a Draft of the Employee Handbook

a. Get the First Draft Proofed and Reviewed

2.10 Publishing the Employee Handbook

2.11 Keeping Your Employee Handbook Up-to-Date

a. Getting Ready for Your Next Handbook Revision

b. Making the Revision

2.12 Preparing for Final Production of the Employee Handbook

2.13 Receiving the New or Revised Employee Handbook From the Printer

2.14 Appendix

Exhibit 2-A1. Sample Letter to Employees with Handbook Questionnaire

Exhibit 2-A2. Employee Handbook Questionnaire

Exhibit 2-A3. Sample Table of Contents

Exhibit 2-A4. Sample Index

Section 3: Distributing the Employee Handbook

3.01 Schedule a Management Meeting Prior to Distribution

3.02 Schedule Employee Group Meetings for Distribution

3.03 Distribute the New Employee Handbook to Newly Hired Employees

3.04 Send a Follow-Up Letter to Employees

3.05 Appendix

Exhibits 3-A1 to 3-A5. Sample Disclaimer and Acknowledgment Statements

Exhibit 3-A6. Letter to Employee After Receipt of Employee Handbook

Section 4: State and Local Employment Laws

4.01 State and Local Employment Laws

4.02 State Law and Family Emergency Leave

a. Family, Medical, Pregnancy (Disability), Maternity, Parental, and Adoption Leaves

Section 5: Drafting and Editing Employee Handbook Policies

5.01 The Employee Handbook Development Checklist

5.02 Introductory Material for the Employee Handbook

a. Employee Introductory Material Checklist

b. Sample Policies

5.03 Employee Orientation and Training

a. Observations and Recommendations: Current Trends in Training and Management Development

b. Observations and Recommendations: Organizational and Personal Relationships

c. Employee Orientation and Training Checklist

d. Sample Policies

5.04 Compensation--Wage and Salary Administration

a. Observations and Recommendations: How to Pay Your Employees Fairly

b. Employee Compensation--Wage and Salary Administration Checklist

c. Sample Policies

5.05 Americans With Disabilities Act

a. Americans With Disabilities Act Checklist

b. Sample Policies

5.06 Attendance, Absenteeism, and Leaves of Absence

a. Observations and Recommendations: Importance of an Effective Attendance Improvement Program

b. Observations and Recommendations: Family and Medical Leave Act

c. Observations and Recommendations: Job Rights for Members of the Uniformed Services of the United States

d. Employee Attendance, Absenteeism, and Leaves of Absence Checklist

e. Sample Policies

5.07 Employee Benefits Administration

a. Observations and Recommendations: Health Care Benefits--How to "Manage" a Benefits Crisis

b. Employee Benefits Administration Checklist

c. Sample Policies

5.08 Seniority, Promotions, Transfers, and Layoffs

a. Employee Seniority, Promotions, Transfers, and Layoffs Checklist

b. Sample Policies

5.09 Conduct, Corrective Discipline, and Termination

a. Observations and Recommendations: A Positive Approach to Employee Discipline

b. Employee Conduct, Corrective Discipline, and Termination Checklist

c. Sample Policies

5.10 Complaint and Grievance Procedures

a. Observations and Recommendations: Solving On-the-Job Complaints With Formalized Complaint/Grievance Procedures

b. Employee Complaint and Grievance Procedures Checklist

c. Sample Policies

5.11 Employee Employment Expenses and Reimbursement

a. Employee Expenses and Reimbursement Checklist

b. Sample Policies

5.12 Union-Free Policy Statements

a. Observations and Recommendations: Guidelines for Drafting and Publishing Union-Free Policy Statements

b. Observations and Recommendations: Caution on Publishing Union-Free Statements in Handbooks Distributed to Unionized Employees

c. Employee Union-Free Policy Statements Checklist

d. Sample Policies

5.13 Health, Safety, and Security

a. Observations and Recommendations: How to Maintain a Drug-Free Workplace

b. Employee Health, Safety, and Security Checklist

c. Sample Policies

5.14 Customer Service and Quality Standards

a. Employee Customer Service and Quality Standards Checklist

b. Sample Policies

5.15 Employee Responsibilities and Business Ethics

a. Observations and Recommendations: Developing Policies on Employee Responsibilities and Business Ethics

b. Employee Responsibilities and Business Ethics Checklist

c. Sample Policies

5.16 Disclaimers and Handbook Acknowledgment/Receipt Statements

a. Employee Disclaimers and Handbook Acknowledgment/Receipt Statements Checklist

b. Sample Policies

Section 6: Relevant Federal and State Regulations and Court Decisions

6.01 Employment-at-Will--Yesterday and Today

6.02 The Beginning of Federal Regulations and Restrictions on Employment-at-Will

6.03 Wrongful Discharge Lawsuits and Employee Handbooks

6.04 Court Rulings Involving Employee Handbooks

6.05 "Implied Contracts" and Employee Handbook Policy Statements

6.06 Employer Guidelines for Preventing Wrongful Discharge Lawsuits

6.07 Federal Regulations Affecting Personnel Policies and Procedures

6.08 Appendix

Exhibit 6-A1. State Laws That Recognize "Implied Contracts" as Cause for Wrongful Discharge

Exhibit 6-A2. Employees' Job Protection Laws and Rights

Exhibit 6-A3. Federal Contractor Employees' Job Protection Laws and Rights

Index of Sample Policies

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