Book Description

No matter the number of employees working at your business, employment policies should be distributed in writing to every employee. An employee handbook is the most important communication tool between you and your employees. A well-written handbook sets forth a company’s expectations for its employees and describes what they can expect while working for the business. An employee handbook should describe the employer’s legal obligations and the employees’ rights. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that businesses can protect themselves against damages from employee lawsuits by providing clear, written policies covering the rights and responsibilities of their employees. Even if you have only one employee, a written handbook could keep you out of court. Written policies provide the principles and a basis for how businesses can manage their employees. The employee handbook can help prevent misunderstanding by listing the company’s policies so employees and managers know what is expected of them. A handbook will also assist with employment law compliance. A written employee handbook gives everyone — including management — the same set of rules to follow. How to Write Your Own Effective Employee Handbook In One Hour Or Less is the ideal solution for producing your own handbook quickly and efficiently. The companion CD-ROM contains an employee handbook template in Microsoft Word™ format, which you can easily edit for your own purposes. Essentially, you just need to fill in the blanks. The book discusses various options you might have in developing the policies. Our employee handbook has been edited and approved by attorneys specializing in employment law. Developing your own handbook now could not be easier or less expensive. The companion CD-ROM containing the template is available in both English and Spanish on a single disc. The following topics are covered in the new 2011 edition of the book: at will employment, equal opportunity employment, sexual harassment, immigration law, criminal convictions, probationary periods, personnel files, orientation, exempt and non-exempt employment classifications, pay periods, breaks, time keeping, overtime, performance reviews, expense reimbursement, attendance, meetings, telecommuting, holidays, vacations, drugs and alcohol, workplace violence and weapons, smoking, food and beverage areas, attire, telephone use, use of company property, safety and security, confidential information, conflicts of interest, employment of relatives, sick leave, disability leave, medical leave, leave of absence, jury duty, military duty, benefits eligibility, medical insurance, retirement plans, employee discounts, workers’ compensation, COBRA, termination, and termination process. With this new book, there is finally a cost-effective solution for developing your own employee handbook for the small- to medium-sized business owner. Simply review the more than 100 polices already written for you and insert your own information when prompted. The template comes complete with a table of contents, introduction, and a form for each employee to sign acknowledging receipt of the manual.