Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Employee Handbooks
This post from George's Employment Blawg provides a wealth of links and suggestions for creating and maintaining an employee handbook. On the fundamental question of whether an employer should have an employee handbook, George writes:
"1) Should an employer have an employee handbook?
Same answer as with a formal written employee evaluation. One that’s prepared and reviewed thoroughly and properly customized to the job and employee (if an evaluation) or employer (if a handbook) is great. But one done poorly, by rote, and without proper attention to detail can be worse than none at all, and can actually increase the risk of legal problems. Like a poorly prepared employee evaluation, poorly chosen words in a handbook can become opposing counsel’s "Exhibit A."
So my answer?
Have a handbook, do it right, and follow it; otherwise skip it.""
