Employee Handbooks

Your employee handbook can become a problem if it is outdated, vaguely written, and is contrary to what you actually do. It’s a bigger problem if employees think it is some kind of employment contract. Remember that employee handbooks often get dragged into court as evidence against companies. Here are some mistakes to avoid:

1. Making promises you can’t keep.
2. Vague policies.
3. Too much detail, making it confusing.
4. Inconsistencies with other documents.
5. Reassuring employees that their jobs are secure.
6. Not updating the manual with new laws.
7. Not reserving the right to make changes.
8. Using the term “probation period.” This can imply that after they have passed probation, they are there forever.

Always omit promises you can’t keep and anything that you are not going to enforce!