With 2022 upon us , now is the perfect time to dust off your employee handbook to ensure it is up to date with recent employment law changes as well as how your business has evolved . Operational practices and the way you work may have changed as a result of the pandemic and your handbook should reflect your organization ’ s current culture .
Handbooks are extremely important . A well-crafted handbook is the foundation for effective HR management . While your handbook doesn ’ t need to address every issue in your workplace , it should set the tone for the employee experience and help to set clear expectations for your workforce . Think of a handbook as a reliable guidepost that establishes uniformity and organizational consistency . Businesses should always be ahead of the game when it comes to maintaining clear policies , being outdated can leave you vulnerable to miscommunication and noncompliance .
The one constant in employment law is change , so your handbook should be a living document in order to adapt to changing regulatory compliance . The past two years have certainly been no exception . Reviewing your handbook on a regular basis , at least annually , is a best practice and our recommendation . Further , with many employers adopting remote work as the norm , this may mean you are now a multi-state employer , which inevitably creates new compliance complexities .
Here are a few things to consider when reviewing your handbook :
Do your internal policies and procedures reflect actual practices ? Does your handbook list points of contact who are no longer employees of your organization ? Has your headcount changed , subjecting you to additional compliance requirements ? Growing to 20 , 50 , or 100 employees are common milestone markers when it comes to federal and state compliance requirements .
Do you have a remote work policy or address working from home ? Are there any local or state-specific policies that need to be added , such as paid sick time , medical marijuana , paid family and medical leave , or pregnancy accommodation ? Do you have policies that expressly prohibit employees from discussing their wages ? This is a protected employee activity , and such policies are barred under several labor laws . Does your handbook include a clear employment-at-will statement ? Do you have a robust Harassment Prevention Policy ? Does your policy include a prohibition against retaliation ? When was the last time you reviewed your appearance and dress code policy ? Several states now prohibit discrimination based on cultural hair textures and hairstyles . Does the format of your handbook reflect your company ’ s brand and culture ? When was the last time you distributed your handbook to employees and had them sign an acknowledgement , they received it ?
This is not an all-inclusive list , rather a starting point for assessing the state of your handbook to determine if it ’ s time for an update .
If reviewing your handbook is one of those tasks you never seem to get to , HR Knowledge and the Hilb Group can help ! Call us 727-450-7959 or email us at trailerdealers @ hilbgroup . com .
The People Simplifying HR For almost twenty years , HR Knowledge has made it our mission to demystify the complex and daunting process of HR management . Whether you ’ re interested in our Virtual HR solution or just need your employee handbook written , HR Knowledge can help you minimize risk while staying on top of compliance regulations .
28 NATDA Magazine www . natda . org