What is a staff handbook? What purpose does it serve? It’s not something most small business owners think about until they need one. This page explains what a staff handbook is, why you need one and how to create a staff handbook which is tailored to your company's requirements.
A staff handbook is a document that outlines the guidelines and rules for any company. A complete staff handbook provides policies and procedures covering the roles and responsibilities of employees and employers on key topics such as equal opportunities. A staff handbook is also referred to as an employee handbook or an HR manual. A complete staff handbook will also lay the foundations of the company's culture by explaining the procedures employees must follow for topics ranging from holidays to sick leave.
Small businesses don't usually think about staff handbooks until employees request one because they are not obligatory. However, most small businesses don't realise that their employment contracts often refer to the company's staff handbook. The reason small business don't prioritise staff handbooks is because they tend to have limited time and energy and therefore prioritise essential contracts such as employment, non-disclosure and consultancy agreements.
Creating a complete staff handbook does not have to be complicated or expensive thanks to contract management platforms like Legislate. Complete staff handbooks can be tailored to a company's specific requirements by answering simple questions. A complete staff handbook will then be generated with all the essential sections you need as a responsible employer.
Creating a complete staff handbook on Legislate also means that your employees will have access to all their employment related contracts in one place. The staff handbook will be automatically linked to the employment contract which makes it easy for the employer to create the documents and in turn offers a better contracting experience to employees.
If you would like to create your complete staff handbook today, register an account with Legislate and create one for only £9.95.