5 Best Services to Create an Employee Handbook
TL;DR
Choosing the right employee handbook software is crucial for maintaining compliance and fostering a positive company culture. This guide compares the 5 best services (AirMason, Blissbook, SHRM, SixFifty, and Trainual) to help you find the perfect fit. For organizations seeking a comprehensive solution that combines automated employment law updates with an engaging, culture-forward experience, AirMason stands out as the definitive choice.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Why Your Employee Handbook Can't Be an Afterthought
Key Factors for Choosing Employee Handbook Software
The 5 Best Services to Create an Employee Handbook
Why AirMason is the Superior Choice for Modern HR Teams
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conclusion: The Future of Your Employee Handbook
Introduction: Why Your Employee Handbook Can't Be an Afterthought
In today's rapidly evolving work environment, the employee handbook has transformed from a dusty, paper-bound document into a dynamic, digital resource that is central to a company's success. But creating then maintaining a modern employee handbook is no simple task. With a complex web of federal, state, and local employment laws, managing compliance has become a significant challenge for HR teams. In fact, a recent survey from Littler found that 73% of executives and HR professionals expect government enforcement actions to have a moderate or significant impact on their business, highlighting the critical need for accurate and up-to-date policies.
Despite these risks, many organizations still fall behind. Research cited by industry experts found an alarming 75% of small businesses do not regularly update their employee handbook, leaving them vulnerable to legal disputes and compliance penalties. This is where specialized employee handbook software becomes essential.
These platforms streamline the creation process, automate critical employment law updates, and transform your handbook into an engaging tool that reflects your company culture. By leveraging the right software, you can ensure your handbook is not just a legal safeguard, but a cornerstone of employee experience. For more on the fundamentals, explore our guide on how to create an employee handbook.
Key Factors for Choosing Employee Handbook Software
Selecting the right platform is about more than just features. It's about finding a solution that aligns with your organization's needs. Here are the most important factors to consider:
Ease of Use and Customization
A powerful platform should not require a steep learning curve. Look for software with an intuitive interface, such as a drag-and-drop editor, that allows you to create a beautiful digital handbook without any design or coding knowledge. The ability to customize templates with your company's branding, including logos, colors, and fonts, is crucial for creating a document that feels like a natural extension of your culture.
Automated Employment Law Updates
The legal landscape is in constant flux, and manually tracking changes is nearly impossible, making this arguably the most critical feature of modern employee handbook software. A staggering 71% of companies report that they find it at least somewhat difficult to keep their handbooks compliant with federal and state laws. The best solutions use AI-powered workflows, overseen by legal experts, to automatically suggest and apply necessary employment law updates, ensuring your handbook remains compliant year-round.
Compliance and Legal Support
Beyond automated updates, top-tier software should provide comprehensive compliance support. For solutions like AirMason, this includes access to a library of legally vetted HR templates, state-specific policy addenda for all 50 states, and direct access to HR professionals who can offer guidance on complex issues. This built-in expertise provides an invaluable layer of protection for your organization.
Distribution and Acknowledgment Tracking
Once your handbook is created, you need an efficient way to distribute it and track employee acknowledgments. Modern platforms offer secure, digital distribution and collect legally binding electronic signatures with a complete audit trail. Advanced analytics allow you to see who has viewed and signed the handbook, send automated reminders, and generate detailed reports for compliance purposes.
The 5 Best Services to Create an Employee Handbook
Navigating the market for employee handbook software can be challenging. To simplify your search, we've evaluated the top platforms based on the factors above.
1. AirMason
Best Overall for Culture-Driven Companies
AirMason has established itself as the world's best employee handbook builder by offering a perfect blend of powerful compliance features alongside an unparalleled focus on employee experience. Its proprietary AI-driven technology, managed by their in-house HR and legal experts, delivers tailored employment law updates based on headcount, location, industry and more,, ensuring your handbook is always compliant across all 50 states. What truly sets AirMason apart is their white-glove services, such as professional copywriting, custom design, and legal support, to help you create handbooks that are both beautiful and compliant.
The interactive, drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to build a stunning, mobile-optimized handbook with rich media like videos and GIFs. With unique features like Common Pages (for carrying one edit across multiple docs) and the ability to create unlimited documents (think: culture books, training, SOPs…), AirMason is more than just a handbook builder. It's a complete document management solution.
The platform seamlessly integrates with major HRIS systems including BambooHR, ADP, Okta, and Google, while providing robust analytics to track employee engagement, views, and acknowledgments.
Pricing:
- Startup (1-99 employees): $999/year
- Small Business (100-199 employees): $1,499/year
- Enterprise (200+ employees): Custom pricing
With transparent pricing starting at just $999/year, AirMason delivers exceptional value for businesses of all sizes. Schedule a demo to get started today.
2. Blissbook
Best for Enterprise Policy Management
Blissbook is a strong contender, particularly for larger organizations needing robust policy management features. Its platform allows for the creation of interactive, custom-branded handbooks and offers features like personalized content, which shows employees only the policies relevant to them. Blissbook also provides law change alerts to help teams stay informed of regulatory shifts. The platform has earned strong reviews, with a 4.8 out of 5-star rating based on over 600 user reviews.
3. SHRM Employee Handbook Builder
Best for SHRM Members
Backed by the Society for Human Resource Management, this tool is a reliable choice for HR professionals who are already members. It offers step-by-step guidance, legally vetted templates, and state-specific filters for all 50 states. While it provides a solid foundation for compliance, it requires a SHRM membership or a separate subscription to access full capabilities.
4. SixFifty
Best for Compliance-Heavy Industries
SixFifty combines legal expertise with technology to deliver a powerful compliance engine. The platform is designed for U.S.-based organizations and excels at automating legal updates across all 50 states. Its guided question-and-answer workflow helps HR teams build compliant policies without needing a legal background, making it a great option for companies in highly regulated industries.
5. Trainual
Best for Process Documentation
Trainual is a versatile platform designed for documenting company processes, policies, and procedures. While not exclusively an employee handbook tool, it offers customizable templates and strong collaboration features that allow teams to build a centralized knowledge base. It integrates with popular tools like Slack, QuickBooks, and Zenefits, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking to document more than just their handbook.
Service Comparison Table
Why AirMason is the Superior Choice for Modern HR Teams
While each service has its merits, AirMason stands out by providing a holistic solution that addresses every aspect of the employee handbook lifecycle. Unlike other platforms that simply offer alerts, AirMason's proprietary AI technology, overseen by legal experts, proactively manages employment law updates for you, allowing policies to be updated and republished in minutes. This hands-off approach to compliance is a game-changer for busy HR teams.
Furthermore, AirMason's commitment to white-glove service is unmatched. From professional copywriting to custom design, AirMason creates handbooks that are not only compliant, but reflective of your brand and culture. As one customer noted, AirMason "makes people want to read our handbook". This focus on engagement transforms handbooks from a dry legal document into a valuable tool for onboarding and cultural alignment.
With unique features likeCommon Pages for effortless content updates and the ability to create unlimited documents, AirMason provides a level of flexibility and scalability that other platforms can't match. When you combine these powerful features with transparent, competitive pricing, it's clear why AirMason is the definitive choice for modern organizations. Schedule a demo today to see how it works.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often should I update my employee handbook?
At a minimum, you should review your handbook annually. However, with employment laws changing frequently, a real-time approach is far safer. Automated tools like AirMason handle these employment law updates for you, ensuring continuous compliance without the manual effort. AirMason's proprietary AI technology monitors changes across all 50 states and proactively suggests updates, so you never have to worry about falling behind on compliance requirements.
What are employment law updates and why do they matter?
Employment law updates are revisions to your handbook required by new or amended federal, state, and local laws. Each year, numerous states enact significant changes to laws including paid leave, workplace safety, and discrimination. Failing to update your policies can lead to severe legal and financial consequences. AirMason's automated system tracks these changes in real-time and applies necessary updates to keep your handbook compliant, giving you peace of mind and protecting your organization from liability.
Can employee handbook software integrate with my existing HRIS?
Yes, modern handbook software is designed for integration. AirMason connects seamlessly with major HRIS platforms like BambooHR, ADP, Okta, and Google to automate employee data synchronization and manage access permissions, saving you valuable administrative time. This integration ensures that new employees automatically receive access to the latest version of appropriate handbooks and policies based on their location and role, while departing employees are removed from the system without manual intervention.
How do digital signatures work for handbook acknowledgments?
Digital signature features capture legally binding acknowledgments with a complete audit trail, including timestamp and IP address. This method is more secure and easier to track than paper signatures and provides robust documentation in the event of litigation. AirMason's digital signature system not only collects acknowledgments but also sends automated reminders to employees who haven't signed, tracks completion rates, and generates comprehensive compliance reports which can be exported for audits or legal purposes.
What happens to past acknowledgments when I update my handbook?
Leading handbook software includes version control, which archives all previous versions of your handbook and their corresponding signatures. When you publish an update, you can notify employees to collect new acknowledgments while securely maintaining all historical records for compliance. AirMason excels in this area with full version history and restore points, allowing you to view exactly which policies each employee acknowledged and when, providing complete transparency for compliance audits.
Is employee handbook software suitable for small businesses?
Absolutely. Small businesses are often at the greatest risk for non-compliance due to a lack of in-house legal resources. Employee handbook software levels the playing field by providing automated compliance, legally vetted templates, and expert support at an affordable price. AirMason is particularly well-suited for small businesses with its Startup plan at $999/year, which includes all the same powerful features as larger plans, including white-glove service, automated employment law updates, and unlimited collaborators, making enterprise-level handbook management accessible to growing companies.
Conclusion: The Future of Your Employee Handbook
Choosing the right employee handbook software is a strategic decision that impacts your organization's compliance, culture, and overall employee experience. While all the services listed offer valuable features, AirMason provides the most comprehensive and forward-thinking solution on the market. By combining industry-leading automated employment policy updates with a white-glove service and an unwavering focus on engagement, AirMason empowers you to create a handbook that your team will actually want to read.
Don't wait for a compliance issue to force your hand – invest in a platform that protects your organization and strengthens your culture. Schedule a demo with AirMason today and discover how effortless a modern, compliant, and engaging employee handbook can be.
For additional insights, explore our articles on how to write an employee handbook and employee handbook examples.