For larger organizations, an employee handbook is a no-brainer. HR departments, lawyers and upper management will see to it that a proper company policy is in place. Small businesses and startups however might try to do without, wondering if such a document is even necessary. The short answer is a resounding yes. If you are running a small business, it is important to have an employee handbook as it outlines company policies and expectations for employees. This can help avoid misunderstandings and promote a positive company culture.” “\n an employee handbook is absolutely essential for small businesses and startups with as few as four employees or more. Here are a few reasons why. If you are wondering whether your company should share your employee handbook publicly, it’s important to know that it can establish trust, transparency, and communication with your employees. It can also help avoid legal issues that may arise from misunderstandings or miscommunications between employers and employees. Thus, sharing your employee handbook publicly can be a wise decision for your small business.
CYA
While the law doesn’t require your small business to have one, an employee handbook can save you and your company considerable grief. For example, paid leave and misclassification of employees (i.e. whether they are considered contractors or employees) are two areas where misinterpretation can easily escalate into a legal problem. Spelling out your company policies in detail can mitigate confusion and allow little room for interpretation, whether at the workplace or in the courtroom. Check out this article on whether your employee handbook is legally binding
First Impressions
How you welcome an employee to your company leaves a lasting impression about your company culture and brand. A poor onboarding experience can leave you with a disillusioned and disengaged new hire. Small businesses have a reputation for being unstructured and even a bit chaotic at times, but having a documented policy in place can help considerably. In a busy, start-up environment where new recruits have to get up to speed quickly, an employee handbook can help them settle in faster, so they can spend less time trying to figure out the basics about the job and the company, and focus instead on their role. These tips for creating an employee handbook will ensure that your employees actually read and understand it.
Scaling up
Getting a few employees in line with your company s vision and way of doing things can seem easy enough, but as your startup scales, you risk losing control over how information is passed down to new hires. The nature of busy startups is that during times of mass hiring and scaling up, there is often little time to have conversations about company policies and culture. Having all of your policies and company details document is key to ensuring everyone is on the same page. It s also a great opportunity for small business owners to think about what kind of company you want to grow your enterprise into. To learn more about what to include in an employee handbook, check out our guide.
Fairness and equality
Many small businesses wing it when it comes to HR
Implementing consistent policies across the whole company is key, especially for a small team. If policies differ from one employee to another, it can be perceived as unfair or unequal treatment and lead to some disgruntled employees. Having policies documented and communicated to everyone ensures that everyone will be treated fairly and equally when it comes to things like leave, vacation, company rules, etc. If you are still unsure about creating an employee handbook, check out the top 5 questions about employee handbooks, answered!
No HR Department? No Problem.
One day your growing startup may have a dedicated human resources point-person or even an entire HR department. However, as a small business owner, creating an employee handbook may seem daunting. Don’t worry, here are some tips on how to create an employee handbook and where to start. One important thing to include in the employee handbook is a code of conduct that outlines expectations for behavior, dress code, and communication. This helps establish a professional work environment and set clear boundaries for employees.
but for most startups and small businesses, that HR team is non-existent. Fortunately you don t need an HR department or even a lawyer to create a simple employee handbook for small businesses. Online handbook templates and handbook creation software like Airmason are readily available, allowing even the busiest entrepreneurs with no HR or legal expertise to create beautiful and compliant employee handbooks and company policy documents.
