Employee handbook is a bridge between businesses and employees with basic information about the business. So how to build the most effective employee handbook? Let's find out all the useful information with Viindoo!
What is an employee handbook?
An employee handbook is also known as a summary of rules and policies that the business wants to convey to its employees. This document also lists the values that the business can bring to employees. New hires usually receive a copy of the handbook and a form to sign a pledge to have read and agreed to the terms.
Employee Handbook - The bridge between employees and the business
An employee handbook includes company information, a welcome letter from superiors, mission, vision, values, or goals of the business. In addition, employees will see the benefits they get from the business.
Why do businesses need handbooks for employees?
Each employee handbook is a connection between employees and businesses. Here are the reasons why businesses need a handbook for each employee.
- Support new personnel to catch up: With this book, employees will know detailed information about the company, culture, and regulations when Onboarding training so that they can easily look up when needed.
- Build a culture of transparency: All information about the organization is distributed and widely communicated to employees. This provides greater transparency.
- As a reference scale for employee evaluation: An employee handbook encourages employee morale, improves working capacity, and minimizes violations of company regulations.
- Establish a good work policy: The employee handbook helps businesses establish policies in a general and logical manner. From there, managers can clearly see the problem and improve the weaknesses of the business.
- Limit legal troubles: In the employee handbook, the enterprise clearly outlines employees' rights as well as the set regulations and rules for each specific case. From there, businesses can protect themselves in the event of lawsuits or untrue complaints from employees.
>>>> See More: How to build a code of conduct in businesses and companies
Download an employee handbook template
An employee handbook template is essential for both businesses and employees. Through the benefits that the manual brings, it will certainly be an indispensable item for administrators. Download the handbook template right below.
DOWNLOAD EMPLOYER HANDBOOK TEMPLATE IN VIETNAMESE AND ENGLISH
Employee handbook design templates
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Employee handbook design guidelines
To meet the high demand for building manuals, here are some criteria to help businesses create employee handbook design for the organization.
Principles of content development
Each business has a different design method, but there are some contents that need to be mentioned in the employee handbook, specifically:
- Introduction to the business.
- Mission, vision, and working culture of the company.
- Code of conduct inside and outside the enterprise.
- Work Regulations.
- Mechanism of welfare and reward.
- Rules for collaboration for employees.
Principles of content development
Requirements for the presentation form
Besides the basic contents, an important factor determining whether the manual is reasonable or not lies in the form of presentation. Here are two current forms of presentation.
- Print: This form is highly personalized, and chosen by many businesses as a "gift" to welcome new employees into the company. However, this form requires quite high costs for later printing, production, and editing.
- Digital version / Interactive Website: This is a form that allows businesses to unleash their creativity with an impressive interface. A special feature of this form is that the business does not have to pay any cost if there is a change in content or design.
Requirements on the form of presentation
Language used
The language used in the employee handbook depends on the image that the enterprise is aiming for, and is not limited in form. Here are some suggestions for business language.
- Use positive language: Do not present too autocratic but use positive language.
- Use conversational language: Businesses can use other names such as "you" instead of "employee".
- Use a few more humorous elements: The application of funny pictures and words will help employees have more new experiences when reading and be more receptive than the traditional ones.
- Use simple and concise words: Usually an employee handbook has a lot of information to convey, so businesses need to use the simplest possible words to avoid information distraction.
The article above summarizes detailed information about the employee handbook that Viindoo would like to introduce to businesses. Understanding and gaining more knowledge during the design process is important for a quality employee handbook. Hopefully, with the above article, businesses could design the most suitable manual for their employees.
FAQs
How can an employee handbook support new hires?
An employee handbook helps new hires quickly familiarize themselves with the company's policies, culture, and regulations. It serves as a reference guide that they can consult whenever they have questions or need clarification about certain aspects of their employment.
How does an employee handbook contribute to building a transparent work culture?
By providing comprehensive information about the organization, an employee handbook promotes transparency. It ensures that employees have access to the same set of guidelines, policies, and expectations, fostering a culture of fairness and consistency throughout the company.
How does an employee handbook help establish good work policies?
An employee handbook helps businesses establish clear and consistent work policies. It outlines the rules and regulations that govern employee behavior, ensuring everyone is aware of the expectations and guidelines for a productive and harmonious work environment.
How can an employee handbook helps mitigate legal troubles?
An employee handbook serves as a tool for businesses to outline employees' rights, responsibilities, and the consequences of policy violations. By clearly communicating these aspects, it helps protect the company in case of legal disputes or false complaints from employees.
What language should be used in an employee handbook?
The language used in an employee handbook should be positive, conversational, and simple. Avoid using autocratic language and instead use inclusive terms like "you" instead of "employee." Incorporating humorous elements and using concise language helps engage employees and enhance their reading experience.
