What's in Your Handbook? 

A handbook is a valuable tool for communicating an employer’s expectations of its employees and notifying employees of their workplace rights and benefits.  One of an employer’s year-end housekeeping chores is to evaluate its employee handbook to ensure compliance with various federal, state, and local laws.  Our November seminar will provide practical suggestions for how to conduct handbook “audits” that are thorough and address the following questions:

• Does your handbook “fit” your organization (e.g., the number of employees you have, the type of organization, industry-specific requirements)?
• Does your handbook provide required legal notices to employees?
• Does your handbook clearly articulate your leave policies?
• How do you describe employee benefits?
• How do you describe classifications of employees?
• Do your policies comply with recent legal developments affecting the workplace?
• How do your employees know what is in your handbook (training and acknowledgements)?
• Does your handbook create a “contract”?
• Does your handbook have a clear non-discrimination policy and complaint procedure?
• Does your handbook address reasonable accommodation of disabilities?
• Are there workplace rules or behavior expectations you need to communicate to employees in a handbook?

These are among the topics we will address to help you prepare your organization for the new year.

Presenter: Tracy Miller
Attorney, Labor and Employment Department
Karr Tuttle Campbell