This is a helpful guide for Small Businesses to help understand the importance of an Employee Handbook. Most small companies cannot afford to have a person on staff that is formally trained in Employment Law. HR Professionals are highly trained and skilled and because of that they command high levels of compensation. Most small companies cannot afford to pay an HR Professional, so generally the Company Owner or Office Manager will try to fill that role. Large companies have a full staff of Employment Law Professionals on staff to put procedures in place to lessen the potential of Employment Law Claims. Learn more at: www.HRforHire.com

1. 10 Reasons Why Every
Small Business Needs One

2. HR for Hire

3.  Job responsibilities and rights expected from employees
 Employers’ authority and obligations
 Employee benefits, conduct guidelines, and workplace
expectations
 Company and government policies and resulting actions on
drug and alcohol abuse, harassment, electronic
communication and social media, safety and health,
attendance, and discipline, etc.

5. 1
 Prevention of legal liabilities
 Protection from legal liabilities
 Handbooks are often considered a
contractual obligation in court

6. HR for Hire

7. 2
 Clearly
and consistently convey what is
expected of employees of your
organization

8. 3
 State strategic plan and philosophy of
Company/Organization
 List of business policies and expectations
with neutral and objective treatment
 Statements of acceptable and expected
behavior from employees & employers

9. 4
 Educate employees about your products,
services and about their role in the
organization
 Provide a common, physical source for
everyone within a business to refer to

10. 5
 Communicate legal obligations of the
employer and employee
 Provide a comprehensive answer to
frequently asked questions to save time
and money

11. 6
 Create an overall better working
environment
 Small business’s guidelines on employee
benefits, bonus programs, attendance
rules and many other points that project
a company’s culture and environment.

12. HR for Hire

13. 7
 Describe why you are a desirable place
to work
 Position your business as an attractive
employer

14. 8
 Explain benefits including:
• Vacation
• Paid holidays
• Insurance
• Employee assistance programs

15. 9
 Detail
the organizational environment
including things like smoking, rest
rooms, break rooms and emergency
procedures

16. 10
 Minimize employee and employer
misunderstandings
 Communication tool between a business
and its employees
 Have employees sign an agreement
stating they have received and read

17. HR for Hire

18. HR for Hire
PO Box 20065
Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-0065
Phone: (610) 597-7426
Fax: (484) 281-3227
info@hrforhire.com
www.HRforHire.com