How to Build a Better Handbook
Let’s face it. Handbooks are very important, but they are also often very boring to read.
There’s no doubt organizations need handbooks to:
Ensure State and Federal compliance
Provide employees with important workplace guidance and expectations
Give leaders guidelines for treating employees consistently to reduce risk
Introduce employees to your workplace culture, mission, and values
“…..handbooks should be updated to include new federal requirements, such as the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June protecting gay and transgender workers from discrimination, as well as new federal legislation, such as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which affects wage and leave policies until December 2020, says Skye Mercer, SHRM-SCP, an HR consultant based in Coralville, Iowa.”
But how do you cover this important information in your handbook, and also make the handbook a document that employees actually want to read?
In this article from the Society for HR Management (SHRM), I discuss ideas to make your handbook stand out to your employees, including adding non-traditional design elements to your handbook that engage and inspire the employee-reader.
Image from SHRM.org
Here are some of the Nontraditional Handbook Design Elements I recommend adding to your handbook
Ways to Work with Skye
Monthly HR Consulting: On-demand monthly contracted HR services customized to meet your business needs. Quickly offload HR tasks to an experienced consultant.
Leadership Training: Interactive in-person or online training tailored to your organization. Build leadership skills with relevant HR & leadership training.
Employee Handbooks: Handbooks tailored to your organization’s unique values and focused on reducing State and Federal compliance risk.
HR Strategy Session: Get quick answers to your HR questions from an HR pro. Receive expert guidance and a clear plan of action to resolve your immediate HR issues.
Leadership Coaching: Individualized, results-oriented coaching to help you achieve your career goals. Plus Career Coaching & Resume Writing for job seekers.
HR Special Projects: Impartial personnel Investigations, on-demand recruitment & onboarding, compensation planning, & more.
