As a business owner, you depend on your employees. They are the face of your business and the engine of it. If they are unhappy or uninformed, your chances of success are slim.
When you read about companies spending large sums on specialist facilities and exotic trips to keep their employees engaged, an employee handbook may seem somewhat outdated. Yet, a well-written one can still be an incredibly effective tool, and all companies should have one.
Employee manuals can set out rules, policies and beliefs
If you need people to start work at 6 a.m. sharp every day, reinforce that in your company manual. Explain the reasons why it is crucial and clarify the consequences for not complying.
For example, let’s imagine you own a chain of coffee stores. Your mission is to provide workers with high-quality coffee every day on their way to work.
If staff turn up late, your coffee machine will not have enough time to warm up, and your espresso will not be as good. If you open your doors late, even once, customers can no longer rely on you.
Outlining the disciplinary procedure for staff with poor timekeeping helps you take action if you need to and ensures employees are not surprised when you do.
A poorly written employee handbook could create legal issues
If you want your employee manual to act as a powerful tool, rather than something that gathers dust in people’s desks, consider getting help to write it. Remember, it is a legal document, so you cannot afford to make mistakes. Employees can hold you to the things you say in it.
Employment disputes are not good for employers or employees. A well-written employee handbook reduces the chance they occur.