Everyone talks about employment policies, I’m sure that is what you are thinking as a small business owner. But, what are employment policies and why do you need them?
Employment policies are often disseminated in the form of an employee handbook. This book sets forth the employment policies that your small business has in place. There is a valid argument to have employment policies, even if your business is quite small. These employment policies place all your employees on notice of what you expect from them and what they can expect from you.
I’m sure you are asking yourself what should be included in these employment policies, and the answer is…it depends. It depends on the type of business you have and how you want to run it. Much of the handbook can be tailored to your small business but there are a few policies every business should have in place. These include:
- Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
- At-will employment
- Benefits
- Paid and unpaid leave policies
- On-the-job injuries, workers’ compensation claims
- Confidential information
- Drug and alcohol policy
- Inspection of work stations and personal belongings
- E-mail, voicemail, and computer policies
- Violence prevention
Of course, the above list is only a start and there may be multiple other policies that should be contained in your employment policies. Also, you should be aware that an employee handbook may not be as straight forward as it appears because you may actually be contractually obligating yourself in a way you did not intend. If you do not know what needs to be included in your employee handbook I recommend you consult a professional who can guide you.
If you find yourself trying to figure out what your employment policies should include, Integrated General Counsel can help you determine your next steps. If you are ready for a results-driven plan of action, contact us either by telephone at (925) 399-1529, schedule yourself into our calendar for an appointment at a time convenient for you, or complete the Contact Kristen form and we will get back to you.
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