Staff Handbook
Introduction
Staff Handbook Index
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Written Statement of Particulars
Section 6
External links
This section is designed to assist employers develop a
staff handbook. The objective of a staff handbook is to provide:
-
Information to all employees concerning the company, structure and its customers
-
Essential information to new members of staff concerning day to day procedures, work colleagues, who to ask for help – all the information they need to begin to function effectively and need in their first few days
-
A written statement of employment particulars
-
Employment information which compliments the contract of employment.
It is worth providing the information in a loose leaf
binder so that it can easily be updated.
The draft Staff Handbook set out below contains
five sections (details all indexed) opposite:
-
Section 1 Introduction to the Company
-
Section 2 Information for new starters
-
Section 3 Employment Policies
-
Section 4 Contract of Employment
-
Section 5 Written Statement of Particulars
-
Section 6 Disciplinary/ Grievance Codes
Our suggestion is that the document is written, first person in an informal style. The first two sections are primarily designed for new starters but other staff may find them helpful.
When providing a written document to staff such as this it is important to be clear as to the status of the document. Our suggestion is that the all sections of the handbook apart from the Contract of Employment section are described as codes of good practice. This would include the disciplinary and grievance codes. In essence this means those sections are to be interpreted for guidance not literally read as is the case with a contract of employment.
For convenience of distribution and updating we suggest the contract of employment and disciplinary or grievance codes are included in the handbook.