{"id":21371,"date":"2020-06-22T08:26:27","date_gmt":"2020-06-22T06:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/?p=21371"},"modified":"2025-06-04T15:50:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T13:50:34","slug":"employee-handbook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/","title":{"rendered":"Crafting an Employee Handbook: Tips, Advice and Best Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>An employee handbook is an important document for any company. It informs employees of the <strong>policies, procedures, and expectations<\/strong> that guide their behavior in the workplace. It also provides important information about the company and its vision, mission and goals.<\/p>\n<p>Creating an employee handbook pdf that employees actually want to read can be complicated. It\u2019s important to be precise, but it is also important to make sure you include all the necessary information. You need to find the right balance between <strong>communicative<\/strong> and <strong>overloaded<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In this post, we will look at why an <strong>employee manual<\/strong> is so important for your company. We will examine what information you should be included in yours, and provide tips to help you write an informative and engaging manual for your employees.<\/p>\n<p>And we&#8217;ve got a bonus for you! A free download to help you get started on how to create employee handbook free templates.\ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n<p>\u2705<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/templates\/employee-handbook-template\">Employee Handbook Free Template &#8211; Download in .pdf<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/templates\/employee-handbook-template\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-160713 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/04153941\/Employee-Handbook-Template-1024x422.png\" alt=\"Free employee handbook template available to download\" width=\"1024\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/04153941\/Employee-Handbook-Template-1024x422.png 1024w, https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/04153941\/Employee-Handbook-Template-300x124.png 300w, https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/04153941\/Employee-Handbook-Template-768x317.png 768w, https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/04153941\/Employee-Handbook-Template.png 1212w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2><a name=\"what\"><\/a><strong>What is an Employee Handbook?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An employee handbook is a document created by the HR team. It states your <strong>legal obligations as an employer<\/strong> and the <strong>rights of your employees<\/strong>. It is an essential resource so it is important to get it right. This new hire manual lays the groundwork for newcomers and seasoned employee alike on what to expect from the company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The document is given to all new starters to ensure <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/onboarding-documents\/\">onboarding<\/a> best practices<\/span> are met. The handbook is provided in either a <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">digital or hard copy, and it should tell new staff <strong>everything they need to know about the company<\/strong>. This can include company policies, procedures, codes of conduct, and information relating to compensation and benefits. The document should detail what an <strong>employee\u2019s rights<\/strong> are, and what they can expect from the employer. It establishes guidelines and expectations for employees and safeguards the company if those expectations are not met.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Writing an employee handbook word template can be confusing. All too often companies will fill their handbook with too much technical jargon which puts people off reading it. A good handbook can help a company create a positive company culture, but it must be clear, focused, and well written. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s important to create a well-written employee handbook template that can be updated as the years pass.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a name=\"purpose\"><\/a>Purpose and Benefits of an Employee Handbook Template<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although there are <strong>no federal or state laws<\/strong> requiring an employer to have an employee manual, there are many benefits to writing and distributing an effective handbook.\u00a0 A well-written handbook can serve as a valuable resource for new and existing staff at all levels of your company.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It helps you define all your company policies, procedures, and working practices. This makes it easier to update them on a regular basis.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clear guidelines show employees that there is consistency for all employees. This will help prevent misunderstandings, complaints and job dissatisfaction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It helps ensure <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-compliance-laws\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hr compliance laws<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with state and federal employment laws.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It provides new employees with an introduction to your company. This can help them feel settled and increase engagement and loyalty. It can also help them integrate with the team.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A handbook is a useful resource for checking dress codes, parking recommendations, maternity rights, etc. This means that your HR department will spend less time responding to queries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It improves communication. People know what they need to do in a given situation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A well-designed handbook can help mitigate conflict between employees and the company. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It sets clear expectations for employees <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and safeguards the company if those expectations are not met.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can help to create a safe and positive <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace culture<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> built on established policies and procedures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a name=\"include\"><\/a>Template for Employee Handbook: What Should I Include in My Employee Manual?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally speaking, an HR handbook should include your policies, expectations, and legal obligations as an employer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Important information to include in your template for employee handbook:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The company\u2019s culture, vision, values, and mission.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legal employment rights and obligations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expectations: employer and employee.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Company policies and procedures.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A company\u2019s handbook should be tailored to its business needs and culture. It should tell the company\u2019s \u201cstory\u201d and help employees understand its goals and mission statement. What does the company do? When was it founded? Why? How would you describe your work culture? And your company values? This will help new and current employees understand the common goals of the company.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The employee handbook should be provided to all new recruits and be available in both hard and digital formats. Terms should be revised frequently and updated whenever there are changes in state or federal laws or internal policies.<\/span><!-- \/ https:\/\/optinmonster.com --><\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/templates\/employee-handbook-template\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-160713 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/04153941\/Employee-Handbook-Template-1024x422.png\" alt=\"Free employee handbook template available to download\" width=\"1024\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/04153941\/Employee-Handbook-Template-1024x422.png 1024w, https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/04153941\/Employee-Handbook-Template-300x124.png 300w, https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/04153941\/Employee-Handbook-Template-768x317.png 768w, https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/04153941\/Employee-Handbook-Template.png 1212w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2><b> <a name=\"code\"><\/a>Code of Conduct\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A company employee handbook for small business or large business is a perfect opportunity to introduce new employees to your code of conduct: how they should act when they are at work. This includes how they dress, how they conduct themselves, how they communicate, and what safety standards they must adhere to.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The code of conduct should provide clear standards and guidelines for behavior. It should be inclusive, considerate, and respectful. Ultimately, it should be the first place your employees look when they have queries about conduct and ethics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Your code of conduct should include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Code of ethics and professional conduct. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What principles govern the decisions and behavior of the company? Is there a designated smoking area? Are relationships between employees discouraged? Can employees buy shares from competitors? Is there a zero-tolerance policy in the company?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Dress code<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Formal or casual? Are tattoos and piercings allowed? Can employees wear shorts in hot weather?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Workplace safety<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as mandatory use of PPE in certain areas if relevant.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Attendance requirements,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> including meal breaks and rest periods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Procedures for <\/span><b>conflict resolution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Cybersecurity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and digital devices. Can employees access social media platforms? Can they take company laptops, tablets or smartphones, home? Is remote working ever allowed?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although you shouldn\u2019t go into too much detail, the code of conduct should set expectations and establish the consequences for not meeting those expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a name=\"policies\"><\/a>Company Policies and Procedures of your Employee Handbook Template<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have created your company story and code of conduct, you need to think about what policies you are going to include in your handbook. Some must be communicated to employees by law, and others will depend on your internal guidelines and procedures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The website for the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">United States Department of Labor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a useful resource for cross-checking employment laws relating to equal employment opportunity, family and medical leave, and other benefits. You also need to stay up to date with state requirements to determine what to include in your employee policy handbook. Don&#8217;t forget&#8230;follow the employee handbook laws too!<a name=\"template\"><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The following policies must be communicated by law in your employee handbook sample template:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equal employment and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/general\/topic\/discrimination\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">non-discrimination policies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Make it clear that the company will not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form and explain what the consequences will be.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family medical leave policies. A requirement of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/whd\/fmla\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family Medical Leave Act<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Many states also have their own policies regarding unpaid family leave.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/workers-compensation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worker&#8217;s compensation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> policies. Many states require that employees be informed of worker&#8217;s compensation policies in writing.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should include information in this section so that employees know what to do in the event they detect policy violations. You should also include a disclaimer confirming that the handbook can be updated at any time at the employer\u2019s discretion.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a name=\"comp\"><\/a>Compensation and Benefits\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another important thing to include in your handbook is information relating to employee <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/guide-to-employee-benefits-and-compensation\/\">compensation and benefits<\/a>. This should include work hours, pay grade structure, timekeeping, overtime, and rest periods. You could also talk about stock options, if you offer them, and your appraisal process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from compensation and working conditions, your handbook should provide a general overview of any benefits that you offer, including health care and dental insurance. Don\u2019t go into too much detail but you could mention what you offer, who is eligible, and what the criteria are.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your company has any reward or incentive schemes then this is the perfect place to include them. These can help motivate employees, create a healthy working environment, and reduce absenteeism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Examples of incentive schemes include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual incentive bonuses with specific goals<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bonus vacation time if 0 sick days are taken in a given period<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health and wellness perks such as yoga classes and gym memberships<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flexible schedules and remote working<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Profit-sharing options<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Team retreats<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Professional development support<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a name=\"other\"><\/a>Employee Handbook Examples of Other Things You Can Include<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following suggestions are optional but they will help ensure your handbook is as comprehensive and informative as possible. An employee handbook creator template will often include additional content.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Additional employee handbook examples of\u00a0 contents:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A welcome letter from the company<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication policies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policies for workplace visitors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drugs and alcohol policy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At-will employment policy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health and safety policy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sick and <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-annual-leave\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">annual leave<\/a> policy<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/paid-time-off-usa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paid time off policy<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maternity\/Paternity leave policy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The assessment process for promotions and raises<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incentive and rewards policies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employee dating policy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employee complaints policy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notice and disclaimer\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A form to sign saying they\u2019ve read the staff handbook and agree to the terms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<style>\r\n\t.text-width {\r\n\t\tmax-width: 26.5rem;\r\n\t}\r\n\t\r\n\t.gap-6 {\r\n\t\tgap: 24px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t\r\n\t.px-5 {\r\n\t\tpadding-right: 20px;\r\n\t\tpadding-left: 20px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t\r\n\t.demo-banner {\r\n\t\tdisplay: flex;\r\n\t\tflex-direction: column;\r\n\t\twidth: 100%;\r\n\t\tgap: 24px;\r\n\t\tpadding-right: 20px;\r\n\t\tpadding-left: 20px;\r\n\t\tborder-radius: 1rem;\r\n\t\tbox-shadow: 0 1px 3px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1), 0 1px 2px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06);\r\n\t\tjustify-content: space-between;\r\n\t\talign-items: center;\r\n\t\tmargin-top: 16px;\r\n\t\tmargin-bottom: 16px;\r\n\t}\r\n\r\n\t.demo-banner .demo-cta:hover{\r\n\t\tcolor: rgb(255,255,255);\r\n\t\tborder-color: rgb(255,53,94);\r\n\t\tbackground-color: rgb(255,53,94);\t\r\n\t}\r\n\t\r\n\t\/* Media Queries *\/\r\n\t@media (min-width: 768px) {\r\n\t\t.demo-banner {\r\n\t\t\tflex-direction: row;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"demo-banner border\">\r\n\t<div class=\"text-lg font-bold text-width\">\r\n\t\tManage and store business documents easily and securely with Factorial\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<a role='button' id=\"demo-cta-160149\"  data-cta=\"demo\" data-cta-position=\"pod-demo-banner-160149\" class=\"demo-cta btn btn--brand btn--medium btn--rounded w-full md:w-auto\" href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/request-demo\">\r\n\t\tGet a demo\t<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<script>\r\n(() => {\r\n  const demoCta = document.getElementById(\"demo-cta-160149\");\r\n  demoCta.addEventListener (\"click\", ()=>{\r\n    window.GoogleAnalytics.trackEvent({\r\n          action: 'banner_click',\r\n          category: 'blog_banner_inline_text',\r\n\t\t  label: demoCta.innerText,\r\n          isoCode: \"\",\r\n    })\r\n\t\r\n  })\r\n  \r\n  const options = {\t  \r\n\t  rootMargin: \"0px\",\r\n\t  threshold: 1.0,\r\n\t};\r\n\r\n\tconst observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries) => {\r\n\t\t entries.forEach((entry) => {\r\n\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) {\r\n\t\t\t  \tobserver.disconnect();\r\n\t\t\t\twindow.GoogleAnalytics.trackEvent({\r\n\t\t\t\t\taction: 'banner_view',\r\n\t\t\t\t\tcategory: 'blog_banner_inline_text',\r\n\t\t\t\t\tlabel: demoCta.innerText,\r\n\t\t\t\t\tisoCode: \"\",\r\n\t\t\t\t});\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t  });\r\n\t}, options);\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\tobserver.observe(demoCta);\r\n})()\r\n<\/script>\n<h2><b><a name=\"avoid\"><\/a>Things to Avoid in Your Handbook for Employees<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never include the following as part of the employee handbook contents:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overly complicated or outdated policies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Restrictive disciplinary procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Empty promises. Be honest about what your company does, where it is going, and what the company culture is like.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific information about health insurance policies. Keep it brief and focus on benefits and eligibility, not insurance carriers and specific policies that could change.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The phrase \u201cpermanent position\u201d. If your contracts are \u201cat will\u201d then this will create unrealistic expectations. To the same effect, use the \u201cintroductory period\u201d instead of the \u201cprobationary period\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a name=\"tips\"><\/a>How Do I Write a Good Employee Handbook Online?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some tips to help you write an informative employee handbook online that your employees will actually read:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you start writing, take some time to think about what you want to include. What message do you want to transmit about your company? How should your story be told? Do you care what employees wear? What are your values and objectives as an employer? If you have specific expectations, make sure they are included.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think about the tone you want to use. Do you want it to be formal or informal? Make sure it is not too negative. Focus on incentives rather than punishment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use clear language. Only include the necessary information and avoid jargon. Content should be useful and engaging and help your employees understand the company. If it is too long and confusing then nobody will read it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use visuals and avoid large blocks of text. Use lots of headers so it is easier for employees to find what they are looking for.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure employees can access the handbook whenever they need to. Save a copy on the company intranet, email a copy to all employees, and provide hard copies if requested.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Review your handbook frequently to make sure it complies with legal requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><a name=\"software\"><\/a>Employee Handbook Free Template vs. Employee Handbook Software\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One way to manage your handbook for employees and to make sure it can be easily accessed by all employees using an employee handbook software solution. The best thing to do is start off with an employee handbook free template, and then upload the completed employee handbook to your employee portal within your HR software. Software such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/for-human-resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Factorial for Human Resources<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help you create, distribute, and update your handbook as often as you need. You can use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">human resources templates<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to design your layout, check legal compliance, and remind you when the document needs to be updated. Ultimately, it will make it easier for employees to access up to date policies.<\/span><\/p>\n<style>\r\n\t.text-width {\r\n\t\tmax-width: 26.5rem;\r\n\t}\r\n\t\r\n\t.gap-6 {\r\n\t\tgap: 24px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t\r\n\t.px-5 {\r\n\t\tpadding-right: 20px;\r\n\t\tpadding-left: 20px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t\r\n\t.demo-banner {\r\n\t\tdisplay: flex;\r\n\t\tflex-direction: column;\r\n\t\twidth: 100%;\r\n\t\tgap: 24px;\r\n\t\tpadding-right: 20px;\r\n\t\tpadding-left: 20px;\r\n\t\tborder-radius: 1rem;\r\n\t\tbox-shadow: 0 1px 3px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1), 0 1px 2px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06);\r\n\t\tjustify-content: space-between;\r\n\t\talign-items: center;\r\n\t\tmargin-top: 16px;\r\n\t\tmargin-bottom: 16px;\r\n\t}\r\n\r\n\t.demo-banner .demo-cta:hover{\r\n\t\tcolor: rgb(255,255,255);\r\n\t\tborder-color: rgb(255,53,94);\r\n\t\tbackground-color: rgb(255,53,94);\t\r\n\t}\r\n\t\r\n\t\/* Media Queries *\/\r\n\t@media (min-width: 768px) {\r\n\t\t.demo-banner {\r\n\t\t\tflex-direction: row;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"demo-banner border\">\r\n\t<div class=\"text-lg font-bold text-width\">\r\n\t\tManage and store business documents easily and securely with Factorial\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<a role='button' id=\"demo-cta-160149\"  data-cta=\"demo\" data-cta-position=\"pod-demo-banner-160149\" class=\"demo-cta btn btn--brand btn--medium btn--rounded w-full md:w-auto\" href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/request-demo\">\r\n\t\tGet a demo\t<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<script>\r\n(() => {\r\n  const demoCta = document.getElementById(\"demo-cta-160149\");\r\n  demoCta.addEventListener (\"click\", ()=>{\r\n    window.GoogleAnalytics.trackEvent({\r\n          action: 'banner_click',\r\n          category: 'blog_banner_inline_text',\r\n\t\t  label: demoCta.innerText,\r\n          isoCode: \"\",\r\n    })\r\n\t\r\n  })\r\n  \r\n  const options = {\t  \r\n\t  rootMargin: \"0px\",\r\n\t  threshold: 1.0,\r\n\t};\r\n\r\n\tconst observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries) => {\r\n\t\t entries.forEach((entry) => {\r\n\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) {\r\n\t\t\t  \tobserver.disconnect();\r\n\t\t\t\twindow.GoogleAnalytics.trackEvent({\r\n\t\t\t\t\taction: 'banner_view',\r\n\t\t\t\t\tcategory: 'blog_banner_inline_text',\r\n\t\t\t\t\tlabel: demoCta.innerText,\r\n\t\t\t\t\tisoCode: \"\",\r\n\t\t\t\t});\r\n\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t  });\r\n\t}, options);\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\tobserver.observe(demoCta);\r\n})()\r\n<\/script>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The right handbook can help increase job satisfaction, loyalty and engagement among employees. It provides useful information and represents the culture and values of the company. Give it the time and respect it deserves, and make sure it is as clear and engaging as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An employee handbook is an important document for any company. It informs employees of the policies, procedures, and expectations that guide their behavior in the workplace. It also provides important information about the company and its vision, mission and goals. Creating an employee handbook pdf that employees actually want to read can be complicated. It\u2019s<a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/\" class=\"read-more\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":21372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[347],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people-management"],"acf":{"topics":"engagement"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.5 (Yoast SEO v21.9.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Employee Handbook: Tips, Advice and Best Practices - Factorial<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u2705 Creating an Employee Handbook - What to include, tips, best practices to engage your employees + [Free Template] for Employee Handbook!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Crafting an Employee Handbook: Tips, Advice and Best Practices\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u2705 Creating an Employee Handbook - What to include, tips, best practices to engage your employees + [Free Template] for Employee Handbook!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Factorial\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Factorial\/100064908455810\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-06-22T06:26:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-04T13:50:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/22082514\/employee-handbook.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"795\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Cat Symonds\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@factorialapp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@factorialapp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Cat Symonds\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Cat Symonds\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/39a0e312e3aae9ac2b6461196e8b1620\"},\"headline\":\"Crafting an Employee Handbook: Tips, Advice and Best Practices\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-06-22T06:26:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-04T13:50:34+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/\"},\"wordCount\":2039,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"People Management\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/\",\"name\":\"Employee Handbook: Tips, Advice and Best Practices - Factorial\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-06-22T06:26:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-04T13:50:34+00:00\",\"description\":\"\u2705 Creating an Employee Handbook - What to include, tips, best practices to engage your employees + [Free Template] for Employee Handbook!\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Factorial\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"All-in-one business management software - Factorial\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/18155144\/factorial-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/18155144\/factorial-logo.png\",\"width\":946,\"height\":880,\"caption\":\"All-in-one business management software - Factorial\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Factorial\/100064908455810\/\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/factorialapp\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/factorialhr\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@factorialmedia\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/factorial\/#\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/39a0e312e3aae9ac2b6461196e8b1620\",\"name\":\"Cat Symonds\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b492f0f89686841665e1c7b5f5b67998?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b492f0f89686841665e1c7b5f5b67998?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Cat Symonds\"},\"description\":\"Cat Symonds is a freelance writer, editor, and translator. Originally from Wales, she studied Spanish and French at the University of Swansea before moving to Barcelona where she lived and worked for 12 years. She has since relocated back to Wales where she continues to build her business, working with clients in Spain and the UK.\u00a0 Cat is the founder of\u00a0The Content CAT: Content And Translation, providing content development and translation services to her clients. She specializes in corporate blogs, articles of interest, ghostwriting, and translation (SP\/FR\/CA into EN), collaborating with a range of companies from a variety of business sectors. She also offers services to a number of NGOs including Oxfam Interm\u00f3n, UNICEF, and Corporate Excellence - Centre for Reputation Leadership.\u00a0 For more information or to contact Cat visit her\u00a0website\u00a0(thecontentcat.com) or send her a message through\u00a0LinkedIn.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.thecontentcat.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/catsymonds\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/author\/cat-symonds\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Employee Handbook: Tips, Advice and Best Practices - Factorial","description":"\u2705 Creating an Employee Handbook - What to include, tips, best practices to engage your employees + [Free Template] for Employee Handbook!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Crafting an Employee Handbook: Tips, Advice and Best Practices","og_description":"\u2705 Creating an Employee Handbook - What to include, tips, best practices to engage your employees + [Free Template] for Employee Handbook!","og_url":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/","og_site_name":"Factorial","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Factorial\/100064908455810\/","article_published_time":"2020-06-22T06:26:27+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-06-04T13:50:34+00:00","og_image":[{"width":795,"height":450,"url":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/22082514\/employee-handbook.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Cat Symonds","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@factorialapp","twitter_site":"@factorialapp","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Cat Symonds","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/"},"author":{"name":"Cat Symonds","@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/39a0e312e3aae9ac2b6461196e8b1620"},"headline":"Crafting an Employee Handbook: Tips, Advice and Best Practices","datePublished":"2020-06-22T06:26:27+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-04T13:50:34+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/"},"wordCount":2039,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#organization"},"articleSection":["People Management"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/","url":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/","name":"Employee Handbook: Tips, Advice and Best Practices - Factorial","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-06-22T06:26:27+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-04T13:50:34+00:00","description":"\u2705 Creating an Employee Handbook - What to include, tips, best practices to engage your employees + [Free Template] for Employee Handbook!","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/employee-handbook\/"]}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/","name":"Factorial","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"All-in-one business management software - Factorial","url":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/18155144\/factorial-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/18155144\/factorial-logo.png","width":946,"height":880,"caption":"All-in-one business management software - Factorial"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Factorial\/100064908455810\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/factorialapp","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/factorialhr","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@factorialmedia","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/factorial\/#"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/39a0e312e3aae9ac2b6461196e8b1620","name":"Cat Symonds","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b492f0f89686841665e1c7b5f5b67998?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b492f0f89686841665e1c7b5f5b67998?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","caption":"Cat Symonds"},"description":"Cat Symonds is a freelance writer, editor, and translator. Originally from Wales, she studied Spanish and French at the University of Swansea before moving to Barcelona where she lived and worked for 12 years. She has since relocated back to Wales where she continues to build her business, working with clients in Spain and the UK.\u00a0 Cat is the founder of\u00a0The Content CAT: Content And Translation, providing content development and translation services to her clients. She specializes in corporate blogs, articles of interest, ghostwriting, and translation (SP\/FR\/CA into EN), collaborating with a range of companies from a variety of business sectors. She also offers services to a number of NGOs including Oxfam Interm\u00f3n, UNICEF, and Corporate Excellence - Centre for Reputation Leadership.\u00a0 For more information or to contact Cat visit her\u00a0website\u00a0(thecontentcat.com) or send her a message through\u00a0LinkedIn.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.thecontentcat.com\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/catsymonds\/"],"url":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/author\/cat-symonds\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21371"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21371"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":160714,"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21371\/revisions\/160714"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}