Employee Handbook Toolkit

by Practical Law Labor & Employment

A Toolkit containing resources to help employers create, maintain, and distribute legally compliant employee handbooks. This Toolkit highlights the critical functions of an employee handbook, such as explaining workplace expectations, demonstrating compliance with employment laws, and minimizing the risk of legal claims. It emphasizes that a poorly drafted handbook can increase legal and financial exposure, for example, by creating unintended contractual obligations or by including policies that could violate Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). To assist employers in drafting effective and compliant manuals, this resource provides model policies and other guidance covering pre-hiring, general employment, payroll and compensation, leave, and health and safety. The resources are designed to help employers understand applicable federal laws and implement best practices for the ongoing maintenance and distribution of their handbooks. For state handbook resources, see State Employee Handbook Toolkit.