Short answer
It's a book of clarity.
Long answer
An Employee Manual is a document that's made accessible to employees by an employer that serves as a rule book and reference guide for the workplace. It's essentially an operating manual to navigate the complex network of human and operational details that make up a place of work.
Clear expectations are important and you do need to protect employees and your company, but we think you can get a lot more value from an Employee Manual than a list of antagonistic rules. The real value and highest return on investment (ROI) you get with a comprehensive HR Manual is providing information that brings people together, gets them aligned, helps them understand company values and culture, and gets them working towards a common goal. It means communicating information about your business and competitors, your brand and customer service philosophies, and profiling the person who will do well in your culture.
ROI is also realized when employees have operational information at their fingertips, preventing repeat questions such as:
- How do I submit my expenses?
- How do I record my absences?
- How do I book a meeting room?
- Where do I find an org chart?
- How do I turn the lights off when I leave at night?