Employee Handbook

An Employee Handbook ("Handbook") is the basic constitution for the employees and includes a set of rules, principles, values, behaviours, which the employees are expected to follow while working for an organization and defines the desired behaviour. Handbook plays as a guide to the employees from the inception of their job until the termination.

This Handbook can be used for any type of organization, regardless of size and area of work. A Handbook covers a lot of areas including compliance with applicable laws, how to tackle a situation where conflict of interest arises, how the organization and employees should ensure equal opportunity in the organization, policy against harassment and discrimination, how to properly use and handle the organization's property including intellectual property and confidential information, the personal appearance and communications of the employee, drug and alcohol policy, how to report any violation of the Handbook and so on.

This Handbook is a one-sided agreement drafted by the organization without any negotiation with the employees, and employees will have only the option to sign and acknowledge the same.

In case if any employee violates the Handbook, the organization can set a progressive disciplinary action including verbal warning, warning letter, suspension, and dismissal from the employment.

How to use this document?

This Handbook is a separate book that explains the desired actions and responsibilities of the employees. The Handbook can be used along with other exclusive policies like Employee Code of Conduct Policy, Social Media Policy, Employee Privacy Policy, etc. This Code is different from that of the employment agreement, as the employment agreement is between an employee and the organization, but a Handbook will be applicable for all the employees or a group of employees in the organization.

Under this Handbook, the organization can incorporate their specific rules and policies under relevant sections. Once the Handbook is filled and printed, it can be circulated to the employees either as soft copies or physical copies, in either case, it is better to get the acknowledgement receipt from the employees.

It is always better to make this Handbook available to all employees and other stakeholders of the company.

Applicable laws

The employment laws are covered under the respective Shops and Establishment Acts of the states concerned. In general, rules under the Indian Contract Act, 1872 will be applicable.

How to modify the template?

You fill out a form. The document is created before your eyes as you respond to the questions.

At the end, you receive it in Word and PDF formats. You can modify it and reuse it.