Just as springtime motivates us to declutter and revitalize our homes, it is also a great time to review and revamp your employee handbook. Most people think of an employee handbook as a one-time project, but not reviewing it on a regular basis can be detrimental to your business. Just like your home, your organization may grow, shrink, or even move! Regular updates are crucial to maintain the foundation of your workplace expectations and culture.

Tips for “Spring Cleaning” your handbook:

1. Schedule an Annual Review. Same as spring cleaning at home, make time to thoroughly review your handbook at least once a year. While most of the information may stay the same, you never know what you may find (like that creepy doll in the attic): outdated policies, inconsistencies, or areas that need more clarification.
2. Make Updates in Phases. Cleaning out your entire house in one sitting can feel overwhelming, same with your handbook. Focus on one or two sections at a time. Similarly, when informing your employees of changes, consider sending brief memos highlighting critical updates before sending the final version of the updated handbook to review and sign.
3. Welcome New Possibilities. Just as spring cleaning can make improvements and opportunities to reorganize your home, become excited about new possibilities within your organization that can be addressed in the handbook. Popular topics for updates include moving to hybrid or remote work and enhancing leave or vacation policies. Take this time to think about how you want to see your organization grow for the future.

Happy cleaning!

 

 

This information does not constitute legal advice.