Why Refreshing Your Employee Handbook is Critical, Especially if You Have Remote Employees

An employee handbook is essential. In a remote environment, where there are more laws to trip over and fewer organic opportunities to learn about the company’s culture, it’s even more critical.

Remote employees generally work in different states with different laws. That means fewer chances to learn about the company’s culture and more legal risks. Remote employees can’t casually walk into your office. They can’t learn about company culture through water-cooler chat. They won’t know about company policies by overhearing a conversation on the other side of the cubicle wall. 

Employee handbooks help fill some of the gaps. When done well, they clarify policy and set a healthy tone for company culture. An employee handbook shouldn’t just tell your employees how your company will operate and what they must do. It should also tell them who your company is and what you’re trying to become. 

Your employee handbook also serves as a legal guardrail to ensure your company is better protected and your human resources team is more compliant. A well-written and updated employee handbook is one of the best antidotes to costly employment litigation. Your employee handbook will likely be the first piece of evidence an attorney or government investigator will look at when deciding whether to file a lawsuit against your company. 

Refreshing and updating your handbook is like routine vehicle maintenance. It doesn’t take much effort or cost. But neglect can be catastrophic. When your company embraces remote work, the legal risks go up. The importance of a well-written and updated employee handbook goes up too.