Orange County Business Lawyer Shares Important Information on Developing Employee Manuals
April 19, 2016
What a California Business Needs to Know about Employee Manuals
Whether your business is just getting off the ground, or is already established, it’s likely you have more to do than you may have the time or money to accomplish. Understandably, you will be devoting your attention and resources to the most urgent and crucial issues.
When you’re getting ready to start hiring, you may consider developing a manual for your new employees to explain the company’s policies, procedures, and benefits. If you search the Internet, you will find plenty of material there: sample chapters from vendors or consultants, do-it-yourself customizable templates, even actual manuals used by real companies.
But before you yield to the temptation of what may seem like a quick, easy, and cheap solution, you need to be aware that the do-it-yourself approach may not be as ideal as it seems. So before adopting a manual you found online (even if it’s already being used by other companies), do not — whatever you do — neglect to get the opinion of an experienced Orange County business lawyer, and carefully consider the issues and suggestions that business lawyer makes.
Why? There are multiple reasons. As you likely already know, for better or worse, California leads the nation in the number of areas in human resources laws where it has staked out requirements and prohibitions on employers that differ or are in addition to those that apply in most other states. Since there’s no such thing as a universally applicable employee manual, you’ll want to be sure that yours conforms to the specifics of California law.
In addition, even on federal laws affecting your business, not every description or explanation you may find will be accurate or up-to-date, not to mention best-suited to how your company operates and wants to communicate with your workers. Even word changes that may seem relatively minor to you could have significant consequences. Further, as those who follow the many federal agencies that might affect your business can tell you (even when you might rather not know), the agencies seem to have an unquenchable appetite for new regulations and interpretations, even when Congress isn’t adding to the laws you need to understand and address.
If well done, an employee manual offers one useful way to communicate on important issues to your workforce, and document both employer and employee responsibilities. Employers have numerous legal requirements to notify or caution workers in various areas – including such general areas as payroll, benefits, job safety and others, plus others than may be specific to its type, size and location. But if done poorly, it can add to, not lessen, your risk exposure and business headaches.
A carefully drawn up (and updated) employer’s manual can help meet some of these requirements and document your compliance. So make sure you have the advice and assistance of a well-experienced Orange County business lawyer, both before adopting an employee manual, and at regular intervals to keep the manual current.
A carefully drawn up (and updated) employer’s manual can help meet some of these requirements and document your compliance. So make sure you have the advice and assistance of a well-experienced Orange County business lawyer, both before adopting an employee manual, and at regular intervals to keep the manual current.
For over 30 years, the business attorneys at FitzGerald Yap Kreditor have been providing businesses throughout Southern California, of all sizes and types, with expert counsel, practical advice, and efficient, cost-effective workable solutions. For a confidential consultation with an experienced FitzGerald Yap Kreditor Orange County business lawyer, call (949) 788-8900.
