The following two tabs change content below. It should also answer these common employee questions: Do I get separate sick days and vacation days? Absenteeism and Tardiness Policy If you want your business to function properly, you need your employees to actually show up. Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. It can also be for small business employees where the employer offers health insurance options. Depending on the size and location of your business, it may be illegal to discriminate or harass workers based on gender, race, age, sexual orientation, sexual identity or even political affiliation. By: Shanna Wall ... Having well-written and up-to-date employee policies is more than a good business practice. This section may include your: 1. At-Will Employment: Employment status generally falls into two categories: "contractual” and “at-will.” If no contract exists, a worker’s status is likely at-will. Use this employee handbook template and NFIB’s detailed sample employee handbook to create your own. (Be sure to provide training for those individuals.) As always, if you are looking for help developing this policy or an entire employee handbook, I’d be happy to assist. Get more tips on interviewing, hiring, managing and engaging your employees. If performing a temperature check on multiple individuals, the screener should change their gloves and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol between each employee. Going from no written policies to a detailed employee handbook can be overwhelming. Contact thermometers need to be cleaned and disinfected after each screened employee according to manufacturer’s instructions and facility policies. [Infographic] Gusto Editors . EEO/Harassment: This crucial policy clearly states that discrimination and harassment are unacceptable in your workplace. Employers aren’t required by law to provide paid vacation leave; however, specific states, cities and federal contractors must, by law, provide paid sick leave. Some small to medium sized businesses have undocumented paid time off (PTO) policies simply because they’re not sure where to start. Company Policies (General Work Rules) Sample is available free to download, customize, print for your small business HR Department. Share. So, if you’re unsure where to start, here’s our list of the top 10 ‘must have’ HR policies for small and medium-sized businesses: Health and Safety at Work Policy Workplace injuries can affect your business in many ways, including decreased productivity, … How and when do I request time off? Read why you need one and how to create it. Employee handbooks are an important tool for business owners. Like I said earlier, the very nature of small businesses actually makes it easier for them to be more flexible and allow for more time away during leave periods. The small business employee handbook is just as important as any at larger businesses, arguably more so because it can help small business owners to make sure that they’re on the up and up when it comes to the legalities surrounding employment. Rules of Conduct: Your conduct policy can set expectations on everything from dress code and customer interaction to personal use of company equipment and social media. Read more. It also helps put you on firm legal footing. Included here is a customizable employee handbook template that is provided by the Small ... company’s policies as well as federal, state and local laws. These policies, procedures, and checklists successfully recognize the limits of providing employees proper guidance for appropriate behavior at work and draw a line between that and employee lives outside of the workplace. Copyright © 2021 SCORE Association, www.score.org, How to Create an Employee Handbook for Your Small Business: The Ultimate Guide, Basics of Human Resources You Should Know, Need more information? Share: Bookmark. Take a look to see the recommended sample policies that don't sap employee spirits and steal their lives and private time. Also, incorporate an anti-retaliation statement and this language, “We will keep your complaint as confidential as possible under the circumstances.” This provides the necessary leeway to conduct a thorough investigation. Businesses are complicated operations, regardless of size. The same thing can happen when an employee needs to go on leave. From hiring to firing, to mandatory employee postings, to 1099 and W-2 processing, our solutions are guaranteed to be 100% compliant with federal and state (and in some cases, local) employment laws. By having policies and processes in place, you create standards and values for your business. Log in. General details, such as directions to the office, team structure, and key contact info At-will employment clause 2. (The only limitation to this is termination for an illegal reason, such as discrimination.) If you have a physical office and standard work hours, then this policy would outline your expectations for employees showing up … These rights cover a multitude of directives and responsibilities for the employer to adhere to. In addition to laying the ground rules for your workplace, your conduct policy should include this phrase: “And any other management rules.” This covers you if a rule is broken that is not specifically listed on the policy. Find out what your local laws are, and make sure they’re covered in your policy. 5. Equality and diversity. You may wonder what’s most important. Time Off/PTO: A proper time-off policy will cover expected work hours, attendance expectations and paid holidays. Dianne Shaddock is the President of Easy Small Business HR, Employee Hiring and Managing Tips and the author of the eGuides, "How To Supervise:  What Your Boss Never Told You Before You Took the Job", A Step-By-Step Guide For New and Seasoned Managers and "How To Find and Hire the Best Employees". But what if you’re starting from scratch? It is for this very reason, amongst others, that businesses need human resources (HR) policies and processes to set out how the organisations will operate. 10 Company Policies Every Small Business Should Consider. Leave policies should also account for employees who need to stay home with their children if there are school or childcare closures, or to care for sick family members. 4. Payroll: Employee lawsuits claiming incorrect pay are on the rise. Small business health insurance is health coverage for those that are self-employed and small business owners. The actual polices and procedures of your business may vary due to the size of the company, the number of employees, benefits offered and other factors. Conflict of interest statement 4. You should also explain how payroll deductions are handled for time off (which will likely differ for exempt and nonexempt employees). Examine policies for leave, telework, and employee compensation. This means the employment relationship can be terminated at any time, by either the employee or the employer, for any reason or no reason at all. One of the top motivations for businesses to create an employee handbook is to train new hires. WHS policies highlight safety procedures and the responsibilities of all employees to keep the workplace safe. This handbook is intended to assist you in creating your own custom employee handbook. This helps ensure compliance with employment legislation and acts as the first line of defence if an employee brings a claim against the company. Including these policies clarifies for employees their rights and obligations, and protects you from potential liability. Be as clear as possible when writing your company attendance policy. These include the right to a written contract, an itemised pay slip, to be paid at least the national minimum wage, the right to at least 28 days paid holidays (including bank holidays) and, in some cases, paid matern… Read more, While you might not be ready to hire an HR specialist for your business, you should be prepared to handle a few key aspects of human resource management. 10 Quick Tips for Small Businesses Starting a business? Our direct brands include HRdirectapps.com (simple and smart online HR software), PosterTracker.com (complete range of ComplyRight posting solutions), efile4biz.com (online 1099, W-2 and ACA form processing), and HRdirect.com (leading provider of ComplyRight HR products). Federal law does not currently require small businesses to provide employees with paid time off (PTO). Every company that uses computers, email, the internet, and software on a daily basis should have information technology (IT) policies in place. Formal personnel policies also protect your business in the event of an employee dispute. These are: Equal opportunities. Visit our Contact Us Page. For example, California employers must have a written harassment, discrimination and retaliation prevention policy. How does my time off accrue? Neither the State of Missouri nor its employees make any express or implicit warranty regarding the sufficiency, accuracy or completeness of … At-Will Employment: Employment status generally falls into two categories: "contractual” and “at-will.”. Putting company rules in writing helps set expectations and reduces misunderstandings. Have employees sign an acknowledgment stating they received the policies, read them and understand their content. Build the Best Team for Your Small Business, Cross Training Staff – Doing the Right Thing For the Wrong Reasons, Proactive Employee Management Really Boils Down To The Basics, Office Meetings Do Not Have To Be A Productivity Time Drain If Done Right, Proposed Changes To Employee Rights Laws: WAGE Act Bill, Performance Appraisals for Small Business – Why You Need To Be On Board, 10 Management Tips For Dealing With Problem Employees, Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges and Solutions, Internet and Social Media Use in the Workplace. That’s a bad idea. However, with a record low unemployment rate in the U.S., 1  a good benefits package can be essential to attracting and retaining talent for your business, and a competitive benefits program includes paid time off. An employee handbook, also sometimes called an employee manual or a policies and procedures manual, is a document that tells your staff members what to expect when they work for you. Putting guidelines in place is the best way to eliminate any misunderstandings that may arise between employees and management … Leave policies should be flexible and non-punitive, and allow sick employees to stay home and away from co-workers. 2. Photo Credit. Small business attendance policy A small business attendance policy is a written document that defines absences and tardiness, includes rules for attendance, and lays out disciplinary actions. That’s why all businesses must have a formal payroll policy. What are general work rules? Many small businesses understand the importance and value of having policies and procedures in place, while some small businesses see having formal policies and procedures as a process that is too “corporate” or “stuffy” for their organizations.. Health & safety. Your email address will not be published. Effective business policies must be specific … An employee handbook is a compilation of your company's policies and protocols, as well as employees' legal rights and obligations. DISCLAIMER: This selection of sample policies is for general information only – it is not intended as legal advice. Hope this provides a nice starting point for an attendance policy should you need one. This article is an excerpt from ComplyRight’s “Covering the Bases: A Beginner’s Guide to Employment Law.” You can download the entire e-guide here. Check out these 10 quick tips. Employee Handbook Model Policies. All you need to do is provide a statement that encompasses what matters most to you as a company. Written policies are a great way to protect yourself, while also providing a safe, fair working environment for your employees. The NFIB Legal Foundation is pleased to provide you with this Model Employee Handbook for Small Business. Comprehensive workplace policies safeguard a business against risk. For More HR Examples like Sample Small Business Attendance Policies and Company Employee Tardiness Policies: Many people might think that small businesses can get away without one. 1. ComplyRight creates practical products and services to help small businesses complete essential HR and tax reporting tasks in an efficient and legally sound manner. Employers count on their employees to use their credit cards appropriately and not abuse the privilege. Equal employment opportunity statement 3. Workplace injuries can affect your business in a number of ways including decreased productivity, sick pay obligations and the cost of finding a replacement. A good one should help employees get to know you, lay out your policies and procedures, and act as the cornerstone for building a killer company culture. FFCRA covers certain public employers and private employers with fewer than 500 employees. It should include definitions of exempt and non-exempt employee classifications, as well as details on your pay period, payday, overtime-authorization rules and any meal/rest break guidelines for hourly employees. Small business health insurance is typically for businesses with 2–50 employees. Keep a copy of the signed acknowledgment in the personnel file, or a date and time stamp on an electronic acknowledgment. When can I start using it? Some of the basic things to consider and make sure that you adhere to include the statutory rightsof an employee. Select a vacation policy: Traditional, bank system, unlimited There are several ways you can handle time off. To ensure your employees take the time off they need to be productive, you need to select a model and create a policy that works for both employees and your small business. These are the essential employee policies for any small business: 1. Click to select the duration you give consent until. Identify key processes and tasks in your business, and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for each. Discipline/dismissal and grievance. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. In order to be successful, your employees have to be in alignment with your company's values, missions, and goals. ... An “employee” of [Company Name] is a person who regularly works for [Company Name] on a 3. Business policies also help create a safe workplace, providing employees with options for reporting any issues that arise. Employee Credit Card Policies For Small Business. Confidentiality agreement 5. If no contract exists, a worker’s status is likely at-will. Creating Employee Policies Paychex subsidiary SurePayroll recently conducted a survey of 259 small business owners to find out how much paid time off they offer employees, and three-quarters of respondents said 10 days or less. Does it roll over to the next year? Time-off policies themselves tend to fall into one of three broad groups: Employees get a fixed number of vacation days at the beginning of a work year. So kick things off by laying out the basics that every employee should know before the shimmy through the front door. Long-time business owner, but need a quick refresher on your responsibilities under the federal employment discrimination laws? Certain policies are mandatory and must be included in your employee handbook. Having a written policy that reinforces your right to discharge at-will can help your defense in a wrongful termination case. It should answer everything your employees need to know about being late or absent. For example, successful online shoe retailer Zappos names 10 Zappos Family Core Valuesthat it expects employees to aspire to, incl… Non-contact thermometers should be cleaned and … They can also improve the way your customers and staff deal with your business. Employment policies (UK) There are some important policies your business will need to be compliant with British law. Martin Marinov April 5, 2018 Issuing credit cards to employees is a trust based exercise. Human Resources Policies for Small & Medium Businesses. Include language on how to report a concern, and provide the names of two individuals within the company who can be trusted to handle complaints properly and confidentially. The general work rules are a list of minimum acceptable standards of conduct expected of all company employees. That's why you need to lay out those aims at the beginning of your employee handbook. Small Businesses and Employee Handbooks: Where Do You Stand? What happens to earned time off if I quit or I’m terminated? In small businesses, employees are used to wearing many hats and pitching in when roles are open. An employee handbook is like the user manual to your company. What happens if I don’t use my time? 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