Time for a pop quiz!
What is the most important thing you can do as a business owner to set yourself up for compliance?
Hint. A compliant employee handbook is the first line of defense for any business in California.
For smaller businesses without a legal department, it may be your primary line of defense!
Yet, despite this knowledge, small and large businesses are notorious for trying to navigate the murky waters of California employment law without a handbook. “But we’re a family here, we don’t need formal rules!” is a common reason given. Spoiler alert: Families do not always get along. They can have trouble communicating, they can disagree, they can have expectations that are not met, they can separate. Think of your latest family drama – what if this was happening at work when there’s a business to run? You do not need disputes or legal threats dragging you down when running business in California is already challenging.
This is where the employee handbook comes in – with a single document, you can:
- Communicate how your business operates and what to expect,
- Plan for possible future situations, such as leaves or promotions,
- Provide a consistent roadmap for navigating rules and procedures,
- Protect your business’ legal rights, such as the right to terminate an at-will employee, and
- Provide a legal defense in the event of a claim.
Further, our great state of California has required certain written policies be provided to employees; a handbook containing those policies all in one place makes compliance a breeze.
