Large corporations use employee manuals to both educate employees about policies and protect themselves legally. Whether or not you need an employee manual is your decision, though it can be a great tool for keeping your policies consistent. You should have a manual like this reviewed by a lawyer to make sure it is compliant with local and federal laws. The following is a sample outline that you can use as a guideline for your manual:

1. 1. Welcome & Introduction
2. 2. Purpose of Handbook
3. 3. Company Mission Statement
4. 4. Company History
5. 5. Employee Responsibilities & Code of Conduct
6. 6. Discipline Procedures
7. 7. Attendance and Punctuality
8. 8. Time Cards
9. 9. Work Hours, Breaks & Lunch Breaks
10. 10. Overtime Policy
11. 11. Payday
12. 12. Payroll Deductions
13. 13. Performance Reviews and Wage Increases
14. 14. Promotions
15. 15. Resignation and Termination
16. 16. Telephone Usage
17. 17. Benefits Overview
    1. Medical
    2. Dental
    3. Vision
    4. Employee Assistance Program
    5. Vacation
    6. Sick Time
    7. Tuition Reimbursement
    8. Life Insurance
    9. Disability Benefits
    10. Employee Discount
    11. Employee Referral Bonus
    12. Years of Service Awards
18. 18. Leave of Absence
    1. Sick
    2. Family Leave
    3. Funeral
    4. Disability
    5. Jury Duty
    6. Military
    7. Maternity
    8. Unpaid Leave
19. 19. Emergency Procedures
20. 20. Summary and Acknowledgement

About the Author:

Stephanie Chandler is the author of several business and marketing books including FROM ENTREPRENEUR TO INFOPRENEUR: MAKE MONEY WITH BOOKS, E-BOOKS AND INFORMATION PRODUCTS. She is the founder of http://BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of resources for entrepreneurs and http://TheBusinessGrowthConnection.com, a marketing company specializing in electronic newsletters.