Four Handbook Helps

Handbook. That word can be scary. For some, the thought of the new year and staying ahead of any needed policy changes may be stressful. Others may feel stuck, wondering where to start and what needs to be included. Regardless of where you are at in your handbook journey, our PolicySmartTM solution can help! It’s designed to assist you in developing and maintaining compliant handbook policies. Whether you are very familiar with PolicySmart or completely new to the solution, we thought it would be helpful to point out four of our favorite PolicySmart features, so you can make sure you’re getting the most out of the solution.

1. Policy Templates
PolicySmart provides a library of national and state-specific templates you can use and customize for your handbook. To access the templates, click on “Visit Policy Documents” under PolicySmart, pick your jurisdiction, and select “Template” or “Template (State and National Combined)” as your document type.

2. Policy Checklists
To help you select and customize the policies you need for your handbook, the library also includes handbook policy checklists that show which policies are required by law to appear in your handbook and who is covered by each policy. To access the checklists, click on “Visit Policy Documents” under PolicySmart, pick your jurisdiction, and select “Checklist” as your document type.

3. Policy Timeline and News
Because staying up to date on policy changes is important, PolicySmart provides both an effective date timeline that illustrates when new laws go into effect for each state and a news section that highlights recent legal changes. Both the timeline and the recent news allow you to view a synopsis explaining the regulation and, when applicable, suggestions for how to update your handbook policy. To access the timeline and news, click on “View Policy News” under PolicySmart.

4. State Guides
If you are looking for more information, PolicySmart provides access to Littler’s State Employer Library, a collection of guides that include federal and state-specific information on notice and posting requirements. To access the state guides, click on “Visit Policy Documents” under PolicySmart, pick your jurisdiction, and select “Guide” as your document type.

If you’d like to learn more about PolicySmart, we invite you to check out our Live Open Office Hours or email support@compliancehr.com with any questions you may have.

If you’d like a brief overview of what should be included in your handbook, check out “14 Employee Handbook ‘Must Haves.’”