Q: What are the benefits of having an Employee Handbook? Of course, our school has one; however, it’s one of those things I think all organizations have but no one ever reads. I’ve been tasked with reviewing and potentially updating ours this summer, and am looking for some motivation.
A: Running a school without an Employee Handbook is a bit like a high-wire act without a safety net. Let’s look at both the pluses and minuses of having an updated Employee Handbook, and hopefully you’ll find the encouragement you seek.
Pluses
- It forces you to actually think about and define the processes, protocols, and behaviors you wish modeled at your school.
- It provides a way for you to, in a documented manner, educate your community members as to what is and is not acceptable/expected behavior.
- If you follow it, the handbook provides an affirmative defense should a suit arise from the administration of a punishment or consequence due to a violation.
- Fewer “difficult conversations” and surprises (i.e., less easy for an employee to say, “ I did not know.”)
Minuses/risks
- Not following the handbook (especially if what really occurs and is permitted does not match what the handbook says) can lead to potential discrimination claims.
- Not being tied to other supporting documents, such as employment contracts, leads to potential inconsistencies in how the handbook is enforced—and can make your school vulnerable to lawsuits.
- Employee handbooks should be reviewed and updated yearly to ensure that your policies and standards are current with technology, as well as other changes that occur throughout the year. You can’t expect your faculty and staff to uphold policies that aren’t clearly presented to them.
- You’ll want to obtain a signed confirmation from each employee that they have received, read, and accepted all of your school’s policies as presented in your handbook. Without confirmation, it’s your word against theirs that they were made aware of the rules they must follow.
Our Sample Employee Handbook: Policies for Private-Independent Schools is a great tool for schools reviewing and revising their handbooks. More than simply pros and cons, it’s a Word document that allows you to easily cut and paste policies into your school’s file and then modify to match your mission.
