Why Handbooks are a Game Changer
When undertaking HR audits for new clients, the first thing that we comment on is their pre-employment pack; this usually includes a mountain of heavy ‘’HR-language’’ policies (yes, I said it!). With new recruits, they avoid the mundane ‘’do’s’’ and ‘’don’ts’’ and head straight for the remuneration, benefits and hours before signing and returning the documents giving little thought to the policies, which remains the norm during their employment journey.
As a first impression, this doesn’t reflect an exciting workplace, there is no initial connection to the business, culture, values or mission. In a world where the tables have turned, to be in favour of candidates now being able to take their pick of Employers, where millennials and Gen-Z candidates are attracted to workplaces that provide a forward-thinking environment and have a point of difference; Handbooks are a game changer.
People Passion started preparing Handbooks for clients back when this was a totally new concept, the catalyst for this being common knowledge of employees not reading policies, which in turn can impact formal processes with employees often feeling in the dark on policies that they saw briefly at the pre-employment stage. It also makes it very hard to pull someone up on their behaviour, when they didn’t even know it was below the line in the first place.
Over the years we have developed these handbooks into different concepts depending on the client, this includes smaller Code of Conducts and Drug and Alcohol booklets. Each of these, are a great way to ‘set the tone’ for Company culture and what the expectations are in terms of conduct and brand representation. They are created with the employee in mind, the language is fun, easy to follow and gets to the point, while still protecting the business and including much needed policies on drug and alcohol, vehicles, workplace wellbeing, bullying and harassment etc.
The Handbook is fully designed in line with your branding, photos of the workplace, team and social events. Once printed into a handy A5 booklet, handbooks can be kept at desks, in vehicles or in the lunchroom, to ensure these remain a point of reference throughout the employment journey.
We are very lucky to have a hugely talented Designer on our team to ensure the end result of these are outstanding. If you’re interested in creating a Handbook for your team, get in touch! We would love to explore what this could look like for you.
Client Handbook Preview
Absolute Radiology
Krista McDowell
HR Partner