We Draft Employee Handbooks for Companies Throughout Southern California

An Employee Handbook serves multiple functions. The first of these is that it helps protect a company from claims by its workers. Should an employee be fired for violating company policy and claim in a wrongful termination suit that they did not know the policy existed, then having a manual which states the policy can help to insulate companies from such a claim. A second way in which employee manuals assist employers is that they can help to limit third-party liability. Companies are generally liable for the acts of their employees. The extent to which a company will pay damages will, in part, depend on the extent to which steps are taken to prevent certain employee conduct. If, for example, an employee does something which causes a lawsuit and the conduct was prohibited by an employee handbook, then such would be an argument in the employer's favor. Hiring an attorney to assist with the drafting of a handbook can help protect your business from employees and third parties.

The Devil is in the details......

"Ambiguity lurks in generality and may thus become an instrument of severity." Felix Frankfurter.  When detailing your company policies, the more detail you provide, the better off your company will be.  An employee handbook gives employees a detailed overview of policies that are specific to your organization along with other key procedures, guidelines and employee benefits. In a nutshell, it sets clear expectations for your employees while also stating your legal obligations and defining employee rights. The employee handbook can help protect your business against employee lawsuits and claims, such as wrongful termination, harassment and discrimination. The handbook is also a crucial introduction to your business for new hires, providing insights for new hires to understand your mission and values.