Drafting an Employee Manual Sample Outline

One of the hardest things I had discovered running my company was drafting an Employee Manual. Also added to the stress was the fact that if you made a mistake someone could sue you and you might lose all your hard work and money that you had earned thru blood, sweat and tears as an entrepreneur. You will need an employee manual for your company to protect yourself; but where do you start?

Here is a sample Outline, I prepared for our franchise company, which can help you. After you have addressed all the issues in this outline you may wish to have it reviewed for legal clarity as the wording in a manual can mean life or death in a court of law. No matter how you feel about the issue, if you do not pay attention to the details in your Employee Manual you might find yourself in the poor house due to a vindictive employee with a ruthless attorney. Here is the sample outline;

EMPLOYEE MANUAL

I. HIRING PROCEDURES

A. Where To Find Good Labor

B. Grooming

C. Uniforms

D. Attitude

E. Promptness

F. Temp Agencies

G. Payroll Taxes

H. Worker's Compensation

I. Sexual Harassment

J. Pay Scales -Sales-Office-Washers

K. Benefits

L. Promoting

II. CONTRACT LABOR

A. Piece Work

B. IRS

C. Rentals

D. Expenses

E. Agreements

F. Non-Competition

G. Sales (Commission Only)

III. SAFETY

A. Operations

B. Set Up

C. CDL Records

D. Insurance

E. Claims

F. Slip And Fall

G. OSHA Standards

H. S.B. 198

I. Appeals Board

J. Goggles, Gloves, Boots

K. Industrial

L. Equipment Use and procedures

IV. MOTIVATION

A. Take Employee Aside

B. Thank Him/Her

C. Special Note

D. Letter Of Recommendation

E. Etc.

V. AWARDS

A. Deserving

B. Gifts/Scholarships ($100-200)

C. Certifications

D. Promotions

E. Raises

VI. REPRIMANDS

A. Documentation

B. Privacy

C. Actions

D. Deductions

E. Suspensions

VII. TERMINATION AND FIRING

A. For Cause

B. Lack Of Work

C. Quality Standards

D. Mutual Termination

E. Employee Theft/Fraud

F. Disclosure Of Secrets

G. Office Staff

H. Operations Procedures

I. Sales People

J. Firing

K. Referrals After Termination

L. Referrals Upon Firing

VIII. BUSINESS FORMS

A. Applications

B. Independent Contractor Agreement

C. Non-Competition Requirements

D. Etc.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/dorado-software-announces-redcell-storage/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BD75493DB-0BE6-455F-BFA7-EED2183763E7%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1256188886ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNHBZNbijV5HgUThJoGW2Cx580068ADorado Software Announces Redcell Storage Commander for Automated b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1It is also fully integrated with all Redcell enterprise products, including Redcell Network Commander for comprehensive change and configuration bmanagement/b. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/woodland-park-management-prevails-motion/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B7E485354-3BAD-4BA5-9586-F2FDDAA35EEC%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1256199942ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNEtQZbgkYAKt1L8JxdLPR_gL0-DOgWoodland Park bManagement/b Prevails in Motion to Have Case Moved to b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct 10, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Woodland Park bManagement/b LLC announced today that the Santa Clara County Superior Court approved the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://definedsavingsalert.com/Home/Article/2025947/2008%2BAssets%2BUnder%2BManagement%2BSurvey.aspxcid=1255242915ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNGwL-IZf4WFprlZWMe9rPj7RUgPgg2008 Assets Under bManagement/b Survey/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fDefined Savings Alert,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Rounding out the list of managers who experienced growth were JPMorgan Asset bManagement/b, which grew 18.13%; MassMutual Retirement Services, which increased b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/112192cid=1255242915ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNGYVQcFzx62K-_8ZPKcAI_62hzR1QMoment of Reckoning for Leading Asset bManagement/b Firm/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWNYC/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/previewDocument.ac%3FdocID%3DGCA00889191TRGcid=1255242915ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNGCjvuZk0SupyirtMN9lqgRvk7q-QAnnual Report to shareholders/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSydney Morning Herald/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601109%26sid%3DaihV3QDKeBrQ%26refer%3Dnewscid=1255242915ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNEuV7coqzXcZQGm6UJ5dOEIPOWnsgBlackRock, Pimco Submit Bids for Treasury Bailout (Update1)/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBloomberg/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/10/06/daily40.htmlcid=1255242915ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNHwxDJN4aGS1T78XbIy23Rl3dH15gnobrBizjournals.com/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://federaltimes.com/index.php%3FS%3D3766542cid=1255242915ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNEGCFScoMMKfB5ES1nNqlTZD1CvdAnobrFederal Times/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1255242915hl=ennobrall 263 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/northwestern-universitys-kellogg-school-management/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BADC66428-E8E0-491F-AB36-192CBE48A4BC%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1256121249ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNF9lW9l3kwMQg7QNOcpYSpgEtIdKANorthwestern University#39;s Kellogg School of bManagement/b Celebrates b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1During the coming academic year, Kellogg will honor its role in defining the bmanagement/b education landscape with a series of academic and social events b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.ft.com/management/2008/10/10/podcast-kellogg-on-analysis-paralysis-in-marketing/cid=1256121249ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNHTHTX46RSaOJEBXOvLZrP8JjaJhgPodcast: Kellogg on “analysis paralysis” in marketing/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrFinancial Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256121249hl=ennobrall 8 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/09/judge-orders-redmond-oneal-into-detox-1/cid=1255815803ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNEZD1ialBKoVw7UQk5avvKVDwGklAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=wIUmwRsiJbMJimgurl=media.washingtontimes.com/media/img/photos/2008/10/08/web_circus_wed_r329x151.JPG%3Fe315d4515574cec417b1845392ba687dd98c17ce width=80 height=37 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Washington Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/hexion-specialty-chemicals-announces-capital/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B8F203CFA-9732-4027-A98F-E93D8E576396%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1255815803ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNFyTPFphNqn6Tjwsu9N4JNo118WDQHexion Specialty Chemicals Announces Capital Contribution from b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Apollo bManagement/b has also informed Hexion that it will waive its contractual right to a transaction fee in connection with the merger and suspend for three b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/6050209.htmlcid=1255815803ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNHDjxfxuxVVsg5WuXgA6_1Xy-BMawChemical giants moving to unite/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrHouston Chronicle/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gWWsxlaQFdzCNdVrE5XlEsz289HQD93N29KO0cid=1255815803ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNGYKVMgLcgvAuqA0zJms9okqScvtgHexion to close Huntsman deal with Apollo#39;s help/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Associated Press/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/84a6eaa4-9666-11dd-9dce-000077b07658.htmlcid=1255815803ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNFWSczyhj3eUzAdo960Q9TwCOeMMgHexion adds more to fund deal for Huntsman/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrFinancial Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/09/more-pain-for-apollo-management-paying-540-milliont-to-huntsm/cid=1255815803ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNHYzaa9id_VPq2BDfkpauo4oz2EqwnobrBloggingStocks/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.forbes.com/markets/2008/10/09/huntsman-hexion-apollo-markets-equity-cx_md_1009markets14.htmlcid=1255815803ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNEpfMLyjpeECyry_M9786Od8D8vHAnobrForbes/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1255815803hl=ennobrall 263 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/finance/brookfield-asset-management-q--results-conference--webcast-174137578/cid=1256187678ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNE9kzwMNpoRiD5N59MinrBLRX_L7wBrookfield Asset bManagement/b Q3 2008 Results Conference Call amp; Webcast/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fFOXBusinessnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Brookfield Asset bManagement/b Inc. is focused on property, power and infrastructure assets and has approximately $95 billion of assets under bmanagement/b. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0442088.htmcid=1256187678ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNEogqU81BuKxC7M2nkeh_Zr5KhmGABrookfield Asset bManagement/b Q3 2008 Results Conference Call amp; Webcast/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCNNMoney.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256187678hl=ennobrall 16 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/avanceon-introduces-iboilertm-new-energy/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B601CA6E0-C399-4336-8437-2509C78E93B0%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1256345742ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNG4VGMe_UbXrVzQHehkn2l79UxL3QAvanceon Introduces iBoiler(TM), a New Energy bManagement/b Solution b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr18 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The webcast will introduce Avanceon#39;s new 24/7 energy bmanagement/b service that will provide critical operational and financial information to plant personnel b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/10/10/ap5536783.htmlcid=1256145734ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNFVBtH1NwwLgQU1lA_vnBJBuGT_7AEarning the Boy Scouts#39; personal bmanagement/b badge/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fForbes,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By AP 10.10.08, 12:16 PM ET Would you be able to meet the requirements to earn the Boy Scouts#39; Personal bManagement/b badge? _Explain the advantages and b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/10/10/ap5536768.htmlcid=1256145734ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNGRzb6EQJGaO5hwrpHLiDNue2KJygFor Boy Scouts, preparation includes finances/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrForbes/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256145734hl=ennobrall 24 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/10/10/5-star-stocks-poised-to-pop-brookfield-asset-manag.aspxcid=1255527555ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNGs5A59IaztFjShuHGYgBxS5eXxKQ5-Star Stocks Poised to Pop: Brookfield Asset bManagement/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMotley Foolnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1You just don#39;t get too many opportunities to invest in a bmanagement/b team like this at a reasonable price. This company controls a vast portfolio of quality, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/olameter-acquires-metersmarts-meter-data/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B3D049068-F05C-4EC7-BBE8-14DA48B6C308%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1256166854ei=dj_wSLOpEImE6QPzrZH0AQusg=AFQjCNEJiJk9vd9-qoooEb09zyyEDBvdVQOlameter Acquires MeterSmart#39;s Meter Data bManagement/b Division/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1MONTREAL, Oct 10, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Olameter Inc. today announced that it has acquired the Meter Data bManagement/b division of MeterSmart LP The b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
management - Google News

Innovation Management ? Innovation or Profit?

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Workplace Ethics: Reaching the Highest Standard

This article relates to the Ethics in the Workplace competency,... Read More

The Red Phone - Management Consulting in 30 Seconds or Less

Modern business faces complex problems; management often calls upon highly-specialized... Read More

The Leadership Alignment Model

Some time ago we had the privilege of working with... Read More

A Leadership Lesson: Two Guys With Guns

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters... Read More

Why Do Managers Create Low Morale? Or Does My Bum Look Big In This?

Why do managers create low morale as a product of... Read More

The 6 Steps to Six Sigma

Step 1Get the proper level of Six Sigma expertise at... Read More

Rethinking the CEO-Chairman Split

Traditionally, in American businesses, the same person occupies the role... Read More

Innovation Management ? changing the world!

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Communicating with Case Studies

A few weeks ago, a couple of colleagues and I... Read More

Leadership Skill: How to Handle Difficult Conversations

A good leader has the ability to empower others. It... Read More

Innovation Management ? idea selection, development and commercialisation, what are the differences?

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

The Top 10 Things They Don?t Teach You In Business School

Here are 10 subjects that academia should be teaching their... Read More

Unveiling the Value of Your Expertise

All of us have knowledge, expertise, and experience that others... Read More

Five Strategies To Strengthen Your Company?s Financial Management

Too many businesses wait until a crisis occurs before they... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: The Responsibility for Job Security

This article relates to the Job Security competency, commonly evaluated... Read More

Does My Bum Look Big in This?

If a good manager asks his workforce for their opinion... Read More

Training Managers and New Trainers

Training managers use many of the same interpersonal and analytical... Read More

What Every Manager Should Know About How to Maximize the Two People Inside

Every one of us, in reality, has two people inside:... Read More

Issue Management Methodology for Tracking Project Issues

1. What is an Issue?An issue is an incident, circumstance,... Read More

Indiscretion Can Kill Your Business

The quickest way to cancel out all the thought, work,... Read More

How to use NLP for Business?

What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming?Neuro-Linguistic programme is nothing but the study... Read More

Intercultural Management

The role of a manager is evolving in response to... Read More

Lessons From Innovative Companies

What do the companies 3M, Polaroid, and Walt Disney have... Read More

CEOs Are Great, Top CEOs Are Greater

People in leading positions are often in a dilemma: on... Read More