Topics in a personnel policy manual

A personnel policy manual generally provides employment and benefits information for employees. A policy manual for employees should answer frequently asked employment questions. For example, employees generally want to know about issues such as pay, time-off or benefits. Supervisors are generally concerned with maintaining productivity, good attendance and dealing with employee issues such as performance or misconduct. Therefore, your policy manual should provide guidance or answers on these issues.

Examples of topics in a personnel policy manual may include employment matters, attendance control issues, leaves of absence, pay and performance, dress and appearance, workplace conduct, safety and sanitation, description of benefits, use of employer property, working hours and breaks, time reporting, discipline and separation or other similar issues.

A personnel policy manual can also describe employer policies that may be required by state or federal employment laws. Examples may include policy statements detailing employer procedures to comply with government regulations on equal opportunity and sexual harassment, definition of salaried and hourly job categories required by wage-hour law, specifying procedures to protect confidentiality of pay or personnel or medical records, military or jury leave, safety, sanitation, or other policies that may be necessary to comply with the law.