For many employees, reading the company handbook is last on their to-do list. This isn’t because they don’t want to be informed about compensation policies, attendance requirements, and other essential information. In most cases, it’s simply a case of the information being presented in a dull manner that is hard for them to comprehend or doesn’t inspire motivation.
One way to change this problem is to focus more on branding your company’s custom binder so that employees feel included in the history, success, and direction of the business. Employees should understand the critical nature of their role just by reading the employee handbook the first day on the job. If that’s not happening at your company, there are several things you can do to change the message you are sending to new employees.
Jazz up the Title to Make People Want to Read It
What do you think of when you hear the term employee handbook? Perhaps you envision a tome of information written in a legalese manner that no one really understands. Your employees probably think this as well, which is why you need to consider calling the handbook by a more inviting title. Some examples include: “Essential Tidbits for Team Members” or “How We Do Things around Here.” Your title should convey your company’s culture while remaining purposely vague to invite curiosity among your employees.
Existentialism 101: Why Are We Here?
Human beings thrive when they feel a sense of purpose and interconnectedness. Too many companies fail to grasp this important marketing concept among their own employees. When you write your company’s guidebook, be sure to include its mission and values in the first few pages. Employees need to know what the business stands for and that it gels with their own ethics and goals in life. After all, your company is but one of millions where a person could work. Make sure that you demonstrate to each individual reading the guidebook that they have chosen the right employer.
Make Your Policies Consistent with Your Values and Culture
When employees understand the reasons for certain policies, they are more likely to accept and embrace them. For example, assume that your business must adhere to a strict shipping schedule to ensure that customers get their products on time. This requires all employees to work efficiently and not make a habit of being late for a shift. By framing this issue in a manner that indicates how each person is ultimately serving the customer, you can make them feel as if they are an essential part of your company’s success. That is definitely the message you want to send. While enforcing consequences has its place, the goal of your company publication should be to promote unity rather than fear.
With any luck, keeping these tips in mind can help you create a killer employee handbook that new hires actually want to read!
