Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Coldwater, Ohio
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:41 pm Post subject: Employee Handbook Help
In the beginning, it was me, and it was good. Then there was me & Shaun, and he thought like me, and it was mostly good. Now there's me & Shaun, and Kevin. It's OK, but not really good. I need to have a set of rules and guidelines to go by....an employee handbook. Being the procrastinating manager I am, and not liking to re-invent the wheel, does anyone have a good one they'd like to share, know where to find one, or have any suggestions as to what to put in one. I know it's going to have to be tailored for my application, but I'm not sure what I really need to cover. email, fax, mail any suggestions you may care to share, all replies will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: Employee Handbook Help
Hi Bill,
bbraun wrote:
In the beginning, it was me, and it was good. Then there was me & Shaun, and he thought like me, and it was mostly good. Now there's me & Shaun, and Kevin. It's OK, but not really good. I need to have a set of rules and guidelines to go by....an employee handbook. Being the procrastinating manager I am, and not liking to re-invent the wheel, does anyone have a good one they'd like to share, know where to find one, or have any suggestions as to what to put in one. I know it's going to have to be tailored for my application, but I'm not sure what I really need to cover. email, fax, mail any suggestions you may care to share, all replies will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
What I can offer is my own experience of 33 years. I began exactly like you, alone and with no handbook. Later I wrote one, then another and then expanded and expanded and expanded it. Eventually it got to almost 50 pages and was totally useless.
People do the right things, because they are good people and they see the logic in doing it that way. Those that do not, will be unaffected, no matter the number or specificity of the rules. Eventually I tossed out the handbook and replaced it with one of two lines.
The AGCO Automotive Handbook
In all instances, conduct yourself in a manner that will serve our governing values, the client and your fellow workers.
We need no other rules.
It is always tempting to believe we can specify or legislate the behavior we want. Unfortunately, it's just not that simple. Take the guys to lunch, define the problems and ask for suggestions and cooperation. Simpler and it works a whole lot better, in my experience. In the end, I solved my problems by changing me, more than anything else Good luck my friend!
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Coldwater, Ohio
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:55 am Post subject:
Now THAT'S my kind of handbook, and the way I've always done things. My wife and daughter who both have considerably more formal education than I do seem to feel it's necessary to have guidelines written out. Time off, sick and personal days etc. I've probably been to lenient in the past, but we still show a profit, so....
Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject:
bbraun wrote:
Now THAT'S my kind of handbook, and the way I've always done things. My wife and daughter who both have considerably more formal education than I do seem to feel it's necessary to have guidelines written out. Time off, sick and personal days etc. I've probably been to lenient in the past, but we still show a profit, so....
I know a lot of folks with pretty sophisticated handbooks that are not making money (e.g., GM and Ford). Other folks may feel different about it, but I've always preferred to trust people to be responsible and let common sense prevail. Everyone in the company knows when we open and when we close, they also know they need to be here, a little early. If they're sick, I understand they can't work and want them to stay home and get well.
The problem I have always found with rules is people waste a lot of time figuring out ways to get around them. Better for me is to explain that I'm trying to build the best auto repair business there ever was and ask, how can we do that? Now, everybody act in that manner
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Good luck my friend!
Other folks may feel different about it, but I've always preferred to trust people to be responsible and let common sense prevail. Everyone in the company knows when we open and when we close, they also know they need to be here, a little early. If they're sick, I understand they can't work and want them to stay home and get well.
