Have you ever been part of an organization that did not have a working policy manual? Have you ever been in a situation where rules were applied inconsistently? How were employment related situations addressed?

 The Policy Manual

A good policy manual is a must for every efficient and effective organization.  It helps define the organization’s culture, standardizes policies and procedures and helps you better communicate with your employees. Read on to discover how it also saves you time and money!

Culture

Every organization operates with a set of rules, norms, codes and goals that define the organization’s culture.  Standardized policies and procedures help establish an equal and consistent culture within an organization.  A policy manual will provide guidelines and valuable information for every new employee and help them become acclimated to their new environment.

Guidance

Employees yearn for organizational guidance that is clear and easy to interpret.  A great policy manual gives employees a basis to have educated discussions around employment related policies or decisions.  An educated workforce may help decrease the amount of time employees spend finding answers to questions, and removes fear or anxiety over a specific situation.

Communication

Communicating all of the information that flows through an organization can be tough for a first line supervisor much less a general employee.  A policy manual helps first line supervisors to determine operationally how to handle specific situations.  This takes the guesswork out of decision-making, thereby saving your organization time and money. Standardized policies and procedures will also help mitigate risk of employment related liability.

Using a working document is a key component in having a great policy manual. Policy manuals should be easily accessible and saved in a format that can be manipulated as needed. In addition, the format you choose should be exportable into portable versions like pdf.

Creating organizational culture, keeping communication flowing and saving time and money are just a few of the advantages of having a policy manual.  Learn how to write your policy manual by clicking here.