What Employee Policies Do I Need in My Business?

Employment Policies: What You Need to Know

Massachusetts law does not require employee handbooks, but they are a useful tool for communicating expectations and policies. There are also certain provisions that can help protect your business from liability.

You should consider, at a minimum, policies in the following areas:

Sexual Harassment
Discrimination
Reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities
Complaint procedures for any perceived unlawful activities
A written statement that employment is at will and can be terminated at any time, that the handbook is not a contract, and that the policies can be changed at any time by the employer.

There are other provisions, such as attendance, remote work, performance reviews and standards of conduct that you may choose to include.

What makes sense in an employment handbook is often different for different employers, and if you include things that you do not need, you run the risk of creating at least perceived obligations that you do not have. For this reason, it is a good idea to consult with an employment lawyer about the specifics of your policies.

Learn more here about what should be included in an employee handbook.