Having an employee handbook is in every company's best interest. It serves as a tool to communicate policies, procedures, and company values.

Employee handbooks provide protection for employers when they are consistently followed. Crafting a comprehensive employee handbook involves covering essential policies workers' compensation, discrimination and harassment, accommodations, wage and hour policies, standards of conduct, drug and alcohol policies, and complaint and reporting procedures.

Employee handbooks are not one-size-fits-all and should be tailored to your industry, company size, and unique practices.

Many employers have locations in multiple states. Each state has its own approach for employers when dealing with workers' compensation claims filed by their employees. Some states have very unique handling of multiple aspects of workers' compensation claims.

This presentation will help the persons responsible for providing workers' compensation benefits follow documented and detailed procedures contained in the Handbook. While every claim should be viewed on a case-by-case basis, this presentation will explore the methodical process applied throughout various states' Workers' Compensation Statutes.

This presentation will assist risk management and claims professionals with understanding how to analyze, evaluate, and ultimately attempt to resolve claims in a manner that reduces exposure for employers in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.What You'll Learn:What Policies Should an Employee Handbook Include?

• Workers' Compensation
  
• Discrimination and Harassment
  
• Accommodations
  
• Standards of Conduct
  
• Drug and Alcohol Policies
  
• Complaint and Reporting Procedures
  
• Acknowledgment of Receipt

When Should an Employee Handbook Be Updated?

• Who Should Receive an Employee Handbook
  
• Changes in the Law
  
• Changes in Company Procedure
  
• Communication New Policy
  
• Need for Customization

Drug Policies and Testing

• Define Your Company's Drug Testing Policy
  
• Procedures for Random Testing
  
• Post-Accident Testing
  
• Obtaining Employee Consent

Disciplinary Policies

• Communicate Standards of Conduct
  
• What Constitutes Misconduct
  
• Disciplinary Procedures
  
• Training to Enforce Policies and Document Incidents
  
• Consistency in Applying Discipline