Core sections
- Welcome, mission and how the company works
- At-will employment statement (where applicable)
- Equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination
- Anti-harassment policy with a reporting path and no-retaliation commitment
- Reasonable accommodation (disability, pregnancy, religion)
- Classification, work hours, timekeeping, overtime and breaks
- Pay days, deductions and expense reimbursement
Time off and leave
- Vacation / PTO policy (and payout rules by state)
- Paid sick leave meeting each state and city law
- FMLA (50+ employees) and state family and medical leave programs
- Holidays, jury duty, voting and military leave
Conduct and security
- Code of conduct and conflicts of interest
- Confidentiality and data security
- Acceptable use of company systems
- AI tool usage: approved tools, data rules, human review
- Remote and hybrid work expectations
Wrap-up
- State addenda for every state with employees
- Signed acknowledgment of receipt
- Version date and owner, reviewed at least annually
General information, current as of 2026-10-12. Employment law changes often and varies by state and city. This is not legal advice; confirm specifics with employment counsel.
Frequently asked questions
Is an employee handbook legally required?
Federal law doesn't require a handbook, but many required policies and notices need a home, and a handbook is the standard place. It also protects consistency as you grow.