---
title: "How to Create an Employee Handbook that is actually USEFUL!"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/aae6680d-afd5-478a-9b1b-50b0fdaecdaf
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/how-to-create-an-employee-handbook-that-is-actually-useful-2719775
category: "General"
published: 2022-09-20T21:16:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:10:16.389Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/dc636fe5d0a790169864e44b9e53f95a8800.jpg
---

# How to Create an Employee Handbook that is actually USEFUL!

**TL;DR:** An effective employee handbook should include company history, mission, vision, and goals, as well as policies and regulations, to serve as a useful resource for managers and employees. A well-crafted handbook can defend against employee claims, ensure fairness and consistency, and save administrative time.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2022-09-20. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/how-to-create-an-employee-handbook-that-is-actually-useful-2719775).*

## Story

Most employee handbooks serve as a resource for your company’s policies and procedures. They are often boring and difficult to comprehend because of many technical and legal terms. This is the reason why most employees don’t read over or really understand employee handbooks.

Generally speaking, an employer will want to communicate essential company policies and any state and/or local regulations that may require certain policies and information to be distributed to employees in writing. But, if you want to have an effective and useful employee handbook, then your employee handbook should include more than just company policies. It should go deeper and explain who you are, why you do what you do, and what makes your company special or different.

An Employee Handbook should include: Company’s history, mission, vision, and goals Core values and culture Important policies, rules, and practices Relevant state and federal regulations that impact employees Employee benefits and perks

If this is done right, it can be an amazing tool and resource for managers and employees. While employee handbooks are not legally required, when done correctly, they can be an essential tool (no matter how many restaurants or employees you have).

It can defend you against employee claims It can help ensure fairness and consistency among all employees It can communicate expectations It can save a lot of administration time and headaches

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- General (sector)
- state regulations (topic)
- local regulations (topic)
- employee handbook (topic)
- company policies (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/how-to-create-an-employee-handbook-that-is-actually-useful-2719775). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/aae6680d-afd5-478a-9b1b-50b0fdaecdaf).