Creating Employee Handbooks that Protect You and Support the Company's Culture

January
27
2026 (Tuesday)
Time 10:00 AM PST | 01:00 PM EST
Duration: 60 Minutes
9 Days Left To REGISTER
Id: 211542
Instructor
Don Phin
Live
Recorded
Live + Recorded
HRCI

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Overview

Your employee handbook is a critical risk management tool and needs to show employees how to behave and what procedures must be followed when they don’t. What's exciting is those handbooks can also play a role in defining company culture!

Do your employees WANT to read your handbook? Is it interesting? Attractive? Positive? Did they have any role in creating it?

How can you take advantage of graphics, multi-media, and online storage, in creating and sharing your handbook?
In this fast-moving training, attorney, author, and speaker, Don Phin, will take us through the basics of handbook compliance including 2026 updates.

Don will remind us about the importance of staying compliant with a wide range of laws, including those promulgated by Federal, State, and Municipal governing bodies, along with the myriad of regulations and case laws surrounding the interpretation of those laws.

Then, Don will focus on the opportunities available in creating great employee handbooks. He will discuss how you can focus your handbook on defining and reinforcing your company culture, vision, mission, values, goals, and more.

Finally, he'll talk about bringing your employee handbook to life and the opportunities that have been created by graphics, media, and the online storage and dissemination of handbooks.

Why you should Attend

Too many employee handbooks are out of date, focus only on legal or administrative policies, and are boring at best. Handbooks are not just for compliance and good practices; they can also support your company culture.

Areas Covered in the Session

  • Quick history into the evolution of employee handbooks
  • Don't put your disclaimers before your welcome letter
  • At-will and other disclaimers
  • Hiring and orientation
  • Wage and hour
  • Performance management and discipline
  • Communication policies
  • Benefits
  • Leave Management
  • Discrimination and Harassment
  • Safety
  • Bringing your employee handbook to life

Take-away value:

  • You'll know what must be in your handbook for 2026.
  • You'll know what can be in your handbook.
  • You'll be able to create an employee handbook people want to read.
  • You'll learn how to use video and other tools to bring your handbook to life.
  • And so much more! 

All attendees receive the Creating an Employee Handbook report.

Who Will Benefit

  • HR
  • Recruiting
  • Managers
  • Leaders

Speaker Profile

Don Phin has been a California employment practices attorney since 1983. He litigated employment and business cases for 17 years and quit once he figured out that nobody wins a lawsuit. Since leaving litigation, he has written numerous books and presented more than 500 times to executives nationwide. He loves talking about emotional intelligence and creating engaging workplaces!

Don was the founder and President of HR That Works, used by 3,500 companies and acquired by ThinkHR in January of 2014. He worked there for two years as a V.P.

Now in his "wisdom-sharing years," Don loves advising and coaching executives. He continues to inspire with his speaking and training.
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Unlimited Viewing Recorded Version for 6 months ( Access information will be emailed 24 hours after the completion of live webinar)