What is the Employee Handbook Wizard?

Our exclusive Employee Handbook Wizard© is designed specifically for small and mid-size companies to easily create and maintain policies to protect their business. It is a user friendly, web-based tool that provides comprehensive guidance and quick, quality results containing all of the necessary employment policies and guidelines your business requires.

KEY FEATURES:

  • From the Small Business to the Fortune 500, we've got you covered: We work with thousands of businesses across the country - employers of all sizes and from all industries. We know what our clients want and that's a cost effective, easy to use and quality service that can alleviate their headaches and protect their business. The Employee Handbook Wizard© accomplishes just that!
  • Saves You Time and Money - Traditional alternatives can cost your business thousands of dollars in attorneys and consulting fees. The Employee Handbook Wizard© is easy to use and produces a professional, high quality handbook in no time.
  • Always Current & In Compliance - Our staff of HR experts is constantly monitoring the HR and Labor Compliance landscape, we work hard for you to make sure that the information provided is always current and in compliance with the law. You can relax knowing that you have the freedom to focus on moving your business forward while our team of experts monitors key changes in employment and labor law, determines which changes may apply to your company, and sends you alerts that help keep you updated and informed.
  • You Control the Output - Download an Adobe Acrobat PDF version of your handbook and have it professionally and/or provide online employee access to your completed handbook with your very own fully customizable webpage. The choice is all yours.
  • Employee Access Online - Have your employees view the completed handbook online by creating your very own employee access portal. Upon completion of the Employee Handbook Wizard, you can easily set-up your very own website for hosting your employee handbook: customize your colors, add your company logo, create a welcome message, and request and store electronic handbook acknowledgements.
  • Handbook Management Center - The Employee Handbook Wizard is not only a tool for creating your handbook; it is a tool for updating and maintaining your handbook. Easily edit existing polices, add you own custom policies or select from our library of 150 sample policies, track your revisions, store revision notes, and receive and store handbook acknowledgements electronically. Everything you need to update and maintain your handbook - all in one place!

Best of all, it is affordable and easy-to-use ensuring that even the most novice of professionals can create legally compliant policies and handbooks with a few clicks of the mouse, anyone can quickly create professional policies and handbooks in minutes.

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Why do I need an employee handbook?

While there are no federal or state laws requiring an employer to have an employee handbook, employers are required to have certain written policies for employees. Employee handbooks are the most effective way to communicate company policies to employees; here are just a few reasons why:

  • Meet specific legal requirements. By law, certain information must be provided to employees in writing (e.g., equal employment opportunity (EEO) statements). A handbook can easily fulfill these requirements.
  • Save time. A well-prepared handbook will answer at least three quarters of routine employee questions. When employees know to look in the handbook first, it saves management time.
  • Reap the benefits of consistency. Published rules and policies reassure employees that everyone is treated fairly and consistently. Therefore, a handbook may not only eliminate needless confusion about workplace issues, but may ultimately result in an increase in employee morale (this assumes that management follows the rules and policies contained in the handbook).
  • Sell the organization. The handbook provides information about what the employer offers their employees. Even if an employee never makes use of a tuition reimbursement program, for example, detailing the company's collection of perks can be a powerful motivator and an effective tool for reducing turnover.
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What's included with the Wizard?

When you purchase the employee handbook wizard you not only get the ease of use and automation the wizard provides, we also provide you with an assortment of supporting documents and unique features, including*:

  • The option to choose the completion method that works best for you
  • Handbook preparation guidance
  • Handbook Wizard Reference Manual, providing you with hints and tips for effectively using the Wizard
  • Handbook implementation guide and checklist
  • Employee acknowledgement of handbook form PLUS electronic versions employees can complete when viewing your Employee Access page which are automatically sent to your inbox!
  • 24/7 Online employee access
  • 24/7 Access to update, revise and manage your handbook

* All of these features may not be included for Free and Start-up Edition users

Bottom-line HR411's Employee Handbook Wizard is the easiest and most cost effective way to develop and maintain your employee handbook and protect your business!

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What is the Online Employee Access feature?

The Employee Access feature allows you to provide access to your employee handbook online 24/7 for your employees to view as needed.

The separate website securely stores your very own employee handbook and it can be personalized with your company's colors and logo! In order to use the employee access feature, you will be asked to create log-in information for your employees using our Employee Access Set-up Wizard. They will have to go to your personalized website on www.myhandbookonline/yourcompanyname and type in the log-in information you provide them. Once logged in, they will be able to view the entire contents of your completed handbook.

With this service, you are able to:

  • Create customized log-in information, ensuring that only your employees will have online access to the handbook.
  • Customize your employee access page by uploading your company's logo and changing the webpage's colors.
  • Edit a greeting page, welcoming your employees to the online handbook portal
  • Access and edit any of your company policies... making changes and updates easier than ever before!
  • Request online handbook acknowledgments that once signed, are sent directly to your inbox with the date and time of completion.

By creating an employee access account, your newly created or updated employee handbook will automatically be available to share with your employees. This service makes maintaining and updating your policies easy!

Save time answering employee questions, make sure policies are up to date and get 24/7 access to your handbook!

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Who is supposed to complete the Handbook Wizard?

The wonderful thing about the Employee Handbook Wizard© is that you don't need to know the first thing about HR to create a professional, high quality handbook. Whether you are a trained HR Administrator/Manager, a business owner or the "HR Hat wearer" all you have to do is answer some questions and you'll have a top-notch handbook ready to implement within your business.

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How long will it take me to create my handbook?

Depending on the completion method you select, the Handbook Wizard takes anywhere from 30 minutes to about three hours to complete. An express handbook is the quicker of the two handbook completion options and will create a best practice handbook based on your number of employees and how you respond to approximately 10 questions. The second completion option will walk you through the Wizard, step-by-step. This method requires you to answer more question and also allows you to edit policy text while going through the Wizard.

However, it is important to note that it is not necessary to set aside 3 hours at one time to complete the step-by-step Wizard. We realize you are busy so we created the wizard so that you can save your work as you go and pick-up right where you left off the next time you log-in.

The Employee Handbook Wizard helps get the job done right - fast, easy, professional results everytime!

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Why should I choose Handbook Express versus the step-by-step handbook option?

If you want a professional employee handbook, but don't want to spend three plus hours creating one, the Handbook Express option may be right for you. After providing some basic information about your company and some details about your benefit programs and timekeeping practices, you will be brought directly to the finished product: a best practice handbook based on your employee size and customized with the information you provided.

Want to be involved every step of the way? Read about policies and make edits while going through the step-by-step version. With the step-by-step Wizard you'll never miss a beat!

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How much does it cost?

The Employee Handbook Wizard© is the most complete small business handbook creation tool available. Members who wish to have a professional handbook can purchase the Employee Handbook Wizard based on the following price matrix, which is dependent on membership type:

Basic Members: Upgrade Required
Start-up Edition Members: $599.00
Business Edition Members: $499.00
Professional Edition Members: $399.00

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What policies are included within the Wizard?

The Wizard is entirely customizable, so the exact set of policies included will vary depending upon your company's specific needs. However, some of the "essentials" include:

  • Employment at-will disclaimer
  • Sexual harassment policy
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy
  • Disciplinary procedures
  • Leave of absence policy
  • Jury duty policy
  • Employment categories (exempt/non-exempt, full-time/part-time)

Additional policies covered include:

  • Time off benefits
  • Performance evaluations
  • Accident, emergencies, and safety procedures
  • Computer, email, and telephone use
  • Fringe benefits: bereavement leave, retirement plan, health insurance, etc.
  • And much more!

Best of all, you can even add your own unique policies or choose from our library of over 150 sample policies. Upon completing the Wizard, you will have the opportunity to add as many policies as you'd like to your employee handbook. This is especially helpful as your business grows and evolves; if new company policies take affect later, you can add them at any time.

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Is it easy to update?

With our Handbook Management Center it is! We recommend that you update your handbook regularly in order to ensure compliance with changing labor laws and changing company practices.

We make updating fast and easy - you can update any policy you wish anytime by logging into your account and navigating to the Employee Handbook Wizard page. Here, you will find a variety of editing tools which will enable you to: edit existing policies, add your own custom policies, add a policy from our library of 150 sample policies, sort policy and section orders, receive and store electronic handbook acknowledgement forms, and track the revisions you make.

To further aid you in the process of updating and managing your employees handbook, we continuously provide legal updates and alerts through HR411 so you will always be on top of the latest news and trends and can easily make the necessary adjustments to your handbook. Tips on how to update affected polices are always provided!

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What is the Handbook Wizard Management Center?

The Handbook Management Center contains all the tools you need to edit, update, and manage your employee handbook. The Management Center allows you to set-up online Employee Access, add your own custom or sample policies, sort policy and section orders, track revisions made, store online handbook acknowledgements and get tips on implementing your employee handbook. Everything you need to edit and manage your employee handbook all in one easily accessible place!

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How can I learn more?

Want more information? Visit our Employee Handbook Wizard Tour! Here you'll find more detailed information and screenshots that give you a sneak peek inside our exclusive Employee Handbook Wizard!

You can also call any of our specialists who will happy to answer questions - toll-free: 1.888.MyHR411

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