Over the years, I've written employee handbooks for a wide variety of clients.
Compared to the average employee handbook, they read like a Clive Cussler novel, if only because the average handbook is pure boredom intermingled with little reminders from the company lawyers that employment can be ended at any time and for any reason and yes, we're all one big happy family so have a nice day.
The assignments that I remember most are the ones where the clients wanted a handbook that in no way resembled the firm. In each of those cases, they stressed the importance of saying that work is fun and that Ferret, Weasel, and Mole is a great place to work. I concluded that a fantasy document was desired; a small booklet of reassurance that could be read while hiding under the desk.
In gentle tones, I suggested that there were other qualities that might be stressed - such as development, challenges, and teamwork - and so we should not go too far with hints that the place resembled a funhouse.
Their wishes, however, remain with me. We ask for so little to be happy in the workplace.
2 comments:
Are they what they say they are? Most of us (if not all) do not rely on the employee handbook to learn about the company’s culture but do it base on our observation, own experiences, & the buzz around the company created by employees who enjoy working for them.
More than the handbook, maybe they need to pay more attention on their company culture, if there are indeed systems in the workplace that ensures it’s a safe and fun place to work in. Like Zappos and Tribe Inc., companies need to SHOW how they are great places to work in (and we would rather hear it from somebody else, or their employees).
For business owners, managers, and HR leaders who are more determined to make their companies a better place to work in, I can refer www.tigersamongus.com to get more ideas (better than the handbook idea) on how to create more productive and enjoyable workplaces where corporate culture of teamwork based on ‘Trust, Interdependence, Genuineness, Empathy, Success, and Risk’ yield bigger profit margins and attract more employees. Zappos, Tribe Inc., 4Refuel, and Dos Gringos have done it, so why not your company?
CelinaMac,
Thanks for your observations!
Michael
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