The Employee (or Company) Handbook should contain all of the terms and conditions of work, company policies, working rules, and employees rights, that the employee either has to convey to employees by law or wishes to convey to employees in order to effectively manage workplace situations.
Below are some brief ideas as to what should be in your handbook:
New Employees
Probationary Period, Job Description, Employee Training, Performance Review
Salaries and Wages Pay periods
Deductions, Pay Queries, Overpayments, Income Tax and National Insurance, Shortage of Work
Holidays
Entitlement, Conditions, and Procedures for Holiday Request/Payment, Public / Bank Holidays
Absence Sickness and Injury
Notification and Evidence of Incapacity,
Calculation of Benefit, Return to Work, Unacceptable Absence
Company Safeguards
Rights of Search, Confidentiality, Copyright, The Internet
Company Standards
Dress and Appearance, General Housekeeping
Welfare & Hygiene
Protective Clothing and Equipment, Canteen / Refreshment Facilities.
General Information and Procedures
Job Flexibility, Mobility, Time Off, Lateness, Personal Property, Telephone Calls, Mobile Telephones (cell-phones) Smoking.
Capability
Work Related Changes, Personal Circumstances.
Disciplinary Rules & Procedures
Rules on - Unsatisfactory Conduct and Misconduct, Serious Misconduct, Gross Misconduct, Disciplinary Authority, Warnings/dismissal, Disciplinary Appeal Procedure, Grievance Procedure.
Harassment Policy & Procedure
Termination of Employment
Retirement, Notice of Termination, Terminating Employment Without Giving Due Notice
Confidentiality of Company Information
Equal Opportunity Policy
Pregnancy/Maternity/Paternity/Adoption
Maternity Leave/Pay, Return to Work, Paternity/Adoption Rights
Your rules and procedures should satisfy current legislation, but should also allow you, the employee, the freedom to manage employment situations – to discipline, terminate employment, allocate tasks, etc. etc.