Learn how to write an effective employee handbook your employees will actually want to read!

Why employees don’t read employee handbooks

An employee handbook is a very useful tool which helps companies successfully onboard new employees.

An employee handbook serves as an introduction to the company’s processes, policies and procedures. It contains an answer to almost all questions a new employee can have. It also communicates the company’s expectations regarding employees’ workplace behavior and expected performance.

In short, an employee handbook is a very useful and important company’s document.

Unfortunately, most of the employees never read it! Even if your existing employees have read it, the chances that your new generations of employees will also read it are slim.

The research from GuideSpark found out that 43% of generation Y is not reading the majority of the employee handbook, while 11% haven’t even opened it!

It also found that and 33% of non-generation Y haven’t fully read a handed employee handbook, too.

Why is that?

Let’s be honest. Most employee handbooks are difficult to read, filled with technical terms and very boring to an average reader. Employee handbooks are not exactly what you would call a stimulating read.

How to write an engaging employee handbook?

Wondering how to write an employee handbook employees will want to read?

Follow these tips for writing an engaging and useful employee handbook:

1. Make it simple

Make your employee handbook simple and easy to read and understand. Write shorter sentences. Use paragraphs. Avoid long, complicated words and get rid of technical and legal jargon.

2. Use the right tone of voice

The tone of the voice you use to write your employee handbook should be consistent with your employer brand. If your company culture is fun, feel free to incorporate a bit of playfulness in your employee handbook.

3. Add appealing visuals

Turn your employee handbook into an eye candy! Create appealing photos, videos and infographics to your employee handbook. Here are a few ideas:

• Photos of your employees and everyday life at your office
• A video message from your CEO
• Company culture video

4.  Create an interesting format

Your employee handbook doesn’t have to be in a usual PDF format. It can be a printed booklet with an actual bow, a comic, a video or even a trello board! Here are a few examples:

• Comic employee handbook by Zappos
• Trello board employee handbook by Trello
• Booklet employee handbook by Facebook

5. Infuse personality

Make sure that you create your employee handbook in a way to stay on brand. Use your brand colors, visuals and follow your overall brand style. Create a unique employee handbook infused with your brand’s colors, voice and magic!

That’s it!

Now go on and have fun writing a creative, innovative and engaging employee handbook!