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At the time of hire — Pennsylvania Templates

Employee handbook and policies

A Pennsylvania employer should immediately provide new employees with a copy of its employee handbook/manual and any employment policies that are not contained in the employee handbook. It is important to put the employee on notice as soon as possible as to the employer’s policies. Otherwise, employees may not know what conduct is expected from them and from the employer.

If an employee handbook is provided, it should contain an introduction. A handbook introduction is also a good place to provide employees with an overview of the company’s history or philosophy. Such overviews can provide a personalizing touch if the handbook becomes a legal exhibit. Such an overview should be carefully reviewed, however, to ensure that it does not contradict any of the provisions of the handbook, especially the employment at-will relationship.

The introduction, at a minimum, should do the following:

  • welcome new employees

  • explain the purpose of the handbook

  • state that the handbook controls the employment relationship between the employer and its employees and that the current handbook supersedes any and all...


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