Need to update your company's employee handbook? Instead of settling for a dry, complicated approach that will gather dust on a shelf or be ignored on your intranet, try a different recipe. Add the following friendly ingredients to basic policies and benefits:
- Start with the icing on the cake: a title that entices employees. Some examples: Working Together, Welcome Aboard or Getting Started.
- Add photos of smiling human faces to create warmth.
- Serve up a writing style that is light and informal. Eliminate legalese or "corporate speak" that will turn off readers.
- Watch serving sizes. Give employees only top-level information about policies and benefits they absolutely need; have them visit the company intranet for details.
- Add spice. Use white space, photos, color and graphics to bring content to life.
- Sprinkle lightly with humor. Just a touch helps employees to absorb important information that is presented with a little comic relief.
 Even a serious subject can be handled with a smile For Davis & Company's own handbook, we've made sure to practice what we preach—including using humor to lighten up serious topics. For example, here's an excerpt from our handbook section on office security. |
