In today's fast-paced business environment, an effective employee handbook is more than just a collection of policies - it's a crucial tool for successful onboarding and maintaining a positive company culture. Whether you're creating your first handbook or updating an existing one, learning from the best employee handbook examples can provide valuable insights and inspiration.
Onboarding is a crucial time for new hires, and a well-crafted handbook can be the difference between a confused newbie and a confident contributor. To learn more, check out our blog on why employee onboarding is so important.
This guide dives into top employee handbook examples, explores what makes a good handbook, and provides practical takeaways for crafting your own employee handbook:
- Best employee handbook solutions compared
- Top 10 best employee handbooks ranked
- What does a good employee handbook include?
- Best employee handbooks FAQs
Best employee handbook solutions compared
When it comes to creating an effective employee handbook, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. Do you go with a dedicated digital handbook platform, integrate it into your existing HR software, or build it out using a collaborative workspace tool?
To help you navigate this landscape, we've compared the key features, target audience, and pricing of three top employee handbook solutions that stand out in 2024.
Top 10 best employee handbooks ranked
1. Touch Stay digital employee handbook
Platform type: digital handbook creator
Website: Touch Stay
Best for: companies wanting an interactive, mobile-first employee handbook
Key features:
- Interactive digital format
- Mobile-responsive design
- Real-time updates capability
- Multimedia integration
- Analytics and tracking
- Customisable templates
Pricing: from £12.50/month
Why it works:
Touch Stay transforms traditional employee handbooks into engaging digital experiences. The platform's strength lies in its ability to create interactive, easily updatable guidebooks that new employees can access anywhere. Perfect for modern businesses focusing on digital-first onboarding.
2. Trainual
Platform type: business playbook and training platform
Website: Trainual
Best for: Small to medium-sized businesses needing comprehensive onboarding solutions
Key features:
- Process documentation
- Role-specific training paths
- Test creation capabilities
- Content library
- Integration with major HR tools
- Mobile app access
Pricing: starting at $124/month for up to 10 users
Why it works:
Trainual specialises in making company knowledge easily accessible and digestible. Their platform combines handbook functionality with training capabilities, making it ideal for comprehensive employee onboarding.
3. Notion
Platform type: collaborative workspace platform
Website: Notion
Best for: tech-savvy companies wanting a collaborative handbook solution
Key features:
- Customisable templates
- Real-time collaboration
- Rich media integration
- Searchable content
- Integration capabilities
- Version history
Pricing: free plan available; team plan starts at $8/user/month
Why it works:
Notion's flexibility makes it excellent for creating living documents that can be easily updated and shared across teams. Their template gallery includes pre-built employee handbook frameworks.
4. BambooHR
Platform type: HR management platform
Website: BambooHR
Best for: growing companies needing integrated HR solution
Key features:
- Policy management
- E-signature collection
- Document storage
- Employee self-service portal
- Mobile accessibility
- Onboarding workflows
Pricing: custom pricing based on features and company size
Why it works:
BambooHR offers handbook creation as part of their comprehensive HR suite, making it ideal for companies wanting to integrate their handbook with other HR processes.
5. Confluence
Platform type: team workspace platform
Website: Confluence
Best for: teams using Atlassian products or needing robust documentation
Key features:
- Page templates
- Version control
- Permission settings
- Rich text editor
- Search functionality
- Integration with Atlassian suite
Pricing: free plan available; standard plan starts at $5.50/user/month
Why it works:
Confluence's structured approach to documentation makes it excellent for creating detailed, interconnected handbook content with strong access controls.
6. PandaDoc
Platform type: document automation platform
Website: PandaDoc
Best for: companies needing automated document workflows
Key features:
- Template library
- Digital signatures
- Workflow automation
- Analytics
- Content library
- API access
Pricing: business plan starts at $49/user/month
Why it works:
PandaDoc's powerful template and automation features make it excellent for creating, distributing, and tracking employee handbook acknowledgments.
7. Zenefits
Platform type: HR platform
Website: Zenefits
Best for: small to mid-sized businesses needing integrated HR solutions
Key features:
- Document management
- Policy templates
- E-signatures
- Employee self-service
- Compliance tools
- Mobile access
Pricing: essentials plan starts at $8/month per employee
Why it works:
Zenefits combines handbook management with broader HR functions, making it ideal for businesses wanting an all-in-one solution.
8. HR Cloud
Platform type: HR management platform
Website: HR Cloud
Best for: large organisations needing comprehensive HR solutions
Key features:
- Policy management
- Onboarding tools
- Compliance tracking
- E-signatures
- Mobile access
- Analytics
Pricing: custom pricing based on company size and needs
Why it works:
HR Cloud's integrated approach ensures handbook content aligns with other HR processes and compliance requirements.
9. Workbright
Platform type: digital onboarding platform
Website: Workbright
Best for: companies focusing on paperless onboarding
Key features:
- Digital forms
- E-signature collection
- Mobile optimisation
- Compliance tools
- Custom branding
- Integration options
Pricing: custom pricing based on company size
Why it works:
Workbright's focus on digital onboarding makes it effective for companies wanting to streamline their handbook distribution and acknowledgment process.
10. Smartsheet
Platform type: work management platform
Website: Smartsheet
Best for: project-oriented teams needing flexible documentation
Key features:
- Document management
- Workflow automation
- Collaboration tools
- Version control
- Template library
- Mobile access
Pricing: pro plan starts at $7/user/month
Why it works:
While primarily known for project management, Smartsheet's robust document management and templating features make it effective for handbook creation and maintenance.
What does a good employee handbook include?
A comprehensive employee handbook is an essential resource for any organisation, as it establishes clear expectations, policies, and guidelines for employees. This handbook serves as a central reference point, covering critical areas such as company information, employment policies, compensation and benefits, code of conduct, safety and security, performance management, and legal compliance.
By outlining these key elements in a well-structured handbook, employers can ensure that all employees have a consistent understanding of the company's practices and expectations, thereby fostering a productive, engaged, and compliant workforce. Make sure you include:
- Company information
- Company history
- Mission statement
- Core values
- Organisational structure
- Employment policies
- Hiring processes
- Equal opportunity statements
- Classification of employees
- Work schedules
- Remote work policies
- Compensation and benefits
- Pay periods and methods
- Time tracking
- Healthcare benefits
- Retirement plans
- Paid time off policies
- Code of conduct
- Professional behaviour expectations
- Dress code
- Communication guidelines
- Conflict resolution procedures
- Safety and security
- Workplace safety guidelines
- Emergency procedures
- Data security policies
- Confidentiality requirements
- Performance management
- Performance review processes
- Career development opportunities
- Training and development programs
- Promotion criteria
- Legal compliance
- Anti-discrimination policies
- Sexual harassment prevention
- FMLA and other leave policies
- ADA compliance
Learn more about creating a perfect employee handbook with our ultimate employee onboarding checklist.
Conclusion
The best employee handbooks go beyond simply listing policies and procedures—they serve as powerful tools for communicating company culture, values, and expectations. Whether you choose a traditional format or a modern digital approach like Touch Stay's employee handbooks, the key is to create a handbook that is:
- Easy to understand and navigate
- Regularly updated and maintained
- Accessible when and where needed
- Aligned with company culture and values
- Comprehensive yet engaging
By learning from these top employee handbook examples, you can create a resource that not only serves its primary purpose of policy documentation but also helps build a stronger, more cohesive workplace culture.
Remember that the most effective employee handbooks are living documents that evolve with your organisation. Consider using modern solutions like Touch Stay's digital guidebooks to create an employee handbook that can be easily updated and accessed, ensuring your policies and procedures stay current and relevant in today's dynamic business environment.
Create a smooth onboarding process with a Touch Stay employee handbook!
FAQs
