11 Aug 2025
By Kathleen McAdams, Albany HR.
A decent handbook isn't just about staying on the right side of the law. It's about making your working day smoother.
When everyone knows what's what, you spend less time explaining the same things over and over and more time getting on with running your business.
If you don't have one yet or yours needs updating, it's worth getting this sorted.
People stop interrupting your day
When your team knows how much holiday they get, what happens if they're ill or who's covering the Saturday shift, they're not constantly asking you.
You handle tricky situations more easily
Got an account manager who's consistently missing deadlines or a support staff member whose client communication needs work?
Clear policies give you something to work with instead of making it up as you go along. It doesn't solve everything, but at least you're not flying blind.
New people know what they're walking into
Nobody wants to start a job with no clue as to what's expected. A proper handbook shows you've thought things through.
Everyone's on the same page
When policies are written down, there's way less confusion about what flies and what doesn't.
Where it usually goes wrong
Generic templates that don't match reality
Easy to download something online, but half the time it's full of stuff that doesn't apply to your business or policies you'd never actually use.
Old policies nobody's looked at in years
Employment law shifts all the time. That handbook from 2019 might not be doing you any favours now.
Written like a legal textbook
If your team can't get through it without falling asleep, what's the point?
Need help with creating a bespoke handbook for your business?
We're happy to help.
Get in touch for a confidential chat today. Albany HR letstalk@albanyhr.com 0131 364 4186.
