Handbook Acknowledgement Receipts
Aero_Smith
4 Posts
Hello:
I am an HR Generalist at a engineering and manufacturing company and we are in the process of re-writing our employee handbook. I have been told by the President and a Vice President that it does not matter whether or not you have employees sign the acknowledgement form. In fact, they think it is better not to have one based on some recent law suits. They are concerned that the handbook maybe misunderstodd as a contract between the company and the employee even though we are an at-will state.
I am uncomfortable not having the employee sign that they received it, but I don't have any good hard evidence as why we should. I tried to tell them that the employees are only signing to affirm they received the book, not that they understand it, etc.
Has anyone heard of the "law suits" they are referring to? Does anyone have any hard eveidence to support my opinion?
I would really appreciate your help. Thank you.
I am an HR Generalist at a engineering and manufacturing company and we are in the process of re-writing our employee handbook. I have been told by the President and a Vice President that it does not matter whether or not you have employees sign the acknowledgement form. In fact, they think it is better not to have one based on some recent law suits. They are concerned that the handbook maybe misunderstodd as a contract between the company and the employee even though we are an at-will state.
I am uncomfortable not having the employee sign that they received it, but I don't have any good hard evidence as why we should. I tried to tell them that the employees are only signing to affirm they received the book, not that they understand it, etc.
Has anyone heard of the "law suits" they are referring to? Does anyone have any hard eveidence to support my opinion?
I would really appreciate your help. Thank you.
Comments
Here is the verbiage of ours: Furthermore, I ackmowledge that this handbook is not a contract of employment and I have entered into my employment relationship with XXXXX voluntarily and acknowledge that there is no specified length of employment implied. I understand that it is my responsibility to read and comply with the policies contained in this handbook and any and all revisions made to it.
Then you are covered. If an ee doesn't like it, they can work somewhere else.
AAHHHH, the black and white world of engineering. Good luck.
>handbooks, I cannot count for you the number of
>hearings I have prevailed in because I produced
>either signed acknowledgements of receipt or
>witnessed refusals to sign for those. These
>include hearings in contract arbitration,
>unemployment insurance, workers compensation,
>family medical leave act, and a variety of EEOC
>hearings. I have no idea where your senior
>officers are coming from. Maybe they developed
>these beliefs on the golf course.
...probably when they got to the 19th hole!
Don, what's the deal there? It's then a confirmation that they received the handbook and are aware/should be aware of policies?