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View full libraryThis Introduction to an Employee Handbook provides a structured document for introducing a new employee to the organisation’s handbook, policies, workplace expectations and key sources of information. It helps HR and managers explain how the handbook should be used.
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If you are introducing new employees, the toolkit brings together practical HR templates covering preparation, orientation, training, documentation and review.
This template brings together the key information, sections and considerations you need to create a clear, comprehensive and professional HR document. Preview the document below.
1. Introduction
The Employee Handbook provides information about working for [Company Name], including our policies, procedures, workplace expectations, benefits and ways of working.
The handbook is intended to be a practical source of information that you can refer back to throughout your employment. You are not expected to remember everything covered in the handbook during your induction.
We will explain the areas that are particularly important to your role and will provide additional information or training where necessary.
2.
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This document provides a structured way to introduce a new employee to the organisation’s Employee Handbook as part of their induction. Rather than simply providing a handbook and asking the employee to read it, it gives HR or the line manager a practical framework for explaining what the handbook contains, which areas are particularly important and where the employee can obtain further help.
The document explains the purpose of the handbook and helps the employee understand how it fits into their wider employment and induction. It can be used alongside the employee’s written statement of employment particulars and other onboarding information.
The document provides a structured opportunity to highlight important policies such as absence, health and safety, equality, bullying and harassment, data protection, disciplinary and grievance procedures, IT use and other workplace requirements.
As well as policies, the introduction can be used to explain the organisation’s values, culture, ways of working, communication arrangements and expectations of employees.
Employees will often have questions after receiving a handbook. The document provides space to record questions, areas requiring further explanation and actions that need to be followed up during the induction period.
Using a standard document helps managers cover the important areas consistently while still allowing the discussion to be tailored to the employee’s role, location, working arrangements and individual needs.
Related HR resources and workflow
Explore the HR resources that may be relevant before and / or after using the Introduction to an Employee Handbook script, helping you understand the wider process, maintain appropriate documentation and follow a consistent approach.
The Handbook Policies and Templates Library gives employers a practical collection of workplace policies to establish clear expectations, support consistent people management and keep key HR processes documented.
Use these best practice actions, recommended timescales and process stages to understand when and how the Introduction to an Employee Handbook script should be used, helping ensure each step is handled consistently and appropriately documented.
Understand the common mistakes to avoid when using this HR template, helping you reduce risk, prevent unnecessary costs and ensure the process is handled correctly.
No. An induction checklist records the tasks and activities that need to be completed. This document is specifically designed to support a structured discussion about the Employee Handbook and the organisation’s policies, expectations and ways of working.
No. A handbook may contain a substantial amount of information. The purpose of this document is to introduce the handbook, highlight the most important areas and help the employee understand where to find further information. Other policies and training can be covered throughout the induction period.
The organisation can ask the employee to acknowledge that they have received access to the handbook and that it has been introduced to them. This should not be presented as confirmation that the employee agrees to every provision or that every handbook provision is contractual.
Yes. The discussion can take place online and the handbook can be provided through the organisation’s intranet, HR system or other electronic platform. The organisation should ensure that the employee can actually access the information and understands where to find it.
Yes. The introduction should be tailored to the employee’s role. For example, a manufacturing employee may need particular attention drawn to health and safety, PPE, machinery and reporting procedures, while an office-based employee may need greater emphasis on IT, data protection and information security.
HRDocBox templates provide a structured starting point based on UK HR practice and employment requirements. They save time by bringing the relevant information and practical structure together while allowing employers to adapt the document to their own handbook, policies and induction process.
How this content is developed and reviewed
The Introduction to an Employee Handbook script template is developed using a practical HR methodology that considers current UK employment legislation, ACAS guidance, CIPD good practice and the real-world HR process it supports. Templates and supporting information are regularly reviewed and updated, with additional reviews triggered by significant changes to legislation, guidance or established HR practice, helping ensure each document remains practical, relevant and suitable for UK employers.
Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director
Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.
He has extensive practical experience of managing induction and onboarding HR processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.
HRDocBox has been creating practical UK HR documents since 2009.
"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."
"He is someone I trust; consistent, dependable, and committed to doing things properly."
Whether you employ 5 people or 50, hrdocbox gives you the structure, documents and expertise needed to manage employees professionally and legally.
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