--- title: "Employee Handbooks: Making Updates | Navigate PEO" description: Your employee handbook is a living document and should be reviewed and updated regularly. Find best practices for evolving your employee handbook today. image: https://blog.navigatepeo.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adult-analyzing-brainstorming-1080865-e1534963505279.jpg --- [![Navigate](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Navigate_PEO_June2021/images/logo-color-whitebg.png?width=335&height=2100&name=logo-color-whitebg.png "Navigate")](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/) - [Services](https://navigatepeo.com/services/) - [About](https://navigatepeo.com/about/) - [Industries](https://navigatepeo.com/industries-served/) - [HR Resources](https://info.navigatepeo.com/resource-center) - [Benefits of HR Outsourcing](https://info.navigatepeo.com/benefits-of-hr-outsourcing) - [Navigate Blog](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/) - [Resource Center](https://info.navigatepeo.com/resource-center) - [Savings Calculator](https://navigatepeo.com/contact/) - [The Compass: A Monthly HR Newsletter](https://navigatepeo.com/category/the-compass/) - [Login](https://www.navigatepeo.net/index.asp) - [Client Login](https://www.navigatepeo.net/index.asp) - [Employee Login](https://www.navigatepeo.net/index.asp) - [Labor & Expense Portal](http://50.203.147.195/NavigatelWebPortal/Account/Login.aspx) - [Contact](https://info.navigatepeo.com/contact-us) ![Employee Handbooks: Making Updates](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adult-analyzing-brainstorming-1080865-e1534963505279.jpg) # Employee Handbooks: Making Updates by [Tom Disilva](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/author/tom-disilva) on 22 Aug, 2018 In this series, we have discussed [why employee handbooks are important.](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/employee-handbooks-why-are-they-important/) We have also discussed some compliance issues that can arise in the development and distribution of employee handbooks, including [whether or not employee handbooks are considered to be contracts](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/employee-handbooks-employee-contracts/), and [what non-compete and non-disclosure agreements are.](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/employee-handbooks-non-compete-and-non-disclosure-agreements/) All of this information is very beneficial to know in the process of developing and distributing employee handbooks, but there is one truth regarding employee handbooks that many employers do not seem to understand: **The employee handbook should be a living document, and it should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.** Many employers may consider the creation of an employee handbook to be a one-and-done kind of job, but having an employee handbook that is created and then sits on a shelf gathering dust is almost as useless as not having one at all. Updating your handbook is critical from a compliance standpoint, as employment laws and regulations are always changing at the local, state, and federal level. Regularly updating the employee handbook is also crucial from an internal standpoint in ensuring that the latest version of the handbook reflects the current rules and policies of the workplace. It is a good practice to make reviewing and updating the employee handbook a regularly scheduled occurrence. For many employers, it makes sense to do this annually. The first step in this process is thoroughly reviewing the current version of the handbook to see what changes need to be made.  An audit should be performed to review the policies stated in the handbook against the actual practices in the workplace. If the two do not align, the handbook should be edited to reflect actual practices. Beyond that, there are several levels of changes that employers should ensure are reflected in company handbooks. The first level is **company changes**. If any major changes to company rules, policies, or procedures have changed since the previous update, those changes should be made in the employee handbook. The second level is **changes in the law**. Any changes that have been made to local, state, and federal laws that are referenced in the handbook should be reflected in an updated version. Finally, be sure that the handbook is up-to-date with **changes in society**, including social norms such as those that determine appropriate attire, and technological advances, such as the use of mobile devices in the workplace. Two critical aspects of the process of updating employee handbooks are the timing of making these updates, and the redistribution of the updated versions. As mentioned, it is a good practice to review and update the employee handbook on a regular schedule, such as once per year. However, employers should not wait until a scheduled review date to make changes. If a conflict between current law and policy exists, changes should be made in the handbook immediately. Waiting until the annual review could prove to be costly from a compliance standpoint. In addition, whenever changes are made to the handbook, the handbook should be redistributed to employees, who should be asked to sign another acknowledgment of receipt. The acknowledgment of receipt for each updated version of the handbook should be kept on file, as it can serve as key evidence, in the instance of a dispute, that employees were made of aware of any changes to workplace policies. In preparation for a frequent redistribution of the employee handbook, employees should consider more rapid distribution methods, such as electronic distribution. Electronic distribution not only cuts costs, but also gives employees easier access to the handbook. Electronic handbooks can include direct links to things referenced in the handbook, such as benefits enrollment information, IRS forms, and access to an employee portal. In conclusion, failure to regularly update and redistribute an employee handbook renders it essentially useless, and at times, even worse. An out-of-date handbook can prove to be a liability and can end up costing the employer a lot. Thus, every employer should make it a regular practice to audit and update the employee handbook. Employers should also be sure to re-distribute updated versions of the handbook, and should consider the method of electronic distribution to make the process as seamless as possible. Do you want to learn more about how Navigate can help to take the reigns with concerns like this and other administrative necessities that detract from the growth of your business? [Click here to set up a free consultation.](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/free-hr-consultation/) This post is part of a series on employee handbooks. Check out the other posts in the series: [Employee Handbooks: Why Are They Important?](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/employee-handbooks-why-are-they-important/) [Employee Handbooks: Are They Considered Contracts?](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/employee-handbooks-employee-contracts/) [Employee Handbooks: Non-compete and Non-disclosure Agreements](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/employee-handbooks-non-compete-and-non-disclosure-agreements/) [![talk with tom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/473026/73071181-2ba3-40e1-a971-ebc4b19bc4ab.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/473026/73071181-2ba3-40e1-a971-ebc4b19bc4ab) ## Subscribe to our blog!  #### We respect you and will never sell your information. ![Navigate Logo_Icon Rounded Square](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/hubfs/Navigate%20Logo_Icon%20Rounded%20Square.jpg) Tom DiSilva Tom DiSilva has been providing [**professional human resource services**](https://navigatepeo.com/services/) for over 30 years. As the CEO of Navigate PEO, he actively partners with organizations of all sizes in the Greater New England area and across the country to help their businesses grow. He has expertise in [**HR and Labor Management**](https://navigatepeo.com/category/hr/), offering guidance and support for key areas of business such as negotiations, operations management, employee coaching, and [**employee benefits design**](https://navigatepeo.com/category/benefits/).  - ## [*Got an HR question?* Schedule a free HR consultation with Tom!](https://info.navigatepeo.com/contact-us) [Compliance](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/topic/compliance), [Human Resources](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/topic/human-resources) ## Continue reading helpful HR articles from Tom. ## [Should You Hire, Delegate, or Outsource HR?](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/should-you-hire-delegate-or-outsource-hr) Small HR teams are rarely capable of handling the full spectrum of HR functions. The lack of time, expertise, and resources lead to errors, compliance issues, employee. ## [How Does Outsourcing Impact HR?](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/how-does-outsourcing-impact-hr) Every year, Human Resources for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) is becoming more and more complicated. A small HR team may struggle to cover the entire ground, from. *Disclaimer: this article does not represent expert advice and is provided for informational purposes. Please **[get in touch if you would like expert HR advice.](https://info.navigatepeo.com/contact-us)*** [![More HR Articles](https://blog.navigatepeo.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Navigate_PEO_June2021/images/freddie_button_dont_stop_me_image.png) More HR Articles](https://blog.navigatepeo.com) ## Your business is going places. 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