Staff Handbook

A staff handbook is the document that fills in the operational details not covered by the employment contract. How the business runs, how policies are applied, and what is expected day-to-day. The drafting decision that matters most is which provisions are contractual and which are non-contractual.

Contractual versus non-contractual policies

Contractual provisions can be enforced both ways but are hard to change; non-contractual provisions are easier to update but offer the business less reliable enforcement. Most handbooks should be expressed as non-contractual guidance, with the binding parts pulled into the contract or into clearly contractual policies.

Handbooks often have not been updated in years. Outdated handbooks can be worse than no handbook at all because they create reliance on out-of-date positions.

A comprehensive staff handbook brings all your workplace policies together in a single, professional reference document. It covers the core statutory requirements alongside practical day-to-day policies on absence, annual leave, flexible working, parental leave, expenses, IT and social media use, data protection, and dress code.

Example: a typical scope and fixed fee

For a UK employer with multiple employees, the typical scope looks like this.

What's included

• All policies included in the Core HR Policies Pack
• Additional day-to-day policies, including absence management, annual leave, flexible working, maternity/paternity/adoption, expenses, IT and social media use, data protection, and dress code
• Tailored to your business and working practices
• One round of revisions based on your feedback
• Final version ready to issue to employees

What's outside this scope

• Advice on specific employment situations or disputes
• Employment tribunal advice or representation
• Ongoing updates as legislation changes (I can provide these on request at an agreed fee)
• Tax advice

Fixed fee: £750, no VAT.

How I will approach your matter

Once you have instructed me, I will tailor every policy to your business and working practices. The handbook will distinguish clearly between contractual and non-contractual provisions, and the drafting will reflect what your business does rather than aspirational language that day-to-day operations would not support.