Employee Handbook In Singapore

What is Employee Handbook?

An Employee Handbook, also known as an Employee Manual, Employee Guide, Staff Handbook, Staff Guide or Company’s Employee Policy Manual, is a book given or uploaded into the company’s portal with access to employees / staff / personnel by an employer. The Employee Handbook can be used to bring together employment and job-related information together with internal policies which employees need to know.

Facts

Many Employers have employee handbook which sets out certain benefits and also covers matters like disciplinary procedures and general conduct.

Employee Handbook Help Employees To Grow

A good employee handbook provides essential information to help new recruits to settle down. With a well-written, comprehensive handbook, employees always know what is expected of them at work. They know how their employer will address and apply the policies and procedures of the business and what they, as employees, can expect from the employer.

Employee Handbook Is Beneficial for Employers Too

Employers use the policies in an employee handbook to provide the road map to the ethical and legal treatment of employees. They protect themselves from lawsuits, such as harassment claims, wrongful termination claims, and discrimination claims.

Is this part of my employment contract?

While the appointment letter or Key Employment Terms (KETs) may set out the main terms of the employment contract, it may not be feasible for it to provide a comprehensive list of all employment obligations and benefits. Many companies therefore place these in a separate document, such as a staff handbook. A staff handbook can form part of the employment contract if the employee is given notice of it before or at the time that he or she enters into the employment contract.
For example, the appointment letter may specifically state that “Your employment is subject to the terms in the Staff Handbook.” Or there may be a more general statement, such as: “Your employment is subject to the general terms and conditions of the company.” This could be broad enough to cover documents such as the staff handbook.
If the employee or staff handbook is part of your contract, you should familiarise yourself with it, as you have to comply with its terms and conditions.
However, a staff or employee handbook may cover many matters, and not all of them may be employment terms and conditions. Certain minor matters might just be considered to be house rules or guidelines.
ACHI could assist you with preparation of the customized employee handbook according to your needs with wide range of Human Resource supports.

What to include in the Employee Handbook? What is the Guide to prepare the Employee Handbook in Singapore?

You may wish to include the following applicable clauses in your Employee Handbook:

*CLAUSE #*	*CONTENTS*
1.0	INTRODUCTION
1.01	Introduction-Brief
1.02	Statement of Philosophy
1.03	Who we are
1.04	Vision
1.05	Mission
1.06	Scope

2.0	TERMS & CONDITIONS
2.01	Definition
2.02	Employment Checks
2.03	Employment Letter
2.04	Probation and Confirmation
2.05	Re-designation
2.06	Performance Appraisals
2.07	Working Hours
2.08	Time Recording
2.09	Overseas Assignment
2.10	Authorized Signatories
2.11	Personal Data Protection Policy (PDPA)
2.12	Professionalism
2.13	Retirement and Re-employment Act

3.0	GENERAL POLICIES
3.01	Employment Equity
3.02	Recruitment and Selection
3.03	Nepotism
3.04	Orientation
3.05	Employee Classifications
3.06	Employee Duties
3.07	Attendance and Punctuality
3.08	Leaving the Company During Office Hours
3.09	Dress code
3.10	Personal Mail, Telephone Calls, Email and Internet
3.11	Employer’s Property and Equipment
3.12	Intellectual Property
3.13	Personal Property
3.14	Personnel Records
3.15	Training and Professional Development

4.0	REMUNERATION POLICIES
4.01	Pay Day
4.02	Pay Period
4.03	Deduction of Salary
4.04	Overseas Reimbursement
4.05	Overtime
4.06	Annual Salary Review
4.07	Annual Performance Bonus
4.08	Final Payment of Salary

5.0	HOLIDAYS AND LEAVE
5.01	Adoption Leave
5.02	Annual Leave
5.03	Childcare Leave
5.04	Compassionate Leave
5.05	Compensation Allowance
5.06	Compensation Leave
5.07	Emergency / Urgent Leave
5.08	Hospitalization Leave
5.09	Infant Care Leave (Unpaid)
5.10	Marriage Leave
5.11	Maternity Leave
5.12	National Service Leave
5.13	Paternity Leave
5.14	Public Holidays
5.15	Shared Parental Leave
5.16	Sick Leave
5.17	Sickness whilst on Leave
5.18	Unpaid Leave

6.0	FRINGE BENEFITS
6.01	Transport Allowance
6.02	Outpatient Medical
6.03	Dental
6.04	Specialist Benefits
6.05	Lab Tests
6.06	Exclusion
6.07	Annual Health Screening
6.08	Group Medical Insurance
6.09	Foreign Worker Medical Insurance
6.10	Workmen’s Injury Compensation Insurance
6.11	Employee Wellness Programmes
6.12	Other Benefits

7.0	COMPLIANCE AND CODE OF CONDUCT
7.01	Confidentiality of Information
7.02	IT Information Storage And Security
7.03	Conflict of Interest
7.04	Code of Conduct

8.0	SGSECURE, SAFETY, SECURITY & SAFE MEASURES
8.01	SGSecure
8.02	Health And Safety
8.03	Air Quality
8.04	Smoke Free Environment
8.05	Scents
8.06	Pets
8.07	Renovations
8.08	Safety Rules and Regulations
8.09	Safe Management Measures
8.10	Fire Breakout
8.11	Power Failure / Blackout
8.12	Employee Identification
8.13	Removal of Company’s Property
8.14	Office Keys
8.15	Offences
8.16	Harassment
8.17	Workplace Violence

9.0	DISPUTE RESOLUTION

10.0	DEPARTURE
10.01	Termination for Cause
10.02	Termination without Cause
10.03	Resignation
10.04	Lay-off
10.05	Employer Property

Remarks: Some of these clauses may or may not be optional to include in the contract.

ACHI Biz could assist you with preparation of the customized employee handbook according to your needs with wide range of Human Resource supports.

Employee Handbook