How can we change the wording in our handbooks?

Posted in : First Tuesday Q&A NI on 1 December 2015
Arthur Cox
Arthur Cox
Issues covered:

The key issues when updating (or for that matter creating) a staff handbook are:

  • how contractual terms are distinguished from non-contractual terms; and
  • which parts of the handbook apply only to employees and which will also apply to other workers, for example, agency workers.

It is generally recommended that employers should make their policies and procedures non-contractual to enable them to implement changes without having to seek employee consent. Staff members are still bound by non-contractual policies due to the implied duty to obey lawful and reasonable orders.

I would need to see the wording of your handbook and discuss in more detail whether it (or any section of it) is likely

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Back to Q&A's This article is correct at 01/12/2015
Disclaimer:

The information in this article is provided as part of Legal-Island's Employment Law Hub. We regret we are not able to respond to requests for specific legal or HR queries and recommend that professional advice is obtained before relying on information supplied anywhere within this article.

Arthur Cox
Arthur Cox

The main content of this article was provided by Arthur Cox. Contact telephone number is +44 28 9026 2673 or email rosemary.lundy@arthurcox.com

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