{"id":3651,"date":"2026-02-28T09:59:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T09:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fasterdraft.com\/?post_type=product&p=3651"},"modified":"2026-02-28T09:59:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T09:59:04","slug":"employee-handbook","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/fasterdraft.com\/au\/product\/employee-handbook","title":{"rendered":"Employee Handbook"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is an employee handbook in Australia?<\/h2>\n

An employee handbook, also referred to as a staff handbook, is a company’s internal guide that outlines main workplace policies, discipline standards, procedures and expectations. This document serves as a practical reference for both employees and the company’s management in daily operations.<\/p>\n

Contrary to common belief, employee handbook templates are not only for big and well-established companies. Many businesses across Australia seek to have a reliable employee handbook template, including startups, family businesses, professional services companies with small teams, and businesses operating mostly online.<\/p>\n

In Australia staff handbooks play a significant role in maintaining high professional and employment standards in the workplace.<\/p>\n

What should be included in the employee handbook template?<\/h2>\n

There is no mandated employee handbook format an Australian business or organisation must follow. As a general rule, an employee handbook is a large and complex document that covers various important things, including employees’ onboarding, salaries, annual and sick leave, health and safety protocols, emergencies, confidentiality, the complaint process, etc. It is common for a staff handbook to be used alongside separate policies covering drugs, usage of social media at the workplace, discrimination, etc.<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/h3>\n

Every staff handbook starts with an introduction section in which the business explains the goals and purposes of the policy. The document should also include the business’s full name and the date on which this policy is being adopted.<\/p>\n

General Code of Conduct<\/h3>\n

Every business and company normally has its own visions of how employees must behave at the workplace and communicate with each other and with the employer’s customers, clients and contractors. All these rules are known as a code of conduct and include standard requirements for behaviour, including:<\/p>\n