An employee handbook does more than outline a code of conduct. It streamlines onboarding, ensures compliance, sets clear expectations, and communicates your company culture. As a top-rated HR outsourcing firm in Australia, we partner with your organisation to create customised, legally compliant handbooks that are practical, easy to use, and aligned with your values and workplace regulations.
What Is an Employee Handbook — and Why It Matters
An employee handbook is a customised, central document that outlines how a business operates, what is expected of employees and outlines how human resource issues are handled internally. Whether you’re growing quickly or building structure into your team, an employee handbook is a smart investment in long-term clarity and compliance.
For Australian employers, creating an effective employee handbook supports:
✅ Defined staff responsibilities and behaviour
✅ Compliance with Fair Work, WHS, and employment laws
✅ Reduced HR and legal risk
✅ Fewer misunderstandings or disputes
✅ Clear communication of values and workplace culture
✅ Consistency in people management decisions
What’s Included in Our Employee Handbook Service
HR Consultation & Discovery
We understand every business is different and take the time to understand your employees, risks, and culture, ensuring your handbook is relevant and practical.
Customised Policy Content
We customise every employee handbook to ensure your tone of voice, industry and business needs are captured.
Legally Compliant Policy Framework
Our employee handbook service ensures HR compliance across key legislation like the Fair Work Act, National Employment Standards and WHS obligations.
Formatting and Branding
Professionally formatted and designed with your branding and tone of voice in mind to reflect your unique brand voice.
Optional Ongoing Updates
Our team of HR experts supports you every step of the way, with the option for annual reviews and policy updates to help you stay ahead of legal changes.
Your handbook can include policies such as:
- Code of Conduct
- Leave and Attendance
- Bullying, Harassment & Discrimination
- Remote and Hybrid Work
- IT & Social Media Use
- Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures
- Work Health & Safety
- Alignment with Organisational design
- Performance and Probation Guidelines
We work closely with your organisation to tailor your employee handbook to reflect what is most important to you. Reach out to us today to get started.
Why Choose E.L Blue as Your Employee Handbook Consultant?
Unlike legal firms or DIY templates, E.L Blue combines deep HR expertise with a practical, people-first approach. With over two decades of experience, we offer:
✅ Specialists in Australian workplace law and HR strategy
✅ Tailored handbooks for any business size or industry
✅ Trusted by growing organisations across the country
✅ Clear, collaborative process with expert support
✅ Option to bundle with onboarding or compliance packages
Our Process
We offer a clear and guided process from start to finish, involving you every step of the way to ensure alignment.
Step 1: Discovery
We explore your team structure, risks, and goals.
Step 2: Drafting
Your custom handbook is created with policies tailored to your voice and needs.
Step 3: Review
Our team of experts help provide you with the tools and strategies, uniquely tailored to your organisation’s workforce management goals and needs. Whether you are seeking HR processes to be automated or unique strategies to build productivity and efficiency in your workforce management, our solutions help you manage your workforce effectively.
Step 4: Delivery and Annual Review
Receive a final, ready-to-use version in PDF or editable format with the option for annual reviews to ensure compliance.
Who This Is For
Our employee handbook service is ideal for:
- Businesses without a handbook or using outdated versions
- Growing teams that need structure, consistency, and clarity
- Employers are concerned about compliance and legal risk
- Internal HR teams needing extra support or capacity
- Leaders who want more than just a downloaded template
To get started on your employee handbook service, reach out to our team of experts today.
Let’s Build Your Employee Handbook Today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a handbook legally required in Australia?
While there is no legal requirement to have an employee handbook, Australian businesses must comply with laws and regulations outlined in the Fair Work Act, WHS legislation and anti-discrimination laws. Having an updated employee handbook helps you ensure compliance, communicates company policies and protects employees by reducing misunderstandings or legal disputes.
Do you offer industry-specific policies?
Yes, of course. We tailored every employee handbook to your specific industry, business size and operational needs. Whether you’re in healthcare, retail or professional services, we ensure your policies are compliant with relevant laws and regulations, industry risks and reflect your unique workplace culture.
How long does the process take?
Timeframes can vary depending on the complexity of your requirements and how quickly we receive input from your team. If you’re working to a tight deadline, let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate your timeframe to keep the process smooth, efficient, and aligned with your goals.
Can you include our current policies?
Absolutely. If you already have existing policies or documents, we can review and integrate them into your new handbook. Our service ensures these policies are refined for clarity, formatting, and structure, making sure they are legally compliant, up to date, and consistent with your overall handbook.