Employers that operate in multiple states have a responsibility to understand the various employment laws that impact employees who reside in those states. Employers also have a responsibility to ensure that employees have a clear understanding of their state-specific rights and to maintain compliance.
The key to ensuring that your employees understand how state-specific employment laws impact them is clear communication. Providing state addendums with your employee handbook is a great way to accomplish this.
State addendums provide clarification on state-specific and even county employment laws and procedures. The purpose of the employee handbook is to provide a general summary of company guidelines and policies that comply with federal employment laws but also apply to all employees regardless of their geographic location.
If you are a multi-state employer, here are a few points to keep in mind about state supplements:
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State supplements should be updated just as often as your employee handbook (if not more often). It’s critical that multi-state employers remain up to date on changes in state laws and update the handbook supplements accordingly.
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Some states are more generous than others, so the laws that provide the greatest benefit to employees are the ones that should be prioritized. Some states have more generous overtime requirements, minimum wage laws, paid sick leave, etc. For multi-state employers, this could create a challenge when trying to establish an employee experience that is fair and consistent across the board.
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Utilize Employers Council’s Multi-State Chart Builder to help you stay up to date on state employment laws.
Employers Council offers sample handbook policies for states in our region here. If you have any questions or need assistance ensuring that your multi-state handbook is compliant, please email us.
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