Employee Handbook Template (Free Download for India)

What a Employee Handbook must include

• Welcome message and company values
• Org structure and key contacts
• Working hours, attendance, leave
• Compensation, benefits, perks
• Code of conduct and dress code
• Anti-harassment and grievance
• IT, security, and confidentiality
• Performance and growth
• Exit and offboarding
• Acknowledgement page

Drafting tips

• Write it in second person ('you'). It's a guide for employees, not a contract for lawyers.
• Link to detailed individual policies (POSH, Leave, IT) instead of repeating them in full. Keep handbook scannable.
• Refresh annually. Outdated handbooks erode trust faster than no handbook at all.

Employee Handbook format

[Company Name] EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK
Version 1.0. Effective [DD MMM YYYY]

WELCOME
Welcome to [Company Name]. We're glad to have you on board. This handbook covers everything you need to know to do great work here: our culture, policies, benefits, and how we work together.

1. WHO WE ARE
[Company Name] is a [industry] company headquartered in [City]. Our mission is [mission statement]. Our values are [3–5 values, each with a one-line definition].

2. WORKING WITH US
  • Hours: [9:30 AM – 6:30 PM, Mon–Fri]. Hybrid: [2/3] days in office.
  • Holidays: [12] national + festival holidays. List published in January.
  • Leave: [12 EL + 6 CL + 6 SL]. Apply via the HR portal at least [3] days in advance.
  • Pay day: Salary is credited by [pay date] of every month.

3. BENEFITS
  • Group medical insurance ([₹X] cover, employee + 5 dependents)
  • Term life and accident cover
  • [optional: ESOPs, learning budget, gym, meal cards]

4. CODE OF CONDUCT
Be respectful, be honest, and act with integrity. We hold ourselves accountable to [Company Name]'s values in every interaction with colleagues, customers, and partners.

5. ANTI-HARASSMENT
Harassment of any kind has no place at [Company Name]. If you experience or witness harassment, report it to the Internal Complaints Committee at [posh@company.com]. See the POSH Policy for full procedure.

6. INFORMATION SECURITY
Use Company resources for Company work. Don't share credentials. Report any suspected security incident to [security@company.com] within 24 hours.

7. PERFORMANCE & GROWTH
We run [annual] performance reviews. Goals are set in [Q1] and revisited mid-year. Promotions, raises, and bonuses are tied to clear KPIs.

8. EXIT & OFFBOARDING
Notice period: [60/90] days post confirmation. On exit, you'll get:
  • Final salary, leave encashment, and gratuity (if applicable)
  • Relieving letter and experience certificate
  • Form 16 by 15 June following the FY

Return Company laptop, ID card, and other assets on the last working day.

9. AMENDMENTS
We update this handbook as needed. Material changes are emailed to all employees and require fresh acknowledgement.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I have received and read the [Company Name] Employee Handbook v1.0. I agree to abide by its policies and understand that violations may result in disciplinary action.

Signature: ____________________   Date: __________
[Employee Name, Employee ID]

FAQs

Is an employee handbook the same as HR policies?

They overlap, but the HR Policies document is formal and legal-compliant; the handbook is friendlier and employee-facing. Many companies have both, with the handbook referencing policies as authoritative.

How long should an employee handbook be?

15–30 pages for most SMEs. Beyond that, employees stop reading. Use links or appendices for detailed policy text.

Should the handbook be part of the appointment letter?

Reference it. Keep it as a separate versioned document so you can update without re-signing contracts.