Offered new job but not being provided with company handbook before signing contract

robster1978

Hi,

I have been offered a new (permanent) job.  The contract mentions the company handbook in several places and also contains the statement: "Except where the handbook or your contract indicates otherwise, the contents of the handbook are not intended to be contractual."  So from this statement it is reasonable to assume that there are contractural elements in the handbook. 

I have asked for a copy of the handbook before I sign the contract and have been met with the response that I get a copy of the handbook on the first day of joining.

I don't like this, I could be agreeing to contractural elements which I have no sight of; I really want to see the handbook - I think this is perfectly reasonable.

What are others opinions of this?

Thanks

Undervalued

robster1978 said:

Hi,

I have been offered a new (permanent) job.  The contract mentions the company handbook in several places and also contains the statement: "Except where the handbook or your contract indicates otherwise, the contents of the handbook are not intended to be contractual."  So from this statement it is reasonable to assume that there are contractural elements in the handbook. 

I have asked for a copy of the handbook before I sign the contract and have been met with the response that I get a copy of the handbook on the first day of joining.

I don't like this, I could be agreeing to contractural elements which I have no sight of; I really want to see the handbook - I think this is perfectly reasonable.

What are others opinions of this?

Thanks

Yes, it is perfectly reasonable. However, your only options are as follows......

Ask nicely

or

Insist on handbook otherwise you won't take the job

or

Take the job on trust

Realistically, unless this is a very high profile / senior job, they are unlikely to deviate much (if at all) from their standard terms.

Remember also, unless you have been able to negotiate some very special terms, you have virtually no job security during the first two years. So you are taking quite a lot on trust anyway when you change jobs.

What are your alternatives?

biscan25

This is one of my pet peeves with job offers from big companies.
In my currently employment I went first for ask nicely, followed by  Insist on handbook otherwise you won't take the job.
They invited me into the office to see the handbook and HR policies on the intranet, but wouldn't provide me with anything printed.

Realistically, unless this is a very high profile / senior job, they are unlikely to deviate much (if at all) from their standard terms.
I'm not sure if this is true in the current market when labour is so tight, and employers will do anything to get candidates on board. e.g. I have two side letters for agreed non-standard terms. I'm not that senior.

robster1978

Hi,

Thanks for your replies.

This is a reasonably senior / high profile management role.  Having been stung before (in my current job) I wold like to see the handbook

SusieT

Could you ask them if they could please clarify part x, y and z in the contract, as they relate to the handbook?

TELLIT01

A retail job a family member applied for had a staff manual/company handbook running to 92 pages. Would you actually read that before starting?

Brie

TELLIT01 said:

A retail job a family member applied for had a staff manual/company handbook running to 92 pages. Would you actually read that before starting?

Yes.  Maybe not every single word on every single page but enough to be reassured about particular issues including those referred to in the contract itself.  

And I would want a printed copy.  I've been caught out by changes and have been told by HR to refer to the handbook online.  Only to find it either is missing sections I've read previously or they have changed significantly to when my contract was signed.  And if you ask HR about something (increases to holidays after X years etc) they will only look at the current version even if it doesn't apply to your situation.  

General_Grant

TELLIT01 said:

A retail job a family member applied for had a staff manual/company handbook running to 92 pages. Would you actually read that before starting?

With handbooks like that there are usually pages which are marked as "contractual" and have a statement at the beginning saying they are non-contractual except where specifically marked.

74jax

I've always had my contract, handbooks and separate policies (when needed) before I have signed - I'm from a very corporate high up background.
I've then spent days reading it all, getting it clarified where necessary, and entering into negotiations.  This is usually direct with HR, is this who you are dealing with? 

Marcon

robster1978 said:

Hi,

I have been offered a new (permanent) job.  The contract mentions the company handbook in several places and also contains the statement: "Except where the handbook or your contract indicates otherwise, the contents of the handbook are not intended to be contractual."  So from this statement it is reasonable to assume that there are contractural elements in the handbook. 

I have asked for a copy of the handbook before I sign the contract and have been met with the response that I get a copy of the handbook on the first day of joining.

I don't like this, I could be agreeing to contractural elements which I have no sight of; I really want to see the handbook - I think this is perfectly reasonable.

What are others opinions of this?

Thanks

Forget the opinions of others - you have said you really want to see the handbook, so you need to press for a copy - but make sure you have decided whether or not you will go ahead with accepting if the answer is still 'no'. Nothing looks weaker than saying you insist on something, then tamely backing down. Not a great start to any new role, especially one you describe as senior/high profile.

Own_Worst_Enermy

I would want to see it. Whether it's a shared staff handbook in work hours or not.

4 or 8 weeks down the line is always to late to be understanding what you've agreed too.