This document serves as a comprehensive resource designed to provide you with quick answers to common questions about the Employee Handbook Builder. By addressing frequently asked questions, we aim to streamline your experience, saving you time and helping you find solutions without the need to navigate through multiple pages or contact support directly.

If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for in this FAQ, we encourage you to reach out to our support team. We’re here to help! Your questions and feedback are important to us, and we want to ensure you have all the information you need for a smooth experience. 

FAQs

Why are some of my states not listed on the Number of Employees question?

States are only listed in the Number of Employees question when there are state addendums for that state. Not all states have addendums, therefore, not all states are listed in the Number of Employees question. 

How do I add or remove states from my handbook?

In your dashboard, you'll see a list of the states you are currently subscribed to. To add one or more states, click on "Add State." To remove states, click on "Remove State."
On the "Add State" or "Remove State" pages, you can select the specific state(s) you want to add or remove. After making your selection, click "Add State(s)" to confirm the addition or "Remove State(s)" to confirm the removal.

Can I add a new state to an existing handbook without starting the interview from the beginning?

Yes, you can add states at any time within the tool. All your previous answers are saved and the system will let you know if additional questions need to be answered.

Does BLR keep previous versions of my handbook when I make changes and re-publish?

No, BLR does not keep previous versions of your handbook when changes are made and it is re-published. However, it’s a good idea for you to keep a copy of the published handbook on file for your own future reference. This way, you can easily review any changes or updates that have been made over time.

How do I restore policies or sections I’ve deleted?

You can restore all deleted policies and sections from the "Manage My Deleted Sections/Policies" page. In the Policies workflow step, click "Manage My Deleted Sections/Policies" at the bottom of the left blue menu bar, and then select "Restore" on the "Deleted Custom Sections and Policies" page.  

How do I change my answers after completing the questionnaire?

Once you've completed the Questionnaire, you are directed to the Policies step in the workflow. You can easily navigate back to the Questionnaire by clicking "Back to Questionnaire" within the workflow steps or click "Questionnaire" in the sub-menu. 

Why are all employment policy updates not included in the Employee Handbook Builder?

BLR emphasizes that there is a distinction between a policy manual and an employee handbook. This document is an employee handbook and is not designed to address every federal or state employment issue. It is crafted to include all essential language and policies needed to comply with the relevant state(s) while minimizing the risk of unnecessary legal challenges for the employer.

How am I notified about new language or policy updates?

All customers are notified of handbook changes via e-mail and on the Policy Updates page.

What’s the best way to bulk update BLR policies?

The Employee Handbook Builder includes a Bulk Update feature that enables you to update multiple policies simultaneously. In the Policy Notifications section, click on Bulk Policy Updates. This will provide you with options to bulk update standard policies.

How do I include or exclude states in policies?

You can include or exclude states for any non-state-specific general policy. In the Policies workflow step, click on the policy you wish to modify, then select "Include/Exclude in States" below the policy editor. To exclude the policy from certain subscribed states, select the desired state from the list and click SAVE. If you want to include the policy again for a specific state, simply uncheck the box and click SAVE.

How do I create a state-specific policy?

To add a new policy in the Employee Handbook Builder, navigate to the Policies section and click on "Add New Policy" at the bottom of the left-hand navigation list. This will bring up a screen that looks like the one below.

By default, the box highlighted in the image is checked. If you uncheck this box, a list of states covered by the handbook will appear. To create a state-specific policy, select the desired state, and the policy will be included in that state's addendum. If an addendum for the state does not already exist, one will be created automatically.

Any policy created while the box is checked will be included in the main body of the handbook.

What’s the process for rearranging policies?

In the Output Workflow step, you can rearrange your policies on the Rearrange Policies page. By default, the handbook sections are displayed in a collapsed format. Expand the sections to view the policies. You can drag and drop sections and policies to adjust their order. Please keep in mind that these changes only affect the output of the handbook and do not alter the policy list displayed on the Policies page.

Best Practices

To what extent should I customize BLR policies?

Handbook provisions were written to comply with applicable federal and state laws. If you choose to modify a provision to reflect company policy, please ensure that it continues to adhere to applicable law. BLR provides guidelines for editing language with every provision. 

Do I have to take any action on policy updates or are they automatically added to my handbook?

Any time a provision is updated or added to a handbook, you’ll receive an update sent directly to your inbox with detailed instructions on how to update or add the provision.

Enterprise Version: Should I create a master template before I create multiple handbooks?

Users can choose to create a Master Handbook either before or after developing sub-user handbooks, although it’s advisable to finalize the Master Handbook first. This approach ensures that all policies are incorporated into the sub-user handbooks seamlessly and that the policy arrangement is consistent.