**This article was written by the U.S. SBA Entrepreneur of the Year, the Founder of Tulsa Wedding DJs – DJ Connection, Tulsa Motivational Speaker, Las Vegas Motivational Speaker, and Top Tulsa Business Coach, Clay Clark.
Still working on the employee handbook for DJ Connection. This document is relentless. I think I’ll be done sometime during the next 24 hours.
**Listed below is part 5 of our employee handbook.
Attending Child’s School Activities
Leave requests by employees for attending your child’s school activities may be granted by the Company at its sole discretion. It is not acceptable to invent a child’s school activity to compensate for your lack of planning. Documentation showing that you did in fact attend a child’s school activity may be requested if a pattern is beginning to emerge showing that you are unable to maintain a regular schedule without constantly having “life emergencies” arise.
Jury Duty
The Company encourages employees to serve on jury duty when called. All employees are expected to notify their supervisors as soon as they receive a jury duty notice. Employees will not be dismissed or penalized in any way for serving as a juror, in accordance with applicable state and federal law. If you serving as a Juror we recommend that you pack a lunch.
Witness Duty
If you are required to appear as a witness in a court or hearing, you are to bring the subpoena to your supervisor within three (3) working days of receipt.
Victim Leave
If you or an immediate family member are a victim of a violent crime, you are eligible for time off to attend the court proceeding involving the perpetrators of the crime, including trials and post trial hearings. You must provide the notice received from either law enforcement or the prosecutor to your supervisor for approval of time off.
If you have, any questions regarding this leave or confidentially of this information please discuss with the Human Resource department.
YOUR HOURS OF WORK & YOUR PAY
Working Hours and Meal Breaks
Normal operating hours at the Company vary. Your supervisor will assign your scheduled work hours. Employees are expected to work as much of each workday as is necessary to fulfill their job responsibilities.
All employees will need to take their breaks in the workplace in designated areas only. You may not chew sunflower seeds or tobacco at your desk. You may not spit sunflower seeds or tobacco juice on the floor or the workplace around you. Failure to observe these rules may result in termination if the conduct is repeated.
During breaks, you are to stop working and may leave your work area. The supervisor will specify the time and place of the break. You may not eat while working unless you are a manager or unless your manager gives you permission to do so.
Paydays
The payroll period is one workweek (7 days) long. It begins for the Company on Monday and ends the following Sunday. Payday for the Company is on Friday the week following the end of the payroll period. No one other than the employee may pick up the employee’s paycheck unless the employee has made prior arrangements. If payday falls on a company-recognized holiday, you will be paid the day before. Paychecks may not be cashed at the workplace, nor will it be possible to receive an advance against unpaid earnings. Direct any questions you may have regarding your paychecks to the Manager or Payroll department.
If your check is lost there will be a $40.00 stop payment fee charged to the employee. Under these circumstances only, the Manager is to charge the employee, deducting the $50.00 charge to cover bank fees and processing costs. This process takes 2-4 business days to complete. If you inadvertently wash or damage your check in any way not acceptable to your bank, return that damaged portion to your Manager and a new check will be issued in 2-4 business days.
All payroll adjustments not received on the pay period prior to the effective day of change will be made as soon as practicably possible after receipt by the Payroll department.
Deductions
The following deductions will be made from your gross wages earned during a given pay period and will be shown on your paycheck:
– Federal income tax (mandatory)
– State income tax (where applicable)
– Social security tax (FICA) (mandatory)
– Medicare (mandatory)
– State disability (where applicable)
You will be required to complete a payroll deduction form to authorize the Company to make any other payroll deductions.
W-2s
You will receive an annual Wage and Tax Statement (IRS Form W-2) for the proceeding year on or before January 31. If you believe that deductions are incorrect for any pay period, or are incorrect on the W-2, check immediately with the Payroll department. If you move, it is your responsibility to contact the Payroll department to report your new address. Requests for duplicate W-2s need to be in writing and submitted to the Payroll department. You may ask the Human Resources / Payroll department any questions you have regarding your paycheck, deductions made, etc.
Wages
If during your employment the Company considers wage increases for any or all employees, your pay may or may not be increased depending on your:
performance
the overall financial health of the company
criteria set for the particular review
Requesting Time Off
Every employee will need some time away from work to meet personal needs. For instance Clay likes to take long walks on the sandy beaches of Destin, Florida where he can hear the birds, and feel the ocean water rush over his feet while he searches for precious metals. These needs can be as pleasant as a vacation, or as important as time to care for your personal health. However, time away for one employee usually means work for another or important work left undone. That is why the Company has a procedure for requesting approval for planned time off.
Planned time off includes any situation that you know might prevent attendance at work or needs to be scheduled, i.e., vacation reservations, doctor’s appointments, moving day, etc. If you are aware of any situation that might prevent your attendance at work, submit an “Vacations Leave Request” form to your Manager who will review your request and give approval if he deems the request is reasonable:
– workload allows
– commitments to customers
– time of year
– another staff member has not put in a previous request for the same time
– you have not had excessive absences
Most hourly employees do not accrue vacation times but may request time off without pay. You should only take time off without advance approval when a personal illness or personal emergency occurs after you have left work on the previous day. If this happens, you are to call in as soon as possible, but no later than two hours before being scheduled to work. The Company will attempt to approve all reasonable requests. Emergencies are not to be confused with situations that arise as a result of an employee’s failure to plan.
