Our small business online advice columnist. CCH Online Store Books on small business topics. Free E-mail Newsletter Monthly updates on developments affecting small businesses. These laws may require you to establish some rules in your workplace to ensure that your employees comply with applicable laws. For example, some states have made it a part of their smoking laws to require employers to have a specific policy against smoking or regulating where employees can smoke.
Some states prohibit smoking in enclosed places of employment.
Employers who are subject to federal or state antidiscrimination laws are required to maintain a workplace free of harassment . Some states require, as a part of compliance, that an employer have and distribute a written policy regarding sexual harassment. Other laws that may require you to have a written policy include federal and state laws regarding family leave . If you do any drug testing or polygraph testing , you may also be required to have and distribute a written policy regarding when, how, and under which circumstances testing takes place. Apart from the types of rules and policies mentioned above, you have free reign to choose additional rules to help you manage your employees.