Sharon Armstrong - The Essential HR Handbook, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Quick and Handy Resource for Any Manager Or HR Professional

Since publication of the first edition, The Essential HR Handbook has been read and discussed by more than seventy-five new managers, who participate in our Managers' Round Table program. The information, ideas, and resources in this 10th anniversary edition will continue to enhance this program and provide ongoing value for our managers.

Allyn Gutauskas, human resource manager,
Farmington Country Club

Since its publication in 2008, I have bookmarked or stuck post-it notes on the pages of The Essential HR Handbook I refer to most often. At this point, I might just as well have tagged every page! In my role as the singular HR person for multiple organizations over the last twenty years, I have found that a reliable and easy to use HR resource is an extremely valuable tool. The Essential HR Handbook covers the gamut of topics and issues that HR professionals face. The book covers HR issues from start to finish in a logical and easy to use format. This book is a must have for all HR professionals, especially those who run a department of one.

Helen Elmore, SHRM-SCP, director of
finance and administration

An invaluable resource! This edition of The Essential HR Handbook, with the most current information about recruitment and selection, technology, performance management, and much more, is a must-have, handy reference for anyone who deals with human resource issues.

Cornelia Gamlem, author, The Big Book of HR,
The Essential Workplace Conflict Handbook, The Conflict
Resolution Phrase Book, and The Manager's Answer Book

Sharon and Barbara have done it again! This new edition of The Essential HR Handbook has been completely updated to reflect the latest trends and realities in the workplacefrom telework to employee wellness programs to how to use social media as part of your recruitment process. As with the first edition, this manual is filled with useful information and resources. It should be in your bookcase. I guarantee you will find it useful.

Nancy Kelly, MHS, executive director,
Health Volunteers Overseas

Now more than ever, leaders need both a strategic and practical guide to help them effectively manage human resources. The Essential HR Handbook meets this need through the authors' smart and focused presentation of current HR information, challenges and solutions. This book belongs in a new manager's toolkit!

Mary Camuto, MC Consulting, author,
Make the Most of Your Workday

The Essential HR Handbook is a vital resource for today's leaders, providing meaningful guidance on human resources issues, along with useful scenarios and practical tools. The book has been a valuable reference tool for many years, and the authors' philosophy of lifelong learning is reflected in their highly substantive and timeless content.

Susanne Knight, office administrator,
Los Angeles, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

I strongly encourage anyone with HR responsibilities to explore this resource.

Anne Tomkinson, director of certification
for Washington, DC SHRM

The Essential HR Handbook should be a required book in every office. From those thrust into HR duties, to the manager who needs an occasional reference volume, this multipurpose handbook will guide the way. This second edition is a testament to the continued need for such a comprehensive resource to navigating the HR field.

Christina Lambert, SHRM-CP, manager of human resources and
administration, American Land Title Association

In the knowledge economy, there is no more important resource than talent so understanding how best to manage talent should be the highest priority of any successful business. I highly recommend Sharon Armstrong and Barbara Mitchell's updated The Essential HR Handbook to not only HR professionals, but also to today's C-level executives as they seek to understand how to recruit, retain and upskill their workforce. Armstrong and Mitchell's concise and well-researched material is easily digested and applied. I have valued their earlier edition, and have found their updates to the Handbook to be extremely pertinent and enormously helpful. Do yourself a favor and keep this book close as I do. You will find yourself reaching for it often.

Erinn Gray, vice president Global Human Resources, Trintech

This edition first published in 2019 by Career Press, an imprint of

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

With offices at:

65 Parker Street, Suite 7

Newburyport, MA 01950

www.redwheelweiser.com

www.careerpress.com

Copyright 2019 by Sharon Armstrong and Barbara Mitchell

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

ISBN: 978-1-63265-139-6

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
available upon request.

Cover design by Jeff Piasky

Interior by Lauren Manoy

Typeset in Minion Pro and Helvetica Neue

Printed in Canada

MAR

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www.redwheelweiser.com/newsletter

This book is dedicated to my father, Charles B. Scott, who taught
me the true meaning of perseverance.

Sharon Scott Armstrong

This book is dedicated to my parents, Anne and Tom Mitchell. I
wish they were here to celebrate this achievement with me.

Barbara Mitchell

M ost people understand that writing a book takes a village! There are many folks behind the scenes who helped us, so there are some thank-yous due.

Susan Devereaux skillfully and kindly edited our thoughts and words while remaining calm and put the final manuscript together in her highly professional way; Paul Mickey who contributed the updated legal chapter; Mike Strand who contributed two chapters, aided by Chris Serrano, whose help in researching the benefits chapter is greatly appreciated.

Others who deserve thanks for their contributions and support are Richard Armstrong, Cornelia Gamlem, and Joyce Oliner.

Thanks to our wonderful literary agent, Marilyn Allen, and the team at Red Wheel/Weiser for their support and confidence in us.

To paraphrase the words of William Butler Yeats, Think where man's glory most begins and ends, and say our glory was we had such friends.

Sharon Armstrong
Barbara Mitchell
Washington, DC

I am convinced that nothing we do is more important
than hiring and developing people. At the end of
the day you bet on people, not on strategies.

Lawrence Bossidy

W elcome to the updated version of The Essential HR Handbook. So much has changed since the original was published, but one thing remains the same: It is still a challenge to hire, engage, develop, and retain the best talent available! This book is designed as a resource for anyone who manages people, and that includes managers and business owners as well as human resources professionals.

Use this book as a reference document. Each chapter stands alone so you can pick it up and read it when you need it. When it makes sense, we've indicated where another chapter links to the one you're reading.