Is it legal to make employees must sign a form that says they agree to abide by the employee handbook without ever having first seen the handbook?
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Is it legal to make employees must sign a form that says they agree to abide by the employee handbook without ever having first seen the handbook?
A former employer has a secondary handbook for employees that in order to receive the handbook you must first sign a paper saying you will read it, and agree to abide by it. You cannot access the handbook prior to signing this form.
Asked on June 6, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, New Hampshire
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
From what you have written, it makes no sense for an employee to first sign a document stating that he/she will abide by the employer-employee handbook without first having an opportunity to read it.
Custom and practice in the employment industry is for the employee to receive the handbook and then sign a paper stating that he or she has received a copy. Whether the employee chooses to read it is up to him or her.
There is nothing illegal about the request for the form to be signed regarding abiding by the handbook before receipt, but why would an employee sign such a form without first being given an opportunity to read the document?
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