Sample Policy Manual
Instructions for Use

This Sample Employee Handbook has been prepared for use by municipalities in Texas whose Human Resources administrators are members of TMHRA. Active, Associate, or Affiliate membership in TMHRA entitles the member to download the Sample Employee Handbook at no charge. Only TMHRA members in the preceding categories may access this book.

The Handbook is in a Word format. After downloading, you should review and, where necessary, revise policies to tailor to the City’s practices. You will notice that there are three sections of policies:

• Policies You Must Have In Your Handbook
• Policies That Are Good To Have
• Optional Policies – depending upon whether your City is covered by the policy

TMHRA has negotiated a special discounted rate for which your City may obtain a legal review of your finished product, conducted by Lynn Pham & Ross, LLP. The cost for a legal review will be $1,000. In order to provide a review at this price, you must REDLINE OR TRACK CHANGES in your Word program. Your IT staff can advise you on how to do this.

You are not required to obtain a legal review from Lynn Pham & Ross, LLP, and you may rely on your City Attorney to conduct such a review. If you add policies on subjects not contained in the Sample Employee Handbook, they will be reviewed, if you wish, at a negotiated rate with Lynn Pham & Ross, LLP.

All elements may not apply to all jurisdictions. Do not use this Sample Employee Handbook As Is without proper legal review

NOTE: For Civil Service and Collective Bargaining Cities Only

Where civil service or a collective bargaining agreement may alter a policy, a separate policy has been included for your use. You will need to select the appropriate option, depending upon whether the employees are civil service and/or covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Before downloading the Sample Employee Handbook, you must download the “Acknowledgement” Form, sign it and fax to Lonne Parent-Smith, CMP, Senior Planning Services Coordinator, at TML at 512-231-7494. Upon receipt of the form, a password will be supplied to allow access to the manual.

If you have already signed the Acknowledgement Form and received the password, click on Resources on the left-hand menu bar to access the manual.