SOR - Employee Handbook Update
COVID Pandemic Spurs Employee Handbook Updates
THE MANUFACTURER
SOR Controls Group, Ltd. (SCG) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of measurement and control devices under the brands of SOR Inc., Smart Sensors Incorporated (SSi), SETEX Products and SENSOR Sampling Systems and Data Monitoring Systems. SOR Controls Group actively serves all sectors of the process industry with particular strengths in the oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical and power segments. SCG also maintains an engineering and design team capable of providing engineered-to-order systems and products when required.
With headquarters in Lenexa, KS and regional offices in Houston (TX), Beijing, and Dubai, SCG supports a network of sales and service personnel capable of addressing customer requirements in any geographic market around the world.
THE SITUATION
SOR Controls Group, like many manufacturers, has a very stretched human resources department. The human resources complexity increases because of multiple office locations, which includes international offices.
SOR had employee policies and documentation in place. However, there was a need for the information to be in one organized and cohesive employee handbook format for easy distribution to all employees. When the Covid-19 pandemic started, the unknown implications of the virus on employees and the company expedited the need for a consolidated handbook solution. The company also needed to ensure its policies were current given the changes with employment law because of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and. Economic Security Act (CARES). There was a need to add Covid-19 protocol and updated policies to the employee handbook and distribute the information as it changed.
THE SOLUTION
Kansas Manufacturing Solutions provided an employee handbook solution to SOR. KMS’ experts worked side-by-side, virtually, with SOR Human Resource leadership to pull together their policies and documents into one employee handbook.
Employee handbooks set consistent expectations of employee and management behavior and performance. The handbook communicates the company’s mission, vision, and to the employee, while protecting both the employee and the employer from unfair treatment and unclear policies.
The handbook was reviewed by a legal expert to ensure the policies were enforceable and positioned SOR in a favorable position with its employees. A Covid-19 addendum was added to the employee handbook. This addendum created and enacted Covid-19 policies for the company. As an addendum, this document can be continuously modified as Covid-19 guidance from the CDC changes.
THE RESULTS
Cost savings – SOR saved $150,000 on internal labor costs, attorney fees to validate employee handbook polices, and establishing Covid-19 policies that retained employees and reduced the need for onboarding expenses.
Workforce practices - SOR saved $50,000 of expense by implementing a consistent and enforceable employee handbook, with covid-19 safety practices to support policies included in the employee handbook Covid addendum. This increased employee confidence in the company, management, employee safety, and reduced the risk for employee litigation with regard to Covid-19 safety.
THE CONCLUSION
"It was great working with Kansas Manufacturing Solutions. It gave me the opportunity to focus on day-to-day issues and projects while knowing an expert was putting all our COVID policies and procedures into one central location and ensuring compliance. I would highly recommend utilizing KMS for projects. They are a great resource!"
Janet Smith, VP Human Resources