On February 28, 2014, a Massachusetts court ruled that an employee handbook, when properly written, was not a contract between the employer and employee.  The case, Metelus v. Wingate Healthcare, Inc., is a positive decision for employers and supports the use of well-crafted employee handbooks.

What You Need To Know.  Employee handbooks are helpful tools to establish workplace rules and expectations.  As long as your handbook uses discretionary language and includes employer flexibility to address each situation as appropriate to the facts, your handbook should not be considered a binding contract.

In the Metelus case, a nursing home was sued for discrimination and breach of contract by three former nursing assistants who were terminated for refusing to follow orders and for poor patient care.  Continue reading →