And Most employees never read their employee handbooks even though such handbooks contain important information that sets the framework for, and terms of, their employment relationships. Employee handbooks often communicate valuable information, such as the employer’s mission, policies, and procedures, as well as employees’ benefits and rights under state and federal employment laws.

Download Zip Files. In some circumstances, an employee handbook may be a contract, creating enforceable rights for employees. In, two employees sued Wal-Mart on behalf of themselves and other similarly situated employees for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and violations of the, alleging violations of their employee handbook.

Wal-Mart’s employee handbook stated that all employees must be paid for meal breaks, and that hourly employees who work between three and six hours per shift must be paid for one short break, and hourly employees who work more than six hours per shift must be paid for two short breaks. Under Pennsylvania law, a handbook is enforceable against an employer if a reasonable person in the employee’s position would interpret its provisions as evidencing the employer’s intent to supplant the at-will rule and be bound legally by its representations in the handbook. The employees claimed that, contrary to their employee handbook, Wal-Mart frequently denied them their meal and short breaks and, when they did receive those breaks, they were not paid for that time. Although federal law does not require employers to provide meal and short breaks,. The affirmed the judgment of Pennsylvania’s Superior Court that Wal-Mart’s employee handbook constituted a contract and that Wal-Mart had, among other violations, breached that contract.