Lawn Care Employee Handbook: Successful Hiring Strategies

By building a robust lawn care employee handbook, you’ll have the power to create stellar crews who work hard and know what is expected of them.

So, whether you already have a lawn care employee handbook, you need to update it, or you're starting from scratch, we’ve got everything you need to know.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to:

• Establish policies and procedures for your business
• Maximize productivity
• Set clear expectations
• Improve employee retention
• Streamline training and operations

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Why a Lawn Care Employee Handbook Is Important

Your lawn care employee handbook outlines your business’ key standards with things like:

• Policies, procedures, and expectations
• Benefits and compensation
• Training and development
• Safety guidelines
• Employee code of conduct
• Rights and responsibilities
• Resources and support
• Company values

Additionally, the best handbooks are great for your team to reference when they have questions or even when a new crew member starts.

While each lawn care handbook can just be focused on copy content, adding a few additional details can make yours more effective.

Here are a few simple ways you can improve your handbooks:

• Add images and captions to all relevant tools and equipment
• Create detailed instructions on the proper use of all relevant tools and equipment
• Insert on-site checklists with your key company standards

Plus, did you know you can include your lawn care employee handbook in your software for easy, on-the-go access?

What to Include

You’ll need to customize your handbook based on the specific needs of your company, but we’ve got a list of all the main sections and what should be included in each one.

Welcome

Telling your company’s story is important. Share where you came from, where you’re headed, and include a mission statement.

Company History and Mission Statement

Your company history and mission statement are important to include in your lawn care employee handbook because it provides new employees with essential background information.

Employment Policies

Each company has a list of important employment policies that need to be included in every handbook. While the needs of each company will vary, here are some policies to consider:

• At-Will Employment Disclaimer
• Waiver of Breach
• Employee Code of Conduct (i.e. Code of Ethics)
• Confidentiality Agreement
• Company Vehicles and Property
• Personal Appearance
• Reporting Concerns, Complaints, and Grievances
• Progressive Discipline
• Harassment and Discrimination Policies
• Substance Abuse Policy

Company Policies

You’ll also need to include policies that are specific to your company. Here are a few to consider:

• Punctuality
• Dress Code
• Communication
• Safety
• Attendance and Leave
• Professionalism

Hiring and Terminations

Unfortunately, employment-related lawsuits and claims can happen based on inconsistent disciplinary actions or a failure to notify employees of your policies and procedures. 

While these documents are pretty dry, they are an important part of your lawn care employee handbook.

Here are a few basic policies you should consider including in your lawn care employee handbook:

• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Immigration Law Compliance
• Job Roles and Responsibilities
• Employment Categories
• Employment Applications
• Probationary Period
• New Employee Orientation
• Expected Work Hours, Breaks, and Time Off Policies
  • Absence Policies
• Access to Personal Files
• Job Abandonment
• Employee Termination
• Exit Interview

Pay, Benefits, and Performance

This is where you'll outline everything related to how your team gets paid and what benefits they can expect. Make sure your team knows the same benefits and compensation opportunities are open to everyone in your lawn care business.

Pay:

• Payroll schedule and process
• How overtime and minimum wage work
• Time tracking requirements
• Direct deposit information
• Performance-based pay (if you offer it)

Benefits:

• Health, life, and disability insurance
• Workers' compensation
• Paid time off, leave, and holidays
• Retirement plans
• Employee discounts
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Bonus programs

Performance:

• How and when performance reviews happen
• What good performance looks like
• How pay increases are earned
• Recognition programs

Tech and Safety Policy

Chances are good that your crews will either have tech and equipment provided by your company or have access to their own. 

To make sure everyone is on the same page, here are some additional items to include in your handbook:

Technology:

• Personal Phone Policy
• Work Phone Policy
• Voicemail, Text, Email, and Internet Policy
• Computer and Tablet Usage
• Mail Use (for the office)

Equipment and Safety:

• Required safety gear (PPE)
• Tool and equipment care
• Vehicle policies
• Workplace safety rules
• Drug, smoking/vaping, and alcohol policies

Customer Service Standards

Your team needs to know exactly what you expect when it comes to customer service and work quality. 

Ultimately, you’ll need to decide if each of these topics deserves its own section or if you can combine them. That said, here is a good starting place.

Customer Service Basics:

• How to talk to clients
• Problem-solving steps
• When to call for help

Work Quality Standards:

• What excellent work looks like
• Quality control checklists
• Common mistakes to avoid
• How to handle complaints

Training and Development

Your training and career development programs help you keep your best talent and empower them to do great work. 

Here are a few things to consider for your crews:

Training Programs:

• Onboarding
• Ongoing skill development
• Safety training requirements
• Cross-training opportunities

Career Growth:

• Advancement opportunities
• Mentorship programs
• Skills that lead to promotions
• Leadership development

Employee Rights and Support

Your crews have support and rights, and this should be a part of your handbook, and OSHA is a great resource for your lawn care business.

Here’s an OSHA example of what your rights and responsibilities section might look like:

• Employees have the right to a safe and healthy working environment. Employers must provide safety measures and equipment to protect employees from potential hazards.
• Employees must adhere to company policies and procedures, including safety protocols, confidentiality, and professional conduct.
• Employees have the right to fair compensation, including minimum wage and overtime pay.
• Employees are responsible for performing their duties to the best of their abilities, being punctual, meeting deadlines, and fulfilling job responsibilities.
• Employees have the right to privacy and protection against discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics.
• Employees should treat their colleagues with respect and professionalism, promoting a positive workplace culture.

Final Steps

There are a lot of parts that go into your lawn care employee handbook, and there are two last things you should do to set your business up for success.

Include a Signature Page

Every handbook needs a signature page where employees can acknowledge they've read and understood the policies. 

You should include spaces for:

• Employee name and signature
• Date signed
• Statement confirming they'll follow the handbook rules

Keep Your Handbook Current

Because laws (and your business) will likely change, you’ll need to update your handbook at least once a year. 

Do yourself a favor and put this on your calendar now. Pick a slower time of year when you and your team can make any updates you need to keep your handbook current.

Manage Crews With the Right Lawn Care Software

Did you know, you can include your lawn care employee handbook (and store the signature form) in your lawn care software?

Plus, with the best lawn care software, you’ll get:

• Instant bulk invoicing
• Customizable forms
• Estimates on-the-go
• GPS employee tracking
• Job costing and analysis
• AI-powered route optimization
• Same-day payments
• Pre-built and customized reports
• Automated marketing made simple
• Accessible client accounts from anywhere
• Productivity dashboard to track crew productivity
• Easily schedule recurring jobs with flexible scheduling

From scheduling to client management, your crews need Service Autopilot to seamlessly manage your daily operations.

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Use Your New Lawn Care Employee Handbook to Build a Happy Team

Finally, you can use these key insights to build your own robust lawn care employee handbook to:

• Maximize productivity and efficiency
• Boost employee retention and morale
• Streamline training, operations, and procedures

Start using these industry-leading strategies to begin creating your lawn care employee handbook for your business today!n creating your lawn care employee handbook for your business today!

Related: Lawn Care Hiring Guide

Originally published July 23, 2024 7:00 AM CT updated on June 12, 2025 at 12:30 PM CT