Employee handbook acknowledgment form
A one-page acknowledgment that the employee received and read the handbook, with the handbook version, an at-will statement and signature lines.
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This is a sample form. Check that the terms and pay match federal and state labor rules and your company policy.
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At will is not universal
This is a general template, not legal advice. The at-will sentence is standard in most US handbooks, but it conflicts with a collective bargaining agreement, an individual employment contract and Montana law after the probationary period. Turn it off in those cases rather than leaving a sentence the employee cannot truthfully sign.
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Employee Handbook Acknowledgment
Acme Inc.
| Employee | Jordan Lee | Company | Acme Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handbook | Employee Handbook | Version | Revised September 2026 |
By signing below I acknowledge the following:
- 1. I have been given access to the Employee Handbook (Revised September 2026) online and I know where to find the current version.
- 2. It is my responsibility to read the handbook and to follow the policies in it. If there is anything I do not understand, I will ask Human Resources.
- 3. The handbook describes Acme Inc.'s policies, benefits and expectations as of the date it was published. Acme Inc. may change, add or remove policies at any time, and will let employees know when it does.
- 4. My employment with Acme Inc. is at will. Either I or Acme Inc. can end it at any time, with or without cause or notice, unless a written agreement signed by an authorized officer of Acme Inc. says otherwise.
- 5. The handbook is not a contract of employment, and this acknowledgment does not create one.
- 6. I have also read and understand the Code of conduct.
- 7. I have also read and understand the Information security and acceptable use policy.
October 5, 2026
Employee signature: ______________________
Printed name: Jordan Lee
Received by (Human Resources): ______________________
How to use it
Type the company, the handbook title and its revision date, and say whether the employee gets a printed copy or a link. The form prints the standard acknowledgments as a numbered list: receipt, the duty to read it, that policies can change, the at-will statement if you keep it on, and that the handbook is not a contract. Add any policies you want called out by name, such as a code of conduct, one per line.
Have the employee sign on the first day with the rest of the new hire paperwork, and again whenever you issue a revised handbook. File the signed form in the personnel file; if a policy dispute comes up later, this page shows which version the employee had.
Things to watch
Give people time to read the handbook before they sign. A signature collected five minutes after handing over a 60-page PDF is weak evidence that anyone read it. Keep the version line accurate: when the handbook changes, collect a new acknowledgment rather than relying on the old one.
Calculators that go with this
Frequently asked questions
What if an employee refuses to sign?
Note on the form that the employee received the handbook on the date and declined to sign, with a witness initial. The acknowledgment confirms receipt, not agreement, so you can say that when you hand it over.
Do I need a new signature every time the handbook changes?
For a full revision, yes. For a small update, many companies send the change by email and keep the sent record. Put the revision date on the form so the two are easy to match later.
Can I collect it electronically?
Yes. An e-signature with a timestamp works as well as a pen. Export the signed PDF to the personnel file the same way.
Is what I type saved anywhere?
No. Everything stays in your browser and nothing is sent to our server. If you refresh the page it is gone, so print, save a PDF or download the DOCX when you are done.