District of Columbia Employee Handbook

When your company hires employees in District of Columbia, you are required to comply with federal, state, and local employment laws. There are a variety of human resources and labor policies in the workplace that differ by state. Through your employee handbook, employers can easily document and distribute the correct policies to their employees to comply with the laws of each state.

Creating your District of Columbia Employee Handbook is a useful way to explain important policies and procedures, mitigate legal risk, and introduce employees to the expectations and operating practices of the organization.

Mosey has compiled the relevant policies a company with employees in District of Columbia must consider.

District of Columbia Employee Handbook Policies

There are 9 state and local employee handbook policies in District of Columbia.

Wage and Hour

District of Columbia Minimum Wage Policy

You are entitled to a minimum wage of $17.95 per hour. Tipped employees will receive a base wage of $12.00 per hour, with Employer ensuring that total earnings (including tips) meet or exceed $17.95 per hour. Employees working split shifts are entitled to an additional hour of pay at the standard minimum wage rate, excluding meal breaks of up to one hour.

District of Columbia Reporting-Time Pay Policy

You are entitled to at least four hours of pay when you report to work, unless you are regularly scheduled for a shorter shift. If you are sent home early or given less than four hours of work, Employer will pay for the hours worked at your regular rate and the remaining hours at minimum wage. The total compensation will be the lesser of four hours or your scheduled shift length.

Vacation, Sick, and Safe Leaves

Leaves of Absence

District of Columbia School Leave Policy

Employer provides employees with 24 hours of unpaid leave each year to participate in activities at a child’s school or daycare.

District of Columbia Bone Marrow Donor Leave Policy

Employer is required to provide employees with up to seven days of leave per calendar year to donate bone marrow.

District of Columbia Parental Leave Policy

You may be eligible for up to two (2) weeks of paid leave to receive medical care related to pregnancy.

District of Columbia Organ Donor Leave Policy

You are entitled to up to 30 days of paid leave to serve for organ donation.

District of Columbia Voting Leave Policy

You are entitled to up to two hours of paid time off to vote if you would not otherwise have sufficient time to vote.

District of Columbia Family Leave Policy

You may be eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid leave benefit through the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES).

Expense

District of Columbia Remote Employee Reimbursement Policy

You are entitled to have necessary business expenses reimbursed.

Federal Employee Handbook Policies

Regardless of which states you have employees in, there are required federal policies that must be included in your employee handbook. In addition to any state-specific policies, your employee handbook for District of Columbia should contain the following federal policies.

• Anti-Harassment Policy
• Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy
• Anti-Retaliation Policy
• Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Handbook Policy Best Practices

In addition to the required federal policies, the following policies are best practices to include in your employee handbook.

• Prohibited Conduct Policy
• Violations Reporting Policy
• Workplace Violence Prevention Policy
• Weapons Policy
• Disciplinary Action Policy
• At-Will Employment
• Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Policy