Is it wrong of a company to forget to offer a new employee their company handbook?

Question

My friend was hired a month ago and with all the benefit information, they forgot to include the employee handbook. Last week the h.r. assistant came to her to sign a document stating she received and looked over the handbook. She throught nothing of it, since she loved the job. The following Monday morning she was told she was being let go, due to budget cuts. This was a huge shock and disappointment. Does really matter if she never read the handbook?

Answer 1

Um... do you think that if she had read the handbook, she wouldn't have gotten laid off? As if her reading it would have enabled the company to meet its revenue target?

Seems to me like it's just as well that she didn't waste her time reading it, since she was going to be laid off anyway.

Answer 2

One thing has nothing to do with the other as I see it. Not giving the handbook was an oversight, happens all the time. Budget cuts means someone gets cut loose. She was last hired, so that usually means first fired. Whether she read the handbook or not is immaterial.

Answer 3

to answer the question correctly I would have to read the handbook and to know in what state this occurred.

While generally, the answers you received are correct, California and a few other states have held that depending on the specific language of the handbook, it could serve as a contract between the parties.

Answer 4

The Hand book only tells you what the company can do and what you can't so it does not matter about the book unless your hurt at work.

Answer 5

i don't think it matters, a company can lay you off if they want to, although they probably wanted to make sure she signed that thing that says that on paper (we have the right to fire you anytime if we feel like it). but it doesn't change that they can still do it if they want.