Remember when you were signing the papers accepting your last job offer, and read through the employee handbook? If you are like me, you probably don’t remember doing so because you skipped over it. In the excitement of being offered a new job, you discuss the major issues with the employer such as salary and insurance and then eagerly sign on the dotted line before reading through the policy details.  This may be okay for awhile, but what happens when 6 months down the road, you request two days off for vacation time only to find you don’t qualify for paid vacation days until a year?

This may seem like a pretty far off example, but actually happened to a fellow employee recently. When she asked me about it, I was very surprised as I’d not read the employee handbook either. When discussing this subject with others, the most common response was ” But that’s illegal!” Well, a quick Google search into California Employment Laws, found that it actually is not. You may sign up with an employer only to find out you will not be sipping Mai Tai’s on the beaches of Maui until you’ve been with the company for 20 years. (Scary thought I know)

Before signing the offer letter, make sure to read the employee handbook very carefully. Personal days, sick days, paid-time off and dental insurance may seem trivial now, but they can really affect you in the future. Read every word and weigh each issue carefully- Can they take away your insurance at any time? Do they give you enough time off for Maternity or Paternity leave? How often are you up for review?

Taking an extra 30 minutes to read the fine print can save you lots of time and disappointment in the future.