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Post Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 7:31 pm 
 

Somewhere along the way I acquired a TSR Employee Handbook.   Unfortunately my records about its origin were packed for a move several years ago and I have not yet rediscovered them.  
TSR Employee Handbook - Google Photos

There seems to be very little information available about this online, probably because it holds limited appeal.  That being said I found it a very interesting, if rather dry, read.  Compared to modern corporate employee handbooks, this has a refreshingly casual, almost folksy feel.

The handbook isn't dated, but the TSR logo on the cover indicates it produced between 1982 and 1991.

A section titled Greetings from the President is signed by Kevin B. Blume, which I believe indicates the book is from between 1981 and 1985.

It's bound in a plastic faux leather, 2 hole punch punch notebook measuring 7 1/4" x 9 1/8" x 1 1/8".  

It contains 57 pages divided into 10 tabbed sections:
    *Contents: 2 pages
    *Greetings from the President: 2 pages
    *Introduction: 6 pages
    *Employment: 19 pages
    *Compensation: 5 pages
    *Paid Time Off: 6 pages
    *Development: 1 page
    *Communications: 4 pages
    *Discipline: 2 pages
    *Security: 4 pages
    *Services: 6 pages

One of the Services provided by the company were discount memberships to the fitness facilities provided by Americana.  The Americana was a luxury resort in Lake Geneva between 1981 and 1988.  Prior to being the Americana, the resort had been the Lake Geneva Playboy Club.  The resort still exists as the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa.
https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/blog/post/grand-tale/

Another interesting service was Group Purchasing Saves.  It's described as an organization to help TSR employees save money on food and other items used around the home.  Employees could order from a list of 6,000 items plus daily specials.   It's unclear whether this was an internal TSR service or whether it was a partnership with an outside group.


"Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
--H.L. Mencken


Last edited by NetRodent on Thu Apr 03, 2025 9:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
  

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Post Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 9:28 pm 
 

Thanks for sharing the info and the pics!

Some of these have popped up over the years.  I think they have sold for decent amounts.

  

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Post Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 8:58 pm 
 

Yeah, I may still have one of those.
Circa 1985 iirc.


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Post Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 12:18 am 
 

Hey Frank!  Do you remember anything about Group Purchasing Saves?  Was it run by TSR or was it an outside organization?


"Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
--H.L. Mencken

  


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Post Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 2:30 am 
 

I have Brian Blume's employee handbook. I also have the employee handbook for Tool & Die company that Melvin Blume (his father) owned. It is interesting how similar they were.


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Post Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 5:45 pm 
 

That's pretty fancy compared to the 1979 one that I have... it's just a bunch of pages stapled together.


Image

  

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Post Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2025 6:48 pm 
 

Very cool!  I love seeing little pieces of TSR history like this.  Thanks for posting.


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Post Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:08 pm 
 

That's cool! Thanks for sharing.

  
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