3 Ways to Successfully Implement Contemporary Workplace Policies – HR Affiliates Blog
One of the most pressing concerns employers have in 2019 is handling their company’s workplace policies. The importance of notifying employees of company changes is imperative to maintaining structure and ensuring that employees know their rights— and their role. As society shifts, workplace policies have gained complexity while navigating through contemporary practices. By law, employers must inform employees of their workplace rights, including the Equal Pay Act, workplace safety through OSHA, and the Family and Medical Leave Act if applicable. Is your business making sure this information is reaching every employee? Developing company policies will promote compliance, allowing your business to stay on track. Employers should keep the following tips in mind when on-boarding new employees.
Receive, Read, Retain: Getting a Signature
I’m sure you’re wondering if this is legally required— it isn’t. However, requesting that employees sign a document which states that they have received, read, and retained the workplace policies is a key component of evidence for employers in the case of a dispute. Implementing this document begins and ends with organization. Making sure the company policy includes the latest changes establishes clear employee roles, and provides clarification. Doing so ensures that current and new hires receive the most recent updates. Here are some important policies to include in your signed document:
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Equal Pay Act
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
These policies are in place to protect the lives of employees. OSHA’s mission includes preventing work-related injuries and tracking data behind accidents and illnesses. In addition to this, the Equal Pay Act states that employers are to extend equal pay to both men and women— for equal work. Lastly, FMLA handles job-protected leave, offering up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave; they work to ensure that employee health benefits be sustained during their period of absence. Including these documents in a signed statement indicates that employers care about the well-being of their employees and will not discriminate based on health, gender, race, religion, and more. Is your business taking the necessary steps to protect your business, and your employees?
Failure to provide employees with these documents can result in costly damage. Hiring an HR professional to help your business incorporate the signature tip in your workplace policy means you have covered your grounds as the employer. Everyone should be held accountable for their role, but the first step in doing so is knowing yours. For additional tips and their successful outcomes concerning company policies and new hires, check out 5 Ways to Set Up a New Employee for Success Through Effective HR Onboarding.
Gain Compliance the Cooperative Way
When thinking about a workplace policy, your mind may gear towards the idea of it being similar to a contract. The truth is, as an employer you should not force compliance. Employees are not required to sign a document as they may not agree with parts of the policy. With that, employees must still abide by workplace policies and are not free from obligation. An alternative is to facilitate a document in which the employee is able to communicate their refusal to sign the document— comfortably exercising their beliefs. Prior to resorting to this option, an employer should seek out proposals from HR experts to promote better understanding of workplace policies. Addressing workplace policies one-on-one with employees impacts a company’s success. Making sure both existing and new hires are provided with clear-cut company policies will shape the employee’s experience and performance.
In With the New: Update and Modify Your Policies
As an employer, setting aside the time to revise your company’s policy may seem arduous, especially with the pressure to address many other business concerns. Adjusting the workplace policy signifies a company’s devotion to maintaining a positive work environment. Not only does the company gain a better reputation, but also the workplace culture improves through higher compliance, stronger understanding of one’s role, and more effective communication among employees. Policies should be reviewed and revised to reflect changes in state and federal laws. Again, while written documents surrounding workplace policies are not enforced by the government, they do protect employees by enforcing nondiscriminatory tactics in the workplace. Make sure your company is considerate of the urgency to modify policies in respect to contemporary shifts, whether they be societal or employee driven.
Workplace Policies Don’t Have to Be Complicated
They can get complicated — fast. We want to help your business inform your employees of their rights, and their duties. We pride ourselves on accessing the most useful information to benefit your business. We’ve got you covered; from driving employee compliance to keeping you up-to-date on present-day laws. With HR Affiliates on your side, you won’t have to worry about how you will go about delivering the ample information surrounding workplace policies to employees. We’ll also help you establish an effective and healthy work culture. Take your business to the next step and schedule a consultation with us today.