A company policy is a statement that defines a business's approach to an issue. The company policy manual is a comprehensive explanation of the company's rules for employee conduct and it tells employees what is appropriate behavior in your workplace.
But many companies either fail to produce a written set of policies, or what they do have is incomplete and out-of-date. The new year is a great time for reviewing and revising - or creating - your company policy manual.
Revisiting the Company Policy Manual
For employers, there is another perhaps more compelling reason for developing and having a definitive company policy manual, according to Wikipedia:"Federal and state laws and the growing number of cases of employee related litigation against management strongly suggests that a written statement of company policy is a business necessity for firms of any size."
Examples of litigation against a company stemming from employee actions are the release of a customer's private information and,of course, the actions of one employee against another; sexual harassment being this type of offensive employee conduct. This does include discrimination suits brought against employers by the the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
So what does your company policy manual look like today?
A company’s policy manual is its blueprint for internal operations. It is a written guide to how the company interacts with employees and runs its business. Policies cover all aspects of what a business expects from employees, such as attendance, safety rules, legal compliance with employment laws, facilities management, and dress codes.
Policies are guidelines that define company rules and procedure, and the consequences for not following them. And policy manuals should be regularly reviewed and updated when necessary.
One of the most important aspects of any policy manual is that it is up-to-date.
Laws change, new issues arise, and the manual must be updated and kept current. And if your handbook is in multiple languages, each version needs to be updated, as well.
It's time to review and revise
1. Who is responsible?
In many companies, human resources staff are responsible for reviewing policies and updating them. In smaller companies the senior managers may be responsible for updating policies. Because company policies must comply with relevant legislation and regulations it’s a good idea to have them reviewed by an attorney periodically, as well.
2. What to review?
Review all policies to ensure they are still relevant and up to date. A policy regarding manual time sheets collected by supervisors would be no longer relevant if your company has installed an automatic electronic attendance system, for example. You should also review for compliance to legislation and regulations, review policies for current practices and procedures, and current products and services.
Policy manuals are typically produced as paper copies of written policies put together in either binders, or printed as book-bound publications. However, many companies post their manuals in digital formats that employees can access on their computers.
A great approach is to keep your original copies intact, and categorize your updated revisions with a numbering system so that your changes are documented and dated. These updates are then made to the digital version for distribution to all involved so they are informed of the policy change.
A signed acknowledgement of receipt of the updated policy can be required, if you feel this is needed.
Keep Your Employees Informed and Your Company Protected
Company policies reinforce and clarify the standards expected of employees and help employers manage staff more effectively by defining acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in the workplace. And a policy manual that is comprehensive and up-to-date will provide the documentation for businesses faced with possible litigation arising from employee disputes.
If you have questions regarding this, or other HR issues and practices, let us help you in managing your HR needs, payroll processes, and staying on top of compliance demands. Get your Free Download: Payroll Outsourcing Guide to help you make an informed decision or call Accuchex Payroll Management Services at 877-422-2824.
