Company policies are essential regardless of how big or small your business might be, as the framework and limitations that your team can function and thrive within for both individual and collective success. What’s more, company policies is part of the legal aspects of running a business.
These policies act like the rules and regulations for your business; having them in writing can effectively help you avoid costly legal situations while also ensuring your employees work within a safe and functional environment. If you aren’t too certain as to where you should get started when getting your company policies in writing, we have listed the most important policies that every business needs.
Equal Opportunity
Most countries are subject to some sort of equal opportunity policy that ensures all employees are treated fairly regardless of their gender, race, age, and other superficial details. Having this policy in writing is crucial for avoiding legal situations such as workplace violence, which can fall under intentional tort in some situations. As intentional tort can have your business on the wrong side of the law, you should find out more about this type of lawsuit in this article about tort explained. However, other instances that an equal opportunity policy can help prevent include workplace discrimination, employee harassment, and diversity struggles.
Health and Safety
There’s no arguing the importance of a workplace health and safety policy that will protect your business as well as your valued employees. This type of policy will help keep you and your employees protected from workplace injuries. Having the policy in writing will prove that you take the matter seriously as an employer. Neglecting a health and safety policy can have your business facing financial turmoil if an employee or customer should be injured on your premises.
Employee Code of Conduct
Having a written employee code of conduct policy is a great decision, even if you only have a couple of employees at the moment. Even if you assume some expectations and responsibilities are obvious, misunderstandings can still occur. One sure way to keep things transparent between you and your employees is to have an employee code of conduct policy written that outlines all the employment details. This policy should include as many details as possible, such as absenteeism and social media use at work, to give your employees ultimate transparency.
Employee Disciplinary Action
Your employee code of conduct policy will come in handy in the unfortunate event that you need to implement an employee disciplinary for any fair reason. However, an employee disciplinary action policy should also be a separate document. This document will explain instances that result in disciplinary action. What’s more, this type of policy will protect your business’s best interest in the unfortunate event that you need to terminate an employer’s contract for various reasons. If an employee has broken the employee disciplinary action policy and you have followed the correct protocols. As a result, the terminated employee will not be able to file an unfair dismissal lawsuit that could ultimately ruin your business’s reputation and put your company in financial harm.
