10 Must-Have Policies for a Happy and Well-Operated Business

Employers often use workplace policies to govern employee performance, conduct, and behavior as well as to establish minimum standards. To comply with the pertinent laws, there are certain rules or procedures that must be followed.

According to the many Work Health and Safety Acts in place in Australia, for instance, employers have positive health and safety obligations to those at their job. Every organization must thus have processes in place to carry out and keep track of those commitments.

1) Work Health and Safety

A written, published and regularly updated general health and safety policy is an essential minimum standard for most small businesses.

Workplace accidents can have a negative impact on your company in a number of ways, including reduced productivity, the need to pay sick leave, and the expense of hiring a replacement. WHS regulations emphasize safety protocols and each employee’s duties to maintain a safe workplace.

All employees should be made aware of such a policy and be provided with a copy. This should occur each time the policy is updated.

Other Workplace Policies

2) Bullying and Harassment

The company must demonstrate that it has taken all necessary precautions to guard against discrimination or harassment in order to reduce the risk of litigation. However, this is practically impossible without a thorough policy!

3) Annual Leave and 4) Sick Leave

A leave policy can be quite beneficial for firms that go through seasonal busy times. To avoid being understaffed, a leave policy can account for appropriate coverage protocols and policies during peak times with longer notice periods for employees requesting leave.

5) Code of Conduct

Setting the expectations for your employees’ behavior through a code of conduct is crucial. A code of conduct will cover topics like appropriate attire, cell phone usage, timeliness, and using business property.

6) Social Media and Internet Usage

A social media strategy is necessary to safeguard your business’s reputation, especially if staff members post information about their work on their pages. It is a good idea to let employees know that their online conduct will be monitored because the distinction between personal and professional networks on social media can become hazy.

7) Drug and Alcohol Policy

Drug and alcohol use both during and after work hours can pose serious safety issues and cost your company money in the form of accidents, absenteeism, and lost productivity. A drug and alcohol policy can outline a company’s rights to conduct drug tests on employees while also promoting and maintaining a risk-free workplace.

8) Performance and Misconduct and 9) Disciplinary Policy

Any organisation will regularly manage performance, but it may frequently be a delicate task. A policy will help you stay in compliance with the demands of procedural fairness and give instructions on how to handle inappropriate behavior.

10) Anti-Discrimination and EEO

There is no place for discrimination in your workplace. Your policy should stop unlawful behaviour before it takes hold. While behaviour that is against the law is the responsibility of a person, employers have a statutory duty to proactively eliminate behaviours in the first place and maybe vicariously liable for the actions of their employees.

It can be extremely difficult to attempt to reprimand employees for violating company policies when those regulations are not documented, widely distributed, or easily accessible. Therefore, any company should make establishing a strong set of policies and procedures a priority.

Do you need advice with your workplace policies?

We’re ready to help you.

info@clydeindustrial.com.au

1800 954 696