Regulations are something that all of us need to abide by in our place of business. Not only do they protect employees from injury, but they also ensure we remain in compliance with the local law. If the regulations you have established are not followed correctly, legal action is likely to proceed. Employee lawsuit numbers have increased dramatically in the past few decades. Many of which, have taken advantage of companies who are not up to date with compliance issues. This is why it’s vital that you and your employees continually stay ahead and comply with all regulations. But this can be extremely challenging when they are being altered and added to constantly. Use these tips if you are struggling to stay on ahead of increasing regulations faced by your business.
Do your research
During any given day you will have a number of tasks and responsibilities to complete. This might involve training, hiring staff, performance reviews and completing legal documentation. With so many things to do each day, it’s not hard to see why staying up to date with regulations is often not prioritized. But doing your research and staying informed can help your business become more efficient and adaptable to change.
It also prevents your company from being noncompliant which can lead to a number of adverse outcomes. These can include penalties, loss of business profits and can even lead to civil action being taken against your business. Knowing that this can occur should make you more eager to get your knowledge updated. You can do this a number of ways from email updates from the U.S Department of Labor to building a relationship with an employment law attorney. The more up to date you continue to be the better you can prepare and adjust.
Prevent, Plan and Protect strategy
To make staying ahead far easier it will be advantageous for you to use the Plan/Prevent/Protect strategy. This has been implemented by the U.S department of Labor for the past six years. It was designed to help businesses comply with labor and employment laws. While some companies are required to use this strategy, all businesses can use it to their advantage. It gives employers the chance to create a plan that outlines how to prevent violations and what to do if they occur. Having a long term compliance plan will not only make your company feel more professional. But it can also improve your work environment and employee relations. The Plan/Prevent/Protect strategy works most effectively when employees are encouraged to help create it.
It’s objectives should be developed as a team and communicated clearly. Refresh your knowledge of the most recent regulation changes and communicate them to your employees. You can then use this information to create an action plan that everyone agrees with and can contribute to accomplishing on a daily basis. Ensuring that each of the plans objectives are being met will help to remind your employees about the importance of the regulations. This will make them feel more comfortable at work and encourages them to approach you with any concerns they may have.
Audit your business
To help you assess what level of compliance you currently have, it might be beneficial to audit your business. While most business owners find audits to be dull and time-consuming, they do serve a useful purpose. They can examine whether or not the current systems, procedures and policies that are used are working effectively. While also seeing whether they meet the latest changes made to the regulations. One of the best ways to approach your audit is to develop a list that focuses on areas that require high levels of compliance.
This should include the hiring process, employee rights and the paying of wages to name just a few. This list should make it easier to complete your audit and ensure each area complies with updated laws and regulations. These audits should be carried out regularly. Especially when a substantial change has been made to the regulations. Get into the habit of keeping your list updated and ensure these key compliance areas are altered during times of business growth. An audit of this kind can seem like a challenging task but the more you do it, the easier it will become.
With these tips to help you, you and your employees can have a continually updated knowledge of increasing regulations. This will help to improve your workplace while also ensure that no lawsuits can be carried against you and your business.
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- How To Stay Ahead Of Increasing Regulations - June 19, 2016
