4 Signs Your Workplace Policies are Out of Date

When it comes to workplace policies, it’s easy to write them and then forget about them. The reality is that you’re busy running a company or managing a team, so policies and the documents outlining them – while vitally important – don’t often get the attention they need. But, as one of the leading staffing firms in South Florida, Future Force knows this can land you in legal hot water should an issue arise and you have a policy that’s not up to date.

So how do you know when it’s time to take a fresh look at workplace policies and revamp them? Look for these 4 signs:

#1: There’s been new legislation issued.

If a new law has been enacted and your company policy doesn’t reflect it, then you need to act fast. While there are often grace periods for employers, you don’t want to be left scrambling just before the deadline. Or worse, you don’t want to get hit with a lawsuit because your company wasn’t in compliance. While it certainly takes time and effort, and perhaps even some expense in the form of legal advice from a business attorney, it’s well worth it in the form of peace of mind and protection.

#2: It’s been years since a policy was updated.

You should be reviewing policies on a regular basis to make sure they’re up to date and make sense for the current business environment. If you don’t, then there’s no point in having them. So if it’s been five years since you last looked at the employee handbook, or the workplace safety policies haven’t been updated in ages, it’s time to take a look at what’s still true and what needs to be updated. This ensures management and your team are on the same page and also reduces exposure and risk in the process.

#3: Retention issues are on the rise.

There are reasons people leave companies and many of them are avoidable. However, if policies are dated and there are varying rules for different team members, then your staff will grow frustrated and disengaged. This can lead to issues with retention. Not only that, but it can impact your ability to recruit and hire the best people for your job openings.

#4: You don’t have a dedicated HR person.

If you have an HR professional on staff, then part of their job should be to review these policies and make changes whenever needed. If, however, you don’t, then it’s easy for this responsibility to fall through the cracks. Likewise, you might have a dedicated person to handle the policies and handbooks, but if they’re not trained, then they could be putting your company at risk.

Clearly, there’s a lot at stake when it comes to your employee policies. That’s why it’s so important to spend the time regularly reviewing and evaluating them, all to ensure they’re as up to date as possible and your company is well-protected as a result.

Need help with these and other HR- and staffing related issues?

Call the experts at Future Force. As one of the leading staffing firms in South Florida, we’ve been providing local employers with easy access to staffing and HR expertise and services for over 20 years. If you’re ready for professional help with staffing and HR headaches and hassles, give Future Force a call.