Occasionally your company may need a new business policy. Changes are important to help your processes run smoothly and efficiently, maintain employee morale and give your business a positive reputation in the marketplace. Still, change can be difficult for employees to accept. Use the following seven steps to implement a successful, lasting new company policy.
- Clearly identify your goal. What is the end result you are looking to accomplish with your new policy? An unclear goal will make it difficult to outline the new policy parameters.
- Involve employees in the policy making process. Poll the audience! Conduct employee meetings to explain the issue the company is facing and the goal you’d like to achieve with a new policy. Gather employee feedback for what the new policy should entail. When employees feel they have had a hand in the process, they will be much more likely to adhere to change.
- Form a committee made up of members from different departments. Group diversity will help you draft policy parameters that make sense, to clearly define the policy and how it works.
- Request legal review. Ensure your policy meets all legal requirements by involving your in-house legal team, or an external legal counsel.
- Get senior management’s support. Ask members of senior management to review and approve your new policy. This will help guarantee it aligns with the company’s mission statement, vision and future goals.
- Roll out the new policy to employees. Provide adequate communications to all employees to be sure the policy registers on their radar. Consider sending an email blast or circulating printed communications, hanging informational posters throughout the building, or posting information about the new policy on the company intranet or social media sites.
- Practice what you preach. Management should adhere to the new policy to set a good example for staff. Department heads should be prepared to enforce the policy as employees are getting used to it, which could take a little time.
By getting employees on board early in the process, you’ll be making positive strides towards their acceptance of your new policy. Keep all hands on deck through involvement of legal and senior management. With time, good communication and reinforcement, your policy will help you maintain your company as a place that collaborates with and supports its staff.
For more information on implementing a company policy that lasts, contact the expert staff at Snelling Georgia. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
