Do you want to know how to create an effective policy for your company? Here are the common pitfalls of policy making and how to avoid them like george morikawa health.
Be aware that policies should be reviewed often, not just at the beginning. Policies can become outdated or defunct if not revisited periodically. Be sure to consider a timeline for review when you first create your original document.
All policies need proper definitions in order to be enforced correctly. An “acceptable use” policy is only usable if it defines its terminology so that it can apply equally across all users without confusion as well as what sort of activities are allowed or not allowed within its scope (for example, browsing vs downloading).
1. It’s Too Complicated
A stringent policy with multiple conditions, special circumstances to be considered, and even special exceptions based on status of the user is often counterproductive by making the policy too complicated for its intended purpose. In order for your policy to be effective, it should be as simple and clear as possible.
2.It’s Too Prescriptive
Too many prohibitions can make a policy too rigid or inflexible –- something that is very difficult to deal with in a business setting where all sorts of people can come in contact, usually unknowingly and unintentionally. Policies need to be flexible enough that they can adapt to different situations instead of being rigid and restrictive on what people can do.
3.It’s All or Nothing
Policies can either make all people equal or they can be designed to focus on specifics. A balance is needed between the two extremes, so that if a situation is not specifically addressed by the policy, it is still handled in an equitable way. An example would be if one person reported another for something while working and they were both fired because of this report. This doesn’t seem fair or reasonable to most people. It’s usually better to direct a policy at a specific behavior and let results be handled as they would normally be -– meaning that if you know someone who works hard and does good things, then perhaps it doesn’t matter what else he does during his free time.
4.It’s Ineffective
Policies that are not enforced are worse than no policies at all. Establish a reporting procedure and make sure it covers all aspects of the policy so that reports can be made and acted on in a timely manner. (Keep in mind that some people are going to try and abuse this system, so discretion should be used when dealing with such matters.)
5. It Doesn’t Align With Company Values
What your company values is the key to creating effective policies in the first place. It is best to think of one or two company values and make sure your policies are in alignment with those values. For example, if your company values include respecting the environment, then maybe you want to not allow DVD burning or downloading of illegally obtained music (not that this is necessarily a good thing).
6. It Doesn’t Meet Lawyers’ Objectives
The lawyers are likely to want a policy if there is something that needs to be protected from liability or court action – such as employees downloading copyrighted materials from the internet or interacting with minors in any way. However, policies should generally not be geared towards litigation since it really isn’t helpful unless a major problem arises. In any case, legal requirements can be handled by a separate policy.
7. It’s Not Reviewed Periodically
As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when creating and maintaining policies for your company. However, if you follow these rules and keep them in mind when creating a policy for your company, it is likely to be efficient and effective.
Bonus: It’s Too Much Work
Typically, policies need to be reviewed on a regular basis. If your policy is too complicated or too restrictive then it will not be followed by employees because it will take too much effort or they just won’t understand why they should follow it in the first place. If your policy is too prescriptive or inflexible, it will not be helpful. The point of a policy is to provide guidance and direction for employees so that they know what is expected from them. If your policy just doesn’t seem fair, it probably isn’t. Think about the culture of the company and how you want people to feel when interacting with others. Keep in mind that policies need to be balanced between outcomes that are too harsh and one’s that are completely lenient. Think about whether policies will encourage or discourage certain behaviors and whether those behaviors are actually bad for the company as a whole.
Conclusion:
Policies need to be reviewed regularly, not just at the beginning. Policies can become outdated or defunct if not revisited periodically. Be sure to consider a timeline for review when you first create your original document. Powerful and effective policies can be created by taking into consideration the ‘7 Sins of Policies.’ Be aware that policies should be reviewed often, not just at the beginning. They are likely ineffective if not followed and that they become obsolete if never looked at again.