How to Adopt Policies & Procedures
Changing the way an office works can be an uncomfortable process. Employees must adjust to new working rules and may resist changes to their existing process. However, adopting new policies and procedures is often helpful or necessary in an office, so it's important to know how to implement them smoothly. Keeping an eye open and following a few guidelines can changing office policies easier, leading to a better workplace for everyone.
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Instructions
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Consult your Human Relations department before undertaking any new processes. Make sure that none of the changes you propose would be considered unfair, unethical or illegal. Consulting with HR before you implement new policies and procedures may protect you and your business from costly legal disputes.
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Seek input from those who will be affected by the new policies and procedures. This creates a sense of "buy in" from employees, who will feel that their needs and concerns have been taken into account. This will reduce resistance from employees later on.
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Create clear rules and guidelines using the input you sought and your knowledge of the problem. Laying out policies and procedures clearly and concisely makes them far more effective and easier to implement. For example, one common retail policy is to allow store associates to use their own discretion on matters of up to a certain dollar amount (such as $50). The clear limit on this policy makes compliance and enforcement easier.
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Communicate the new policies and procedures to all those who will be affected, in person whenever possible. The only thing likely to upset employees and create resistance more than a difficult new procedure is one that's poorly communicated. Be up front with changes in policy, and explain in what ways you kept employee concerns in mind when formulating new policies and procedures.
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Discuss the new policies and procedures with employees if friction remains. Many problems arise from a lack of clarity. Having an open, two-way discussion about the effects of new policies can reduce misgivings and give you valuable information about your business and employees.
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Review your policies and procedures a few months after they've been implemented. By this time you should have worked the kinks out, so review new policies for efficacy. Remember to focus on quantitative results and not just anecdotal evidence.
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