How to Conduct an HR Policy Review
Sexual harassment policies, rules for office behavior or regulations prohibiting a hostile work environment are only worth the paper they're printed on if the Human Resources department does not take steps to explain the rules in person and require everyone to legally acknowledge that review process. Managers in charge of personnel matters need to make sure that a worker who violates the policy can't offer these words as a defense: "I didn't know." Without a policy review process in place, companies are vulnerable to employee lawsuits and may have difficulty firing or disciplining the rule-breakers.
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Instructions
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Schedule a companywide meeting, or series of companywide meetings, so that every person who works there can be informed of the policy. Make sure an attorney reviews it ahead of time. Assign an in-house HR representative, or hire a specialized attorney or personnel consultant to conduct the policy review. Make sure the HR director (or high-ranking member of that office) and top-management-level employees are in each gathering.
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Use videos, Powerpoint presentations and other visual devices to illustrate the points. Don't just stand in front of the group and read the policy, though for legal purposes the policy in its entirely should be read at some point during the review. Have the employees break off into groups and engage in role-playing exercises to get a better understanding of the rules by example.
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Require everyone to sign a form at the end of the review acknowledging that the policy has been stated and explained to them. Provide contact information of appropriate company representatives who may answer questions about the policy.
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Post the policy somewhere in the workplace where everyone can see it. According to Employer-employee.com, it should also be in languages other than English if there are workers there who speak other languages. That document or poster should also have directions on it for reporting incidents of sexual harassment, discrimination of other policy violations to managers.
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Tips & Warnings
Employer-employee.com recommends that supervisors should meet annually to discuss sexual harassment policies.
