10 Ways to Improve Workplace Compliance
Posted on January 24, 2023
4 mins to read
Compliance is essential to ensure a safe work environment and avoid violating any ethics, laws, or regulations. However, it is easier said than done. A compliance team’s job can be difficult due to compliance fatigue, complacency, and a lack of employee engagement. In this article, we’ll look at 10 ways to increase workplace compliance throughout your business.
What Does Workplace Compliance Mean?
Compliance means that your business upholds all relevant external laws and regulations, including federal, state, and local ones. Compliance is supported by internal policies, practices, and training. Compliance in the workplace has an impact on all branches and levels of an organization and embraces a wide range of topics, such as:
- Anti-discrimination
- Data protection
- Environmental protection
- Health & Safety
- Taxes
Compliance, in a broader sense, refers to the ethical behavior of an organization and its personnel. Effective compliance is a prerequisite for the physical and mental well-being of your team.
Ten ways the shape the culture of compliance
1. Compliance starts at the top
The best place to start when it comes to compliance is at the top. Good leaders set a good example. Therefore, it is crucial that managers show their dedication to compliant workplace practices. There shouldn’t be distinct requirements for leadership. Management should adopt the same behaviors that are expected of employees. Employees will follow company leaders’ examples. For instance, management should go through compliance training before or alongside their team when it is time. This promotes employee involvement.
2. Establish your company’s values
The foundation of a company’s culture is its core values. They lay the groundwork for a value-driven culture that motivates your team to do the right thing. Integrity, honesty, transparency, trust, respect, and accountability are examples of such values. These values serve as a road map for employees, guiding their decisions and actions. They also demonstrate how small acts of compliance fit into the overall perspective.
3. Make compliance easy and enjoyable
It is critical to make compliance fun and easy for your employees. Change up your training methods. Compliance training can be delivered in person, in small groups, or individually, via video or online. Combining compliance training with other team-building activities is another way to make it more enjoyable.
Additionally, ensure that your training materials are up to date. Your employees should be able to easily access them at any time. It is also important to incorporate any applicable compliance regulations into your onboarding training, and employee handbook. Compliance should also be easily accessible in practice. Consider how you can remove practical barriers to compliance for your employees.
4. Use rewards
Rewards are an effective way to recognize and encourage compliant behavior in the workplace. Identify and publicly recognize examples of workplace compliance. This encourages employees to comply and reinforces the behavior of the employee receiving the recognition. It is critical to reward and recognize compliance consistently and fairly. For example, if you start a monthly compliance award, define the criteria for determining the winner.
5. Incorporate compliance into performance evaluations
Performance evaluations enable you to communicate with your employees on a regular basis. You can use this opportunity to reinforce company compliance expectations. Confirm whether the employee has completed the required training during a performance review. Discuss with them how they model a compliance culture at work.
6. Replace DON’Ts with SHOULD DO
Instead of focusing on what employees should not do, frame compliance positively and focus on the positive behavioral patterns they should adopt. It is also necessary to explain the purpose of a compliance measure. When employees understand why they must comply, they are more likely to do so.
7. Perform compliance audits
It is critical to perform regular compliance audits. Use these periodic reviews to ensure that your practices and policies are in accordance with the applicable regulations. Use them to determine whether your employees are adhering to your policies and procedures. The metrics you employ are determined by the laws and regulations that apply to your organization.
8. Prioritize employee involvement
Employee engagement is essential for establishing a compliance culture. Engaged employees get more done during their work day and feel good about being part of the team. The premise that compliance starts at the top is never so important as employees are watching constantly their leaders. When they observe leadership demonstrating the same behaviors that are expected from the employees, they are more likely to participate in a meaningful way, staying connected and engaged with compliance expectations. Technology can help improve employee compliance engagement. However, face-to-face interactions are also important.
9. Use technology to manage compliance
Compliance is challenging to manage, especially for larger organizations. Luckily, there are a variety of helpful apps available. These apps can help you keep track of compliance requirements and document your efforts, as well as store your policies and procedures, track and deploy employee training programs, communicate directly with employees about compliance issues, and generate and share compliance reports, safety forms, and checklists.
10. Conduct regular tailored compliance training.
Training should not be approached in a one-size-fits-all manner. Instead, you may need to tailor your compliance training program to different employee types. Provide regular updates to this training as appropriate to ensure the culture is maintained over time.
You can transform compliance in your organization by following these tips and extending it beyond the irregular out-of-date training video. As a result, compliance becomes a way of life for your employees.
