Don’t Forget These Important Company Policies and Procedures
It often feels that there is just too much paperwork in this world. But in business, paperwork—specifically, policies and procedures—can be a lifesaver.
Policies and procedures not only set a framework for the rules that will apply to the company but can have serious legal ramifications as well; courts can and do look at your policies and procedures if there is litigation, and in many cases of all different kinds, the difference between winning and losing a commercial litigation case is the existence of good policies and procedures.
But policies and procedures are just vague terms. There are all kinds of policies and procedures, but there are a few that many businesses don’t think about or which they overlook. And doing that can get you in trouble.
Personal Data – Does your company collect, use, or need, personal data or personal identifying information from customers and clients? If so, you need a policy about how that data is stored and used—and protected.
This can range from a confidentiality policy, explaining how employees are to treat the information they have access to, as well as an IT policy, explaining what technological safeguards the company will use to protect customer data.
Personal Devices (or company devices used out of the office) – In many cases, company devices may be issued to employees to be used remotely. Your company needs a policy addressing how these devices can be used, and more importantly, who owns the information and data on these devices, as you can be sure that many employees will use these devices for their own personal needs.
Travel – If your company has employees that travel for work, you’ll want policies that address things like when the employee is considered on and off the clock, when and how the employee can be reached, and what expenses are reimbursable and which are not.
Complaints – It is vital that employees know how and to whom to make complaints about employment issues, such as discrimination harassment or unfair pay.
If an employee does sue for discrimination or harassment, you’ll want to show a court that you were willing, ready, and able to address the issue. But you can’t do that if you don’t have policies and procedures that are made public to your employees, about how to log complaints—and which also addresses how your company will handle the investigations of complaints.
Emergencies – What if there were an emergency, and your entire board of directors couldn’t be reached? What if communication between officers was down? Who would make decisions needed not just to run the company, but to protect the company’s assets or property?
Your company needs a policy that would allow for crucial operational decisions to be made, on an emergency basis.
The policy should address what an emergency actually is, how and when the emergency is considered over, and who has authority to do what during the emergency. This will avoid your being in a stalemate, without the ability to carry on business, in the event of an emergency.
Policies and procedures are legal documents. Let us help you draft or revise them. Call the West Palm Beach commercial litigation lawyers at Pike & Lustig today.
