Whether to align with legal updates, address emerging challenges or improve efficiency and employee satisfaction, policy changes are a natural part of running a business. When done well, they support a healthy work culture and enable business growth without sacrificing compliance with internal or industry regulations.
The key to successful policy change is transparency and clear communication. To facilitate open dialogue, it’s essential to establish a policy change communication plan that includes key stakeholders and aligns with the goals of your organization. Ensure that department heads, managers and team leaders are involved from the outset to provide insight into the practical impact of the new policy and the ways it will be implemented in practice. Regular meetings and surveys using platforms like Microsoft Teams or Viva Engage are also powerful tools for collecting feedback on new policies from employees.
Before proposing any changes, take time to know your existing policies, laws and regulations inside out. This will give you a pulse on what your community is comfortable with and will help you plan your strategy accordingly. Positivism and focusing on positive outcomes (the old adage “you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar” works here!) is another important part of your approach.
Other factors that may trigger a need for policy change include when it becomes clear that current methods aren’t working, for example, increased punishment and enforcement in the face of a drug problem that continues to grow. A crisis can also prompt policy change, for example, if a budget shortfall threatens public services or an organisation’s ability to remain competitive in the marketplace.