Corporate policies: what they are, types and characteristics

A summary of the different company policies that exist, and their areas of application.

Organizations are places where people do not just work. Human contact is inevitable and, from it, an organizational culture is created which is very different from company to company.

This is why sometimes, among the staff, there can be implicitly accepted rules that all employees try to follow, but this can be somewhat confusing and lead to misunderstandings.

To avoid such situations, companies draw up company policies, specifying company policies, which specify what workers can and cannot do, what the organization's philosophy is, and how they should interact with their employees. and how they should interact with buyers. Let's take a closer look at what they are about, in addition to describing some of the types and what they are intended to achieve.

What are company policies?

Company policies are statements of the general principles that an organization is committed to upholding and enforcing.. This type of document specifies the rules and guidelines that govern the operation of the company, establishing the best way for workers to behave, how they will relate appropriately with potential customers and how other documents will be prepared.

In order to facilitate the disclosure and understanding of the company's employees, it is recommended that this type of document is no longer than two pages and that the points addressed are written as clearly as possible.

Once the policy has been drafted, it should be documented and included in the manuals where the management of the organization is specified.. It must be respected, implemented and serve as a reference for good behavior and work environment within the organization.

Types of policies according to their scope

Depending on the scope that has been intended to achieve at the time of elaborating the company policy, these can be divided into three types:

1. General policies.

They cover the whole organization and mark its general lines. It must be ensured that all departments are aware of these policies.They serve as a guide for the behavior of all the company's personnel.

2. Departmental policies

These are the rules that govern each specific department.. Within this type of policies, the most common are those that specify the quality objectives to be achieved by a branch of the organization, environmental policies, occupational risk prevention...

3. Specific policies

These are policies that are set to meet momentary needs or temporary activities that the company may carry out in that the company can carry out at a given moment.

Types of policies according to what they address in organizations

There are several rules that must be stipulated in the form of policies in the company that include a series of aspects. Depending on the characteristics of the organization itself and its needs, it will be necessary to elaborate different points in the form of company policies. The following are some of the most common ones:

1. Quality management

The company should indicate policies aimed at meeting the requirements and commitments set by the company..

It should also indicate how the organization intends to improve quality in the short and long term, and what system it has in place that is focused on this. This policy should be reviewed periodically.

2. Environmental management

Companies are required to comply with current environmental regulations, and promote behaviors such as recycling, pollution abatement, the use of public transport.the use of public transport.

It is advisable for the company to have a protocol to be able to deal with any incident in which the environment has been damaged, although the ideal is to have procedures that guarantee respect for nature.

3. Health and safety at work

It is essential to have rules to ensure responsible use of machinery and other tools in the company, in order to avoid accidents and guarantee the physical and mental integrity of the personnel.

There must also be protocols for action in the event of an accident at work.There should also be protocols for action in the event of an accident at work, the rights and obligations of employees for their own safety and that of their colleagues, and the extent to which the company is responsible for improper use.

Corporate governance

It must be specified how the organization is led. It is essential to understand who is behind the company's movements, since this will clarify what are the objectives of this organization as a whole and what is its philosophy.

5. Personnel conduct

The policies focused on this point indicate what tasks employees perform and their responsibilities when they are in the workplace..

This point can be fundamental to ensure a good working environment, however, it can include aspects that may generate some controversy, which is why it must be made very clear what workers can and cannot do.

Some of the issues addressed in this point are the dress code or when electronic devices can be used to communicate with the family.

6. Compensation and anti-harassment policies

It is essential to specify how the company acts in situations of injustice among employees or if there has been any type of incident related to harassment or abuse of power.

In any organization there should be a clear policy on this, and indicate what rights and remedies employees who have been victims of misconduct can apply for..

Disciplinary measures should be indicated for those who have committed the abuse. It is especially important to make sure that when signing the contract it is clearly indicated what is understood by discriminatory conduct and/or harassment.

7. Substance abuse

This type of company policy is not so well known because it is usually implied that alcohol, hallucinogenic drugs and other narcotics may not be consumed in the company or during working hours. However, given the characteristics of some organizations (e.g. brewery) it is sometimes necessary to specify that it is not allowed to consume in the workplace..

It may also be necessary to indicate that the use of drugs such as tobacco or even substitutes such as electronic cigarettes are not permitted on the premises.

In addition, action plans can be included if there is a suspicion that the person who has consumed alcohol at work may actually be suffering from a problem of alcohol abuse and, knowing this, the company can act to contribute to his or her rehabilitation.

8. Privacy and confidentiality

If a service is offered, it is very important for the organization to specify to what extent it will use the data of both employees and clients..

This type of policy is usually aimed at protecting the company, but it also provides a degree of transparency to the market and to the employees themselves.

Confidentiality policies protect sensitive information held by the organization, in order to ensure a good legal relationship between staff, the company and buyers.

9. Reimbursement

Depending on what product or service the organization offers, it will should be prepared for situations where the customer has expressed dissatisfaction with what they have received..

It should be clear, either on the organization's website or in the instruction manual that may be included with the purchased product, in which situations the customer will be entitled to a refund.

10. Ethics

It should be made clear what is meant by ethical behavior of personnel both when interacting with other employees and with buyers or persons interested in the company's service.