It’s a common occurrence with the start of every new year that people make personal resolutions about what they will do to improve in the months ahead. Generally, it involves pledges to diet more, eat healthy, exercise more, make more quality time for family, and similar personal commitments. What’s conspicuously left out of the resolution process in most cases is what we’ll do to improve our workplace in the year ahead. What will we do to assure that employees have a workplace where they can thrive and produce without fear of unfair or improper treatment? What changes will we make, or at least consider, that will help to reduce legal liability for violation of federal and state workplace regulations? What will we do to assure that our managers and supervisors are confident that the actions they take regarding employees will be consistent with both the law and good management practices?
Too often workplace policies are only considered in the context of some negative workplace action when it actually occurs, such as a termination or other employment issue. Sometimes it may involve a legal claim by an applicant or employee. Whether our current policies are adequate for dealing with issues in the most regulated area of our economy — today’s workplace, is rarely explored or even considered. This article is a reminder of some of the more significant workplace issues that should equally bear serious consideration for resolution as we enter 2018.