The start of a new year or quarter is a traditional time for employers to review their workplace policies to ensure the policies comply with federal, state, and local requirements, both old and new. But it shouldn’t be the only time, especially considering the rapid changes brought to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also a time to reflect upon any workplace incidents, charges, or lawsuits that may have occurred during the past year and whether policy changes might prevent or reduce the likelihood of similar matters arising in the future.
As the pandemic continues, most employers remain primarily focused on the continuing effects internally and externally. Given the multitude of difficult issues it has created for employers, the usual policy reviews may not be treated as the priority they might have been in a normal year. While it’s understandable that management might not be able to give the policy review the attention it warrants, a failure to make needed policy revisions could have serious consequences down the road.