You hired a very talented team, but you know they’re capable of achieving more than the output they’re currently producing. Great things happen when they really get down to work, so it’s time to put some policies in place to make productivity a top priority.
As the boss, you want to give employees as much freedom as possible, but chaos tends to ensue when workplace rules aren’t instituted and enforced. Creating a sense of structure doesn’t mean you have to become a tyrant — it just puts much-needed boundaries in place.
Here are four efficiency-boosting policies to put in place immediately.
Attendance Policy
When people show up to work on their own schedule, it’s hard to run a successful business. To reach peak productivity, you need your entire team to be present, so set an attendance policy that means business. Get specific by including the length of a standard workday and specific hours you expect employees to be at the office — this can be a range if you allow flex-time. Establish a process for employees to notify their manager if they’ll be late or absent, because you shouldn’t have to wonder where staffers are when they’re supposed to be at work.
Paid Time Off Policy
Most people can probably handle taking a fair amount of paid time off without going overboard, but all it takes is one person to ruin it for everyone. Chances are, at least one employee is likely abusing the system, so lay down the law. Set limits for the amount of paid time off each employee receives, clearly explain the accrual process and detail how far in advance requests must be made.
Break Policy
Taking a little time away from work is a great way for employees to refresh and recharge during the day. In some cases, you might be required by law to give employees breaks. In this case, the frequency and time limits are already set, but pay closer attention to make sure people are following the rules.
If you’re not legally required to give breaks, but choose to do so, create ground rules to make sure everyone is on the same page. Detail the length and frequency of breaks and whether employees will be paid for them.
Social Media Policy
Most of your employees probably have some type of social media presence. This can be a great thing for your company, you could turn them into brand evangelists, for example — but popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn can majorly hinder productivity.
Create a social media policy to govern exactly how much time people can spend on these sites during the workday. You might allow people to check social media to the extent it doesn’t interfere with their job or completely ban it during work hours. There’s no right or wrong approach, so do what feels best for your company.
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