Compliance Checklist for Human Resources: A Short Overview [+ Template Included]
In today's intricate business landscape, ensuring compliance with numerous labour and employment laws has become vital for U.S. corporations. Over the past two decades, these organizations have collectively incurred nearly $3 billion in civil-rights and labour lawsuits due to alleged non-compliance with applicable laws.
One potent tool in averting such lawsuits is HR compliance. This entails adhering to established protocols, procedures, and rules governing an organization's actions. HR compliance spans various areas, including physical security measures, employee handbooks, social networking, labour and employment laws, training, sexual harassment, bullying and drugs, discipline and termination, pay and benefits, conflict resolution, and more.
A pivotal aspect of HR compliance is the creation and implementation of HR compliance checklists. These lists serve as a valuable tool in ensuring that all necessary information is gathered and that all parties who need to be informed of certain procedures or regulations have been so informed.
For instance, an HR onboarding checklist encompasses tasks like completing new hire paperwork, preparing equipment, acquainting new hires with company policies, setting job expectations, and tracking progress. Conversely, an offboarding checklist covers essential steps such as submitting a resignation, confirming the last working day, settling invoices and reimbursements, handing over tasks, clearing personal items, sending farewell emails, returning company property, and updating contact information.
Moreover, compliance checklists can be found across various departments in an organization, including HR. Worker documentation checklists may include standard operating procedures, job aids, work instructions, and more. Additionally, templates are available for quarterly and annual performance reviews.
Employee handbooks can also be tailored to welcome newcomers, assist employees in transitioning to new roles, and more. A well-crafted employee handbook ensures that employees are aware of the company's expectations, policies, and procedures, thereby fostering a culture of compliance.
To sustain ongoing compliance, it's generally advisable for a company to conduct its own HR compliance audit, such as global payroll compliance, once every year or every other year. This audit ensures the company or organization is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If legal compliance concerns arise, it's prudent to seek the advice of a qualified attorney.
Developing HR compliance checklists can help streamline the process of ensuring compliance, reduce potential legal risks, and promote a culture of adherence to regulations within the organization. By doing so, companies can focus on their core business operations with confidence and peace of mind.
