How Important is Compliance in your Organization?
Compliance ensures that the organization adheres to established guidelines, regulations, and standards. This alignment helps mitigate risks, ensures ethical conduct, and fosters a culture of accountability and integrity.
For employees, compliance awareness is essential for acting in accordance with company policies and procedures. It promotes respectful behavior, ethical decision-making, and adherence to legal requirements. Otherwise failure to comply can result in legal consequences, financial penalties, and reputational damage for both individuals and the organization.
Middle managers have a pivotal role in ensuring compliance within their teams. They are responsible for guiding their employees toward organizational goals while upholding compliance standards. This involves not only enforcing policies but also fostering an environment where employees feel comfortable raising concerns or reporting violations.
However, there can be challenges in effectively managing compliance issues. Research indicates that many managers may lack the necessary skills or knowledge to handle complaints appropriately, about 4 in 10 managers and leaders admitted to not asking questions, repeating facts, or clarifying details. These involves a laps in asking relevant questions, clarify details, or explain anti-retaliation policies to employees. These shortcomings can therefore hinder the resolution of compliance-related issues and may contribute to a culture of silence or fear within the organization.
In summary, compliance is fundamental for maintaining legal and ethical standards within a company. It requires commitment at all levels of the organization, from employees to senior leadership, to ensure that policies are understood, followed, and enforced consistently. Effective compliance management not only mitigates risks but also promotes a culture of transparency, trust, and accountability.
Source: Laurel Kalser, 2024 “Uncertainty is the leading cause of employee noncompliance, Gartner finds”, hrdive.com, April, 25th 2024, https://www.hrdive.com/news/employees-uncertain-about-HR-compliance/714108/