Human Resources professionals have a lot on their minds heading into the remainder of 2017 and beyond. In a survey from XpertHR, 1,200 HR professionals divulged what they consider the most challenging compliance issues on the horizon. Election uncertainty topped the list, but other prevalent concerns included threat of a cyber breach (fourth place), benefits and the ACA (fifth place), and employee handbooks (eighth place). Let’s delve deeper into how and why companies should prioritize compliance in these areas moving forward.
Tech Usage Policies
To many companies, especially small businesses, hacking may sound like an unrealistic threat that only happens to multi-national corporations. The data says otherwise. A 2016 report from Symantec shows that 43 percent of cyber-attacks targeted small businesses with fewer than 250 employees. The same report showed that spear-phishing campaigns—or malicious email scams posing as messages from a trusted acquaintance or business—targeting employees jumped 55 percent in 2015.
Why does this matter for company compliance? More and more employees are taking advantage of bring-your-own-device policies (BYOD) and using their personal Smartphones, tablets and laptops for work purposes. In fact, Tech Pro Research reports that 74 percent of companies are already permitting or planning on permitting a BYOD policy. Not only is company technology open to hacking and malware, but employee devices present new vulnerabilities that could compromise the entire company’s information.
Without proper training, who’s to say that an employee won’t accidentally click a link that spreads a virus throughout the company server? What if someone misplaces their unprotected iPad full of confidential company information? Besides handling behind-the-scenes security, companies are responsible for creating and updating their acceptable use policies. Hosting interactive compliance training is one way to ensure that employees know the rules front and back, and could cut down on an accidental cyber breach.
Employee Handbook
It’s more crucial than ever to pour over your employee handbook with a fine-toothed comb in 2017. If your company is growing, it’s worth noting that certain laws affect your business after you reach a certain number of employees. The Society for Human Resource Management points out a few key areas that should prompt organizations to re-examine their rulebook:
-Background check requirements may have changed locally since your last update.
-Many states voted to raise the minimum wage this year. Was yours one of them?
-Keep an eye on how drug testing laws may change as state and federal laws potentially clash.
-Make sure none of your policies stand in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.
Employee Benefits
Now is the time to prepare in case any major changes regarding the Affordable Care Act hit your company in the coming year. It’s a good time to step back and make sure your company’s benefits comply with nondiscrimination rules. Employee Benefit News recommends ensuring that your plan meets current mental health, wellness, and shared-responsibility guidelines. In our changing landscape, you can never be too careful about how your company handles sensitive issues like employee health benefits and paid leave. If any changes will occur, alert employees as soon as possible in writing and help them navigate the often-confusing landscape of “HR speak.”
No company exists in a bubble. Staying up to date on compliance training and policy updates can make or break how your business functions in 2017 and beyond.
