Understanding human nature, when it comes to a company's compliance, would make it easier to understand that employees will claim they didn't get the memo, didn't understand it or were unaware of company policies, which falls squarely on those that hold jobs in compliance for the company. There are tools that are effective protection for those in compliance careers that are protective measures that can be taken. In compliance employment, you have to cover your company's back, as well as your own.
Even smaller companies may have the need for a compliance officer, even though they might not realize it. When it comes to human resource issues, such as sexual harassment and a hostile working environment, companies can spend thousands defending themselves in court. With the increasing Federal regulations and International compliance issues, because of the global market, proper procedures have to be in place to make sure a company is in compliance with them, or face hefty fines, jail time and more.
Jobs in compliance can involve everything from IT departments and credit cards to Sales or Production for product liability and false advertising. Human resources is a popular department for those in compliance employment, but if you want lucrative compliance careers, you have to use enforcement that is effective in all types of situations and businesses, large and small.
One of the most effective tools for a compliance officer is the policy enforcement survey. Not only does this provide an acknowledgement by the employees and executives that they have read memos, but this after memo quiz can test their knowledge and be used as written documentation. If you have issued a memo regarding important compliance to a certain Federal law, not only can you ask them if they have read it, but require an after memo testing that documents their knowledge.
For those that have not read or answered that they don't understand the policy, you can continue to enforce with memos and documentation that forces them to read and acknowledge that they must pass the quiz, for the protection of the company and yourself. With this documentation, executives and employees can't say they never received the memo or didn't understand it, or that the compliance officer never talked to them about it so they were unaware of it.
When it comes to a large company this procedure is almost mandatory, since you might not have personal feedback with the individuals involved. Even smaller companies need this documentation as backup, in the event that compliance questions arise down the road. With the tightening of corporate security, effective compliance procedures like the memo and quiz can protect a company, especially in court when it involves accounting practices, money-laundering, scrupulous stock market dealings, harassment lawsuits and other legal issues. Your success in compliance can depend on the applications and procedures you put into place.
