The work place is
a constantly evolving and changing space. What was once generally
accepted is no longer the norm today. A quick, easy example is business
suit and equivalent attire for women. Most companies have gone to business
casual as the accepted norm or even more casual in some companies.
Companies that do
not keep up with what is now considered the norm stand the risk of losing good
employees. I realize in some cases it is tempting to hold on to what was once
tradition, but the real importance of this must be carefully weighed against
securing and keeping good talent. More so than ever with the market changing
and it becoming increasingly difficult to source, attract and secure top
talent. Organizations must do a critical self-assessment of their
policies to see if they are losing top talent because of outdated policies.
What are some
examples?
- Internet
use
- Office
attire
- Flex
time
Let’s take the
example of restricting Internet use.
There are certain sites that no one should be visiting at work... Once you block those obvious sites, it’s a difficult and arbitrary process deciding where to draw the line. Does your company draw it in the wrong place?
There are certain sites that no one should be visiting at work... Once you block those obvious sites, it’s a difficult and arbitrary process deciding where to draw the line. Does your company draw it in the wrong place?
Right now is
probably a good time to review your Internet policy. How does your company and
human resources department feel about employees being able to kill time on the
Internet during breaks? When companies unnecessarily restrict people’s Internet
activity, it can more than demoralize those that can’t check Facebook; it
limits people’s ability to do their jobs. Some companies restrict Internet
activity so heavily that it makes it difficult for people to do online
research. An obvious example is checking the Facebook profile of someone you just
interviewed.
