PREVENT

Policies are high level statements of commitment and intended practices that guide practical decisions and actions in an organisation. They outline the organisation’s rules, standards, values, culture and benefits.

Policies provide the foundations to:

• Guide all aspects of an organisation.
• Ensure legal compliance and reduce the risk of liability.
• Provide consistency for staff, volunteers, leaders, clients and stakeholders.
• Save time and resources, i.e. when policies and procedures are followed, they reduce the risk of workplace incidents.
• Guide organisations on what to do if, or when, an accident or incident happens.
• Help organisations manage staff and volunteers effectively by defining what is acceptable and unacceptable in the workplace.
• Let your staff and volunteers know where to turn for help and create a culture of safety.

A well-drafted set of workplace policies can protect the organisation’s interests, guide good practices and create a positive workplace culture. When managed well, policies are created to be legally compliant and further policies are in place as relevant for the organisation’s size and type. Policies are reviewed and updated regularly and properly explained to staff and volunteers.

A lack of clear policies can have serious impacts and increase the organisation’s reputational and legal risk. The organisation may experience more workplace issues if people make their own rules up. This can lead to inconsistency and can put people’s physical and mental health and safety at risk. It may leave employees and volunteers feeling disempowered, unsure of their legal rights and what to do next.