Many people think that, if they run a small business, they do not need to worry about office policies and procedures.
In fact, they may feel that when they only employ a few people, it will be easy to keep track of what each employee should be doing.
However, office procedures are extremely vital, especially in small businesses.
In a small business environment, it is easy for employees to become very comfortable in their work environment, feeling more like their coworkers and boss are friends and not professional peers.
It is easier for this to happen in a small business because the environment is so much smaller.
Because of this, even the most well meaning employees can begin to overstep their bounds.
They may lose track of what their job actually is, and they may begin to forget that you are the boss and not their friend.
This could lead to an unprofessional work environment.
It could also lead to negative clashes between employees, and could even cause severe problems in the workplace.
When these problems arise, the work may not be completed in a timely and professional manner, and you may begin to lose business.
Even if you only have two or three employees, a set of standard office procedures is very important.
However, since you do not already have the procedures in place, you may have some questions that need answers.
1.
What needs to be included in office procedures? The first section should be about how standard workflow items need to be handled in your office.
In order to get these procedures in place, you may even wish to have your employees write down everything they do.
Then you can use this information to create workflow charts or lists.
In addition, you need to include procedures in case of emergency, such as how a fire would be handled or what to do if a robbery takes place.
In emergencies, employees may panic, but if they already know what procedures are in place, they will better be able to handle the situation.
2.
Do I need to include information about each employee's job? Part of your standard office procedures should be the responsibilities of each employee.
This should line up everything the employee is expected to do each day, who they answer to, and what they should do if they have a problem.
3.
Should I include anything about conflicts? This is another important area.
Make sure you include information on how conflicts should be resolved, whom an employee should talk to if they have a concern, and how situations will be investigated.