What is business compliance? In today’s fast-changing business world, business compliance is a vital part of staying on top of your legal responsibilities. Businesses have a legal responsibility to their employees, customers, and the communities they serve. Business compliance is also a part of a business’s social responsibility efforts. Being a business owner or manager doesn’t allow you to go around making choices about what your business is and isn’t allowed to do.
But business compliance isn’t just about following the local, state, and
federal laws. It’s about being ahead of the curve – keeping abreast of the ever-evolving regulations that govern the industries they serve. No one starts a business to become an employee. But as your business grows bigger, you inevitably bring other people along on the journey with you: clients, suppliers, employees, government officials, tax professionals, and other stakeholders.
Businesses compliance as a service must take on several additional responsibilities as their business grows. Today’s businesses face many new employment opportunities, and they also face more demands for employees. Some employers are willing to establish a no-wedge policy that requires their newer employees undergo background and employment checks (including criminal records). Others simply prefer to make sure the people they hire are highly capable and dedicated to their careers – and thus can make sure their companies stay on pace with modern award-winning standards of employment.
Every business creates and implements its own set of legal obligations, regulations, and rules. When those regulations are not aligned with the business owners’ goals and objectives, business compliance is the result. It’s necessary to identify and understand the existing regulations, and make sure those regulations are meeting the business objectives. Otherwise, business compliance initiatives may result in enforcement action, penalties, or fines.
Many small businesses are unaware of what business compliance really
means. Even when businesses are constantly informed about legal changes and pending legislation, many still don’t utilize the resources necessary to stay compliant. Instead, they spend time correcting documents and tracking compliance requirements, rather than focusing on business growth and operations. As a result, small businesses remain in compliance at the expense of financial loss and potential government penalties.
Small businesses make sure they comply with OSHA laws, but they ignore other deadlines due elsewhere. For example, OSHA requires employers to provide safe workplaces for their employees. Small businesses make sure they meet OSHA’s deadline for establishing commercial work sites, but they often overlook the requirement to provide ergonomics to employees. The result – employees spend more time on their feet and less time at their computers, which creates a very inefficient working environment. Both employers and employees suffer when this happens, because neither wants to work in a bad environment.
- If you’re ready to become a business compliance leader, there are several resources available to help you do it.
- One is your local Human Resources Association, which has great courses to teach you the basics and most of the advanced techniques of business compliance.
- Another resource is The Association of Settlement Companies, which can provide you with industry and local contacts
and educational opportunities to get started. Your local Small Business Administration office can also point you to the resources you need to become compliant. In addition, many state government agencies offer training and certification seminars for businesses interested in becoming certified business compliance leaders.
When you’re ready to make your business compliance obligations, it’s time to invest in your company’s compliance kits. Compliance kits contain everything you need to know about OSHA and other federal and state regulations. You’ll need to purchase your own compliance kit, but many companies offer a compliance kit and training materials that can be purchased along with the kit at an affordable price. By following the guidelines and laws set forth by OSHA and the state regulatory agencies, your company can be in business every day and every month with no employees being asked to go on any unnecessary furloughs. Knowing that your business is meeting all of the government’s standards can give your employees the peace of mind that they can count on, knowing that their job is safe and their paycheck is secure.
