A policy is a guiding document. It is the commitment of the leadership to its customers, employees, suppliers, and other stakeholders. Most companies that are certified or are looking forward to attaining their certification will write their policy in light of Coronavirus. Companies revising their policies to comply with the requirements of the Management Systems can follow some of the commitments described in this blog post.

Coronavirus preventive measures include spreading awareness within the organization. Awareness about this novel virus can be delivered through the tool-box talks or short regular meetings to discuss social distancing protocols, ensuring reduced occupancy of office space and meeting rooms, promoting meetings online and providing the awareness to use online tools to conduct team tasks.

The top management can include a commitment to ensure employee safety and the safety of all their visitors. This commitment is fulfilled by the provision of hand sanitizers, gloves and masks, followed by regular temperature checks at the entry points. Discussion about maintaining good hygiene is critical in this pandemic. But hygiene checks are also necessary. There have been instances where one case of COVID19 can shut an entire factory down leading to a substantial cost of shut down as opposed to the cost of ensuring preventive measures.

The top management can include a commitment to open-door policy. An open door policy allows the top management to stay connected with the middle management. It allows a channel for clear communication that ensures a cohesive work environment. In open door policy, the department heads provide an opportunity to their teams to have a discussion about safety measures, relaxed timings and work from home options.

Through this pandemic, it is clear that within an organization not only do individuals have to take care of themselves, but also keep in mind the well-being of others. Through the revised policy to include a commitment to preventive measures, the leadership of an organization is essentially committing to work upon their Corporate Social Responsibility. While the economy has been hit hard due to the pandemic, the provisions offered by the top management and responsibilities fulfilled by employees will enable an organization to come out stronger than before.

Fatema Tuz Zohra
Management Systems Professional