Let’s start by saying this is not another article about the effects of COVID-19 on businesses. Yes, COVID-19 has redefined the structure of the modern workplace. But while many employees are at least temporarily working from home, many are not, especially as more and more business cautiously reopen their doors. Because of this, organizations have had to define and impose new rules, policies, and requirements with which employees must comply to ensure the safety of their colleagues, customers, and themselves.
While some company (or government) policies simply state or restate behaviors that “just make sense,” others—like those for COVID—may simply take a while to get used to. Eventually, with repetition, these behaviors become second nature, but in the meantime, we need help ingraining them into our daily routine. Things like social distancing, always wearing/raising your facemask, using the phone or Zoom instead of walking into a colleague’s office for a chat—developing new habits just takes time and regular reminders.
How do most companies acclimate employees to new policies until they no longer have to consciously think about them? Just stop and think of all the sheets of paper printed with a silhouette of a facemask you’ve seen taped to office windows and doors lately. Or with two stick figures separated by arrows labeled “6 feet / 2 meters.” Perhaps a “Max Occupancy” declaration for an office or meeting room. Or what you’d think is an unnecessary reminder to “Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.”
As previously noted, it isn’t just about COVID. Employees need such reminders to reinforce compliance with permanent rules, policies, acceptable behaviors, and best practices for the workplace. But besides being inefficient, untidy, and wasteful of resources, there are other problems with this low-tech but pervasive approach:
- Constantly reprinting, distributing and posting paper signs is inefficient and costly, not only due to the cost of printing and distribution, but also because of the time it takes to post the updates.
- Using paper creates compliance risks. Either you go inspect everything, everywhere, or you run the risk that policies or other vital information don’t get properly posted or communicated.
- Paper signage simply cannot be changed as quickly and uniformly as digital signage.
- Digital signage can serve multiple purposes by blending content, whereas static signage cannot.
- And don’t even expect the company handbook (even an electronic version of it) to reinforce important compliance messages—as if most employees ever finish reading it the first time.
How, then, can you reinforce the need for compliance with all these important directives, in an engaging manner that employees can’t help but sit up and take notice of? By delivering them via digital signage for corporate environments, the most flexible, adaptable, and engaging channel available.
Whatever the corporate compliance message, digital signage delivers
While paper signs and handbooks may get an occasional glance, employees can’t resist engaging digital signage content that incorporate video, multimedia and interactive formats. How better to make your company policies, mandates, deadlines, and other need-to-know information come alive and be remembered?
Here are just a few examples of compliance reminders you can reinforce for employees with digital signage on a daily basis, wherever they work—no dedicated desk, computer, or even corporate email account required.
- Acceptable behaviors, dress codes, in-office hours and other expectations, standard operating processes and procedures
- Policies with mandatory such as those covering diversity, inclusion, equity, discrimination, unconscious bias and harassment in the workplace
- Temporary crisis procedures, such as social distancing and maximum occupancy.
- Emergency procedures, such as escape routes, not using elevators, and evacuation procedures
- Company-wide safety and health procedures
- Job-specific safety and health procedures
- Guidelines and best practices for treating/dealing with/handling customers
- Important but often overlooked or unread sections/policies from the handbook
- Important dates and deadlines, such as benefits enrollment and expense reimbursement
Best of all, by putting these messages where employees can see and engage with them regularly, compliance with important policies and procedures will soon become second nature.
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