Getting you compliant isn't just the job of consultants

Getting you compliant isn't just the job of consultants

If you have ever hired a consultant to help you become compliant, you know what it's like. If your organisation is not ready, they cannot assist or get you compliant. Getting your organization compliant requires a good understanding of the legislation, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a strong focus on improving your culture throughout your entire organisation. Compliance is not a side project or a shiny new tool we can delegate when it’s time to scale. Instead, compliance is at the heart of all our work. 

You’ve probably heard that compliance is the job of consultants. That’s mostly true. Compliance is the job of consultants. But getting you compliant isn’t just their job. 

Getting your organisation to comply with the legislation isn’t a single task. It requires a team of experts, each with a specific area of expertise. But sometimes, it can feel like the compliance world is impenetrable. You have compliance consultants who charge a premium. 

It takes a team effort from everyone at your organisation to be compliant and stay compliant. You need to make changes and follow up with your consultants. You need to train your employees on the rules and regulations that will help them get by without finding shortcuts around legislative instruments.

Being compliant is the responsibility of every business owner, and every staff member working with the business, not just consultants. There are a few key things you can do to make sure your business is compliant:

1) Understand the requirements for your industry - Each industry has different compliance requirements, so it's important to understand what those are for your specific business. You can consult with an expert or research online to find out what these requirements are.

2) Have policies and procedures in place - Having well-documented policies and procedures helps to ensure that your employees are aware of the compliance requirements and know how to comply with them.

3) Train your employees - Once you have policies and procedures in place, it's important to train your employees on them. This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows what is expected of them.

4) Monitor compliance - Even with policies and procedures in place, it's important to monitor compliance on an ongoing basis. This can help you identify any areas where improvements are needed.

5) Take corrective action as needed - If you find that there are non-compliant activities taking place, it's important to take corrective action. This may involve additional training for employees or making changes to your policies and procedures.

Compliance is a tricky thing. It’s easy to feel like you’ve done enough or that you’re already meeting the minimum standards for your business. But that doesn’t mean you’re done. Compliance is a never-ending cycle that requires constant vigilance and adjustment, especially in a changing environment. 

While compliance is often seen as the domain of compliance specialists, the reality is that compliance is a continuous process that requires an understanding of the rules, an ability to navigate the bureaucracy, and a willingness to be creative. That’s why it’s so important to have an in-house compliance team who can provide ongoing guidance and support when necessary. This also means that you need to take compliance seriously and make sure you’re investing in the right talent and resources to make it happen. This is where consultants come in.

Sometimes it seems like the only thing consultants do is show up, explain what’s wrong, and tell you what you need to do to fix it. But the truth is, consultants, don’t always get what they’re paid for. It’s your job to get compliant.

The bottom line is that compliance is a joint effort between consultants and business owners/managers. By working together, you can ensure that your business is compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. 

By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your business is compliant with all relevant regulations.