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We may not be sappy, but my dad and I share a love of nostalgia. Sharing stories is how my dad does that, and I fall into that pattern. I really enjoy listening to my dad’s stories, and I’m often nostalgic of pieces from my own life, too.
I know Father’s Day isn’t easy for everyone. My hope is that those of you who are missing your father or maybe don’t have a traditional father situation can find a way to celebrate. If my dad has taught me anything, it’s that fatherhood has little to do with where you come from and everything to do with the person who was cheering for you at every soccer game — even when they preferred baseball instead. He taught me the very valuable lesson of not dwelling on bad luck or unfortunate circumstances, which requires mental toughness, something that comes in very handy as an attorney. However, the most important lesson I learned from my dad, which I extol on a daily basis for my clients and my staff, is to show up every day for them. Your actions speak louder than your words, so do what you say you’re going to do.
My sister and I learned a lot from our dad. We were taught the value of teamwork from playing sports like our athletic father, and we learned how to tell a good story. We also saw the ways in which a story can connect people together. But perhaps the biggest lesson of all, and the one I am most appreciative of my father for, is that being a father — or a human who cares for another human — is all about showing up. I was lucky to have that with both of my parents.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad.
Dodging a Lawsuit
HOW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES HELP MITIGATE RISK OF LAWSUITS
Policies and procedures are an essential part of any organization or business. The right documentation will keep operations running smoothly and mitigate the risk of future lawsuits, if any. Though policies and procedures are often mentioned together, they do play different roles from one another. Policies are the foundation of an organization’s decision-making and highlight the framework of day-to-day activities, whereas procedures provide employees with the steps or processes they need to ensure policies are being followed. These will guarantee that an organization pays proper attention to any and all business concerns. Creating Policies and Procedures When writing policies and procedures, it is important to keep them simple, general, and relevant. It should contain jargon-free, precise writing and can be easily understood by any and all communities. A great way to obtain that information is to break it down into scannable chunks that aren’t complex. Generally, businesses cannot contemplate every possible scenario that could happen. A business’s policies and procedures should be written broadly but with enough clarification to apply to varying situations. Keeping the policies and procedures accessible and general to employees will ensure they are being followed correctly rather than trying to remember the steps off the top of their head.
circumstances does it apply, how to execute the procedure, and why it actually exists. When these policies and procedures are in place, it reduces the risk of lawsuits by setting a plan in motion for employees to follow properly and effectively, which will make clients and their feedback feel recognized.
Reviewing and Enforcing Policies and Procedures Using policies and procedures gives employees a well-rounded view of what is acceptable and how to achieve them properly. When practices deviate from policies and procedures, it may mean that a business needs to better communicate them or that they are possibly outdated. In order to keep those up to date, a business needs to take into consideration any new regulations, standards, or structural changes that may occur. Businesses can enforce this by sending out policy updates and procedure changes or incorporating them into training sessions for better understanding. Documenting policies and procedures takes work, but having the proper coverage can help your business in the long run. For more information or details about setting up policies and procedures, contact us today or visit DouglassRunger.com to learn more.
In the sense of relevancy, these policies and procedures should be able to address the who, when, what, how, and why: who can it affect, when and what
2 • DouglassRunger.com
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