When you’re setting up a business, it can be all too easy to get bogged down in figures and focus on getting those first deals in the bag. It’s natural to be thinking about developing the business and building the brand from day one, but this shouldn’t cause you to overlook the importance of compliance. As a business owner, you should recognize that it’s not just important to bring money in. There’s no point in being successful if you’re not operating in the right way. If you don’t have a reliance on compliance, you’ll have no safety net if things go wrong, and you may be liable for legal action.
Health and safety at work
Health and safety may not be the most exciting aspects of owning a business, but every company manager should be aware of the most recent legislation. Health and safety guidelines are there to protect individuals, and if your business doesn’t meet standards, you could be in trouble. Employees run the risk of sustaining injuries, and if this happens on your watch due to the fact that your business isn’t compliant, you will be liable if they choose to seek compensation. If you run a business that offers public services, you will also be liable for accidents that involve members of the public.
Staying safe at work isn’t just a matter of working in a secure environment. As an employer, you need to ensure that your workforce is equipped to do the job properly. This may mean providing employees with personal protective equipment or ensuring that they have the relevant training. If you operate services like waste management, look into title 22 training. If you run a care business, your employees should have training in handling. If you’re the owner of a restaurant, investigate food hygiene training courses. Whatever your business, always make sure you’re up to speed when it comes to health and safety legislation. Providing a safe working environment, effective training programs and suitable equipment will save you money and improve productivity.
Legal protection
When you run a business, it’s imperative to ensure that what you’re doing is legal. There are lots of legalities you need to consider if you’re launching a startup or you’re expanding your current business. If you’ve got a new product, for example, it’s wise to seek advice about patenting and copyrighting. If you employ people, it’s also advisable to work with legal experts to draw up employment contracts and ensure that you understand employee rights. If you don’t do things according to the letter of the law, you may face legal action further down the line, and this could put you out of business.
Your new business is growing, and the registers are ringing. This is great news, but it won’t mean anything if you’re not doing things right. If you fail to comply with health and safety guidelines or you’re not treating your employees in a lawful manner, you’re open to complaints, and further action may be taken. As the owner of a business, it’s essential to check and double check that you’re doing everything possible to run your business in the correct way.
