- Policies on code of ethics and conflicts of interest
There is a high possibility of nonprofits facing a conflict of interest. For example, agreeing with the business practices of a potential donor or a board member of a nonprofit operating a business that can help a nonprofit while benefiting from it can raise this issue. This is a serious concern that might cause distrust by other donors and law enforcement. As a nonprofit leader, you need to take conflict of interest seriously. Train all your employees, board members, and volunteer community on your nonprofit's code of ethics and policies on conflict of interest. These stakeholders should understand the actions that can harm your organization and how they should avoid them.
- Employee hiring policies
Every nonprofit must hold itself to high ethical standards. This begins with ensuring you get the new process of hiring employees correctly. You must at all times ensure that the employees you have meet the market standards and regulations. You can only attain this by setting the best hiring policies that ensure the hiring process is free from bias based on race, gender, background, or names. You can take advantage of hiring software platforms that rate potential candidates based on their performance and not their backgrounds, race, or gender. You can also outsource the hiring process to a third party.
- Employee manual
As a nonprofit, you must have an employee manual to guide your employees and volunteers on various procedures, expectations, and duties that they must fulfill while on duty. The manual covers the technical aspects related to duties, work, probation, and termination from service. The manual also explains the payments (if any) along with other aspects such as dress code and time off. Manuals can offer details on the organization’s culture, values, and mission. These manuals give a clear direction to a nonprofit's employees and volunteers regarding what they should and should not do while at the organization. Given the changing times and the rising remote work and telecommuting, perhaps now is the time you must have a comprehensive employee manual for your nonprofit.
- Occupational Health And Safety Policy
Some nonprofits work on causes that present danger to their employees or volunteers. As such, they must have a sound occupational health and safety policy that ensures each individual is informed of their rights and obligations relating to safety in the workplace. For example, the policy allows employees to take reasonable care while in the workplace by working as stipulated in safe work procedures and occupational health and safety regulations. The policy stipulates when and where to use or wear required protective equipment, not to smoke, or not to be impaired by drugs. The policy also states the procedure of reporting circumstances that can pose a risk.
In summary, as you think of starting a nonprofit for a cause you believe in, the first thing that should come into your mind should be the employees and the volunteers you want to work with towards a specific goal. These goals cannot be achieved without the proper structure in the hiring and employee management process. You can only attain this through the right policies that will streamline the hiring and management of employees.
