Compliance

 In undergrad, on my way to becoming a business attorney Tulsa, I took several courses on constitutional law. One of my professors was a genius and former lawyer. This professor once told our class that the most common question he gets from students is what the founders of our country would think of our government if they were alive today. His answer is always the same. He said he predicted the framers would be appalled at the size of the government. Did you know that the largest employer in the United States is the federal government? That seems to fly right in the face of the concept of a “limited government by the people and for the people.”

Almost every industry today has some sort of regulatory agency that promulgates rule after rule that you must follow. These rules are routinely updated. Sometimes annually. Sometimes quarterly. Sometimes not at all (if you’re very lucky).

How do you stay up to date with all of these rules? More importantly, how do you comply with all of them? Well using a business attorney Tulsa is a good place to start.

Understand that every industry is different. If you are in the restaurant business, then you are subject to both surprise and secret inspections. If you are in the marijuana industry, then you must maintain numerous permits and submit very detailed monthly reports on sales, waste, and much more.

Whatever your regulatory agency is, it is imperative that you stay within the good graces of this organization. Here are a few ideas for how to accomplish this daunting task with ease.

First, subscribe to whatever publication(s) that exist for updates. When I was a litigator, before deciding to be a business attorney Tulsa, we had all types of updates that would keep us updated on all the various legal issues we faced. These services will often send e-mails, letters, pamphlets, and the like to not only update you on the newest rules, but some of them even compared the updates to the former rule. This type of information is very important.

Second, provide the updates given to you by your business attorney Tulsa to all of your employees. Every person from the CEO to the secretary needs to know about the updates. If an update requires a change in your process, make sure you clarify in your disseminating correspondence that the process will change and specify how the change will occur. If the change is significant, hold a meeting with management over that department along with any person who needs to know about the change in the process. Remember, if an employee does not comply with a regulation, that will reflect harshly on the business.

Third, establish a punishment protocol for employees who do not comply with regulations. I was recently at a restaurant using the men’s room. As I washed my hands, I noticed an employee left and did not wash his hands. I took note of this and immediately reported it. What was most disturbing is this employee worked in the kitchen. I was disgusted but also it made me as a business attorney Tulsa jump to action. If you have employees who are not complying with protocols, they MUST be punished. This will serve two important purposes. First, it will let the employee know that you take regulations seriously to encourage the employee to avoid future transgressions. Second, and perhaps more important, punishing the offending employee will deter other employees from engaging in similar “corner-cutting” behavior.

Fourth, hold meetings of a specified time to discuss updates. This will vary heavily depending on the nature and extent of your business. You may need to hold daily safety meetings if you deal with OSHA. You might need weekly meetings for the marijuana industry. Other industries like restaurants and the like might need monthly or quarterly meetings. You will be in the best position to discern what meets the specific needs of your business. When I was a litigator, we held weekly case review meetings on Friday mornings. Before I was a business attorney Tulsa I worked as a defense attorney, we had a printed agenda discussing the court appearances for the next two weeks. This helped us cover conflicts as a firm so we could avoid missed court appearances, depositions, and the like. As a Plaintiff’s lawyer, our Friday meetings consisted of discussing what we called “critical deadlines” that were within 45 days of expiration. A “critical deadline” was something like a deadline to file suit or serve a defendant. The idea was to put these deadlines on our radar so we were cognizant that it was approaching. Whatever suits your business best, establish a plan and stick to it.

Fifth, encourage employee participation in the rules and regulations. Nobody likes an authoritarian boss who disseminates information, expects perfect adherence, and never takes any questions. Some rules and regulations may cause confusion that needs clarification from management. Establishing an environment that invites questions for clarification will save you dividends in the end. This will help create a sense of teamwork driving everyone to the same end goal: prosperity.

Something to keep in mind is that your insurance carrier may require meetings in a specific capacity. When I was a litigator, which has helped be greatly as a business attorney Tulsa, our malpractice carrier required a weekly meeting as a requirement for them to insure us. If we did not meet, we were not covered by the insurance even though we purchased the policy. Trust me, you always want to make sure that you have a policy of insurance shielding whatever it is you are doing.

This five-step plan to success could be the engine that boosts your business above compliance violations while enjoying prosperous profits. Or you may need advice from a business attorney Tulsa to add additional steps depending on the nature of your work. Whatever your regulatory agency and/or insurance carrier, make sure you are complying. I also recommend keeping record of your compliance efforts so you are protected in the event of an audit.

If you are concerned that your compliance efforts are not up to par, please do not hesitate to contact this business attorney Tulsa. I have dealt with OSHA issues, issues related to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, HIPAA, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, the Social Security Administration, multiple health departments, and a host of other regulatory agencies. As a business attorney Tulsa I am well versed in the administrative world and can assist you in navigating these tedious regulatory requirements. Remember, the initial consultation is free.