FIT College Policies:

So? What’s the answer?

Depends on whom you ask! For the folks in the Office of Policy and Compliance (OPC), and the FIT leadership, the answer is a resounding “YES!” That makes sense since we’re all about policy in OPC – it’s right in our department name! But how likely is it that other employees are reading our policies?
 
FIT relies on policies to establish consistency in business practices, standards of working, and expectations of behavior, as well as to safeguard the college, our employees, and our students. No wonder we get so excited about them – but why doesn’t everyone else? Hmm. Could it be things like:

• Policies can be so long!
• Not everyone thrives on order, structure, and guidelines. Not interesting!
• It can be overwhelming to sort through detailed policies to answer a simple question.
• There never seems to be any time!
• Won’t my supervisor just tell me anything I really need to know?
• I’ve never experienced an adverse consequence from not reading policies, so why bother now?
• I had no idea we had formal policies in the first place. Where?!

 
Preach! We hear you. Let us explain. Here’s how being familiar with college policies helps you.

FIT policies…
 
…let you know where to turn for help.
All our policies have one or more points of contact so you know whom to ask if you have a question, concern, or conflict related to that policy. They also articulate courses of action that support our business strategies; they’re the link between our Mission and Vision and our day-to-day operations.
 
…keep management accountable.
While policies do set principles applicable to all employees, they also sometimes set clear standards specifically for FIT leadership. This helps supervisors understand the standards to which they’ll be held, but also provides transparency to the rest of our employees about what they can in turn expect from their managers.
 
…set expectations.
Firm policies and related business practices, procedures, and models of behavior give employees the tools and empowerment to embody them, and to recognize and report cases where those expectations aren’t met. And when we’re all doing that, it’s a recipe for a respectful and stable working environment.
 
…keep us safe, honest, and respectful.
When we understand our policies, workplace incidents are less likely to occur, and we’re more prepared to handle them if they do. Understanding our policies also helps us all get on the same page about our roles, keep our practices consistent and fair, and reinforce values of trust and respect with our fellow FIT colleagues.