Your team is resistant to new company policies. How can you get them on board?

There will always be company matters you can’t share with every team member, but the more transparent you are about other items, the more they will trust and be open to changes.

Major shifts in HR policy can often cause discomfort within the team. Here are a few key learnings: Ensure all department heads understand and support the changes. Listen to their questions and prepare clear communication that addresses them. Build an HR support team to highlight the benefits of the change and manage concerns. Be open to tweaking policies. Some companies introduce policies on probation and adjust after feedback. Ready to navigate HR policy changes smoothly? Let’s collaborate!

Me he enfrentado a esta situación varias veces en mi vida profesional. Aspectos importantes: - Explicar tantas veces como sea necesario el porqué de los cambios. - Escuchar los motivos de su resistencia y hablar abiertamente sobre ellos. - Analizar alternativas a no aceptarlos y el peor escenario y beneficios de aceptarlos. - Identificar los principales opositores dentro del equipo. Tener reuniones individuales con ellos e involucrarlos activamente en el proceso, incluso más que al resto, encontrando aquello que los mueva más (organizar, reportar…). Dejar que propongan soluciones y hacerles responsables de implantarlas. A quienes no acepten el cambio y, aunque siempre será la última opción, separarlos del equipo. A veces es necesario.

One thing I've realised during my career is that people do not like change. I've experienced team members being resistant with updated policies before, and I found that which helped the best is to be as transparent as possible. Those who were still resistant were engaged privately to understand their reluctance. The issue was identified, and their concerns were explained more in depth and the bigger picture of the organization. Their resistance were cleared up, and they came on board with the new policies.

Dropping a change in policy like a hammer will undoubtedly cause resistance. Being open and honest with your team is important when introducing new policies. Explain the reasons behind the changes and offer the opportunity for team members to give feedback and ask questions. There will always be company matters you can’t share with every team member, but the more transparent you are about other items, the more they will trust and be open to changes.