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[Blog header] The Three Ms of Computerless Compliance
3 minute read

The Three Ms of Computerless Compliance

Every now and then, we get questions from compliance folks about how to reach employees who don’t have access to company computers (or who don’t use them frequently).

You know who we're talking about: people in retail or manufacturing, or the ones who are often out-of-pocket because they travel a lot or are on a worksite.

Obviously, emphasizing office-specific compliance isn’t an effective way to make sure all of your teams are covered. And while we love the idea of slapping Broadcat stickers on a department store display case or hanging a massive hotline poster from a construction crane, those suggestions probably won’t fly with your company’s leadership. 🏗️

So, no skywriting then?

Instead, we’d like to encourage you to think of the three Ms of spreading compliance outside traditional offices:

1. Manager-led training 👥

2. Communications strategies with mobility 🌎

3. Creative means of messaging 📜

These are more subtle (but still equally effective!) ways of spreading the word to your teams who aren't in a cubicle-with-computer-and-inspirational-poster setting. Let's dive in and find out what these look like!

 

1. Manager-led training 👥

We could go on and on about the benefits of manager-led (aka discussion-based) training, but let’s focus on one very important fact for now: People without computers don’t have easy access to your company’s LMS-based training, so training delivered by a manager is exceptionally valuable in these situations.

What does this look like? Relevant, meaningful (and often brief) dialogue between employees and their bosses. For instance, at a construction site, the project manager might discuss safety precautions before everyone begins work. At a hotel, a manager might provide a recap on when it’s OK for staff to enter a guest’s room. 

What do the rules say about unsupervised children making the most of their winter break?

Keep in mind, this isn’t only for structured group meetings—managers can discuss compliance during one-on-ones for über-personalized feedback. (And if your leaders need talking points on what to say in either situation, we've got some for ya.)

Bonus: By periodically taking 10-15 minutes to discuss compliance priorities, your teams aren't forced to leave work for a three-day online (or instructor-led) learning program. Not only will your managers avoid timekeeping issues that pop up with that kind of non-work training, but employees will appreciate that you're not pulling them away from their day-to-day tasks—especially those who work on commission. 💸  

 

2. Mobility 🌎

Not everyone has a work computer, but (almost) everyone has a smartphone, so make the most of the tech that your teams already use.

A short, simple E&C landing page with a memorable URL (e.g., yourcompany.com/ethics) can work wonders. On this page, you could provide a general overview relevant to everyone—helpline info, your Code, policy library, compliance team contact info—followed by hyperlinks relevant to each team … like “click here for topics related to retail,” etc.

Just don't use this as an excuse to info-dump. Basically, populate the landing page with the information your teams need most. Just as your HR teams wouldn’t need a “how to close a sale” checklist on their section of the E&C site, your sales teams wouldn’t need a “new hires with competitive information” job aid on theirs.

And, while we do love our tech, let’s not forget the power of print. A quarterly mailer with ethics and compliance updates or a flyer attached to a pay stub can be helpful to get the word out. Just don’t get too invasive—be mindful about what you send to a home address.

Desperation isn’t a good look.

Embrace mobility—meet your teams where they are, either digitally or physically. Just be cool about it. 🧊

 

3. Messaging creatively 📜

Everyone needs to take a … *ahem* ... work break. 🚽  Eventually, your colleagues will have to make a pit stop, AND THAT’S WHERE YOU GET THEIR ATTENTION!!

I mean, maybe not that overt.

Honestly, though, the bathroom isn’t a bad idea—swap out the stall door posters or mirror/window clings once a quarter to keep messages fresh. 🌸

And how 'bout some non-bathroom options? Flat-panel TVs in common areas are great for compliance posters and screensavers, and coasters in the break room are multi-functional by keeping your furniture clean AND your teams compliant.

Does your company have a fleet of cars that your sales team uses? Slap a “take sensitive materials with you” keychain on those keys, because there’s nothing more awkward than telling your boss some rando burglar now has access to your VPs’ social security numbers. 🦹‍♂️

In short, get creative, but be thoughtful about placement—your messaging should be visible as close as possible to when it's relevant. 🤔

 

The takeaway

Teams without computer access shouldn’t be forced to work harder to be compliant just because they might work in non-office environments. As compliance pros, it’s our job to meet our teams where they are, so be creative! We hope the three Ms of computerless compliance help you get the job done. 👍

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