Most employers have the right to dictate policies and procedures such as work schedule and dress code. Usually, these policies can be changed at any time at the discretion of the company. For example, if you relaxed schedules and dress codes at the beginning of the summer, you can reinstitute the stricter guidelines after summer. Even if employees did not realize they were temporary changes, you can change them back. Of course, if employees are unhappy, they have the right to search elsewhere for employment if that new-found flexibility is important to them.

Rather, the question to ask yourself is "Do the changes need to be reversed?" If productivity stayed the same (or maybe even improved), do you really need to go back to the way things were? But, if there are legitimate reasons to return to the status quo, explain that to your employees so they know it is not an arbitrary decision.

Affinity HR Group is BSCAI's endorsed HR partner, providing HR support, recruiting and employee engagement services.  For a link to our menu of services for BSCAI members, go to www.AffinityHRGroup.com/BSCAI