Many large corporations, such as Inflection Energy LLC, require that contractors obtain Veriforce membership to comply with their specific contractor and supplier requirements. A contractor must often obtain a passing “grade” or status to obtain a working contract. If you’re reading this post, it’s likely that you’re seeking to obtain a contract with a client in the system and seeking compliance for your company.
What is Veriforce Certification?
Veriforce Compliance Pro is a contractor management platform that provides compliance management solutions, particularly in the field of workforce qualification and safety.
They offer services and software solutions to help organizations manage and ensure compliance with various regulatory requirements, especially in energy, utilities, and construction industries. This may include tracking and verifying the qualifications and training of workers, ensuring that they meet the necessary safety and regulatory standards.
Veriforce Requirements
Once your company has obtained a Veriforce Compliance Pro account, you’ll be tasked with providing a variety of documentation and answering specific questions relative to your company’s safety and security procedures. The most frequently requested items are: 3 years OSHA 300A and 300 logs, certificate of insurance (COI), experience modification rate provided by your worker’s compensation carrier, contractor license(s), safety programs specific to your industry and W9.
Each hiring client that requires Veriforce certification has different requirements. Inflection Energy LLC is one of the many clients that often require their clients to submit an Employee Handbook. For smaller companies, this may be a head scratcher of a request. Let’s explore.
Small Business Employee Handbooks
At Cascade QMS we are often asked, “Why do I need an Employee Handbook? To train myself?” It’s a great question! Sole proprietors and small companies, who operate businesses on their own without partners or employees, may not have the same need for extensive employee handbooks as larger companies. However, there are still situations where having a simplified version of an employee handbook or a set of written guidelines can be beneficial for sole proprietors:
Clarification of Policies (if hiring contractors): If a sole proprietor works with independent contractors, a document outlining expectations, project details, deadlines, and payment terms can help clarify the working relationship. While not a traditional employee handbook, this can serve a similar purpose for contract workers.
Professionalism and Consistency: Even in a sole proprietorship, having a document that outlines professional conduct, communication expectations, and project protocols can contribute to a sense of consistency and professionalism. This is especially important if the sole proprietor interacts with clients, vendors, or other external parties.
Legal Protection: While the legal relationship with independent contractors differs from that of employees, having clear agreements in writing can still provide a level of legal protection. This can include details about the scope of work, payment terms, confidentiality, and intellectual property ownership.
Communication of Policies (if hiring employees in the future): If a company plans to expand and hire employees in the future, having a foundation in place for policies and expectations can streamline the onboarding process. It can also serve as a tool to communicate the company’s values, culture, and operational guidelines.
Documentation of Agreements: For any business relationship, having written documentation is important. Even in a sole proprietorship, having a written agreement or document that outlines the terms of engagement with clients, contractors, or collaborators can help prevent misunderstandings and provide a reference point in case of disputes.
While a small company may not need a comprehensive employee handbook in the traditional sense, having written guidelines, contracts, or agreements can still be valuable for professional conduct, legal protection, and communication. The specific content will depend on the nature of the business and its interactions with clients, contractors, or potential future employees.
Customized Employee Handbook
Not only is having an Employee Handbook necessary for qualification with clients such as Inflection Energy, but it’s a staple that every company should have readily available. Employee Handbooks aren’t “one size fits all”. At Cascade QMS, we consider your company as a unique operation. Cascade QMS Employee Handbooks are customized quickly with procedures relevant to your procedures. The process is painless and expedited. Our clients receive Employee Handbooks that are ready for Veriforce compliance and developed to meet the needs of other major vetting systems such as Avetta.f
Small Business Veriforce Certification
Many small businesses and sole proprietors may shy away from formal vetting systems such as Veriforce, ISNetworld®, and Appruv. Rarely do small companies have the formalities in place to meet the demands of large hiring client companies equivalent in size to EOG Resources, Xcel Energy, and Inflection Energy. At Cascade QMS, we strive to assist in developing fantastic safety cultures and establishing systems for companies of all sizes and industries. Our programs and consulting are included in our Management Plans. If you’re interested in Veriforce certification and need a helping hand, please reach out, and one of our dedicated consultants will help unlock a path forward.
