Challenging the Status Quo: Rethinking HR Policies with Humor and Common Sense

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Ever wonder why HR seems obsessed with rules that make you scratch your head? Join me, Kyle Roed, on the Rebel HR Podcast as we unpack the absurdity behind some of the most bizarre HR policies around. From Colorado’s catapult conundrum to Connecticut’s bouncing pickle predicament, we explore not just the humor, but the implications these rules have on the perception of HR as the dreaded "policy police." Prepare for a candid discussion on challenging the necessity of these regulations and the opportunity to foster a workplace where trust and common sense take center stage.

As we traverse the realm of mind-boggling rules, I share my favorite approach for tackling the relentless requests for new policies—by questioning the validity of those already in place. Let’s face it, the HR handbook often turns into a labyrinth of forgotten guidelines. Instead, let’s focus on creating environments where people instinctively know not to wield flaming arrows at work. This episode encourages HR professionals to weed out the "stupid rules" and prioritize building a culture that emphasizes trust over red tape. Tune in for a fresh perspective that might just make you rethink your approach to HR policies altogether.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm Kyle Rode, and this is the Rebel HR Podcast.
Rebel HR is a podcast for HRprofessionals who are ready to
make some disruption in theworld of work.
Follow us online on Facebook atRebel HR Podcast,
rebelhumanresourcescom, orfollow me on Twitter at
RebelHRGuy.

(00:21):
On today's Rebel HR Quick Tip,we're going to be talking about
some of HR people's favoritethings rules HR gets a bad rap
for being the policy police, andsometimes rightfully so.
Why do we love rules so much?
Does it make us feel safe atnight?
Does it make us feel like we'reactually doing something?

(00:44):
Some rules are just plainstupid.
Let's talk about some stupidrules.
In Colorado, for instance, youare not allowed to catapult
anything.
You are allowed to own acatapult, but you better not try
to discharge it.
Also, flaming arrows areillegal.

(01:05):
In Connecticut.
Pickles must bounce.
By rule of law.
You cannot sell a pickle unlessit bounces.
Connecticut's Food and DrugCommissioner proclaims that a
real pickle quote should bouncewhen dropped from the height of
one foot, which is state law.

(01:29):
Part of the joy of humanresources is dealing with
situations where somebody thinksthat a rule should be put into
place, whether that's a rulerelated to attendance, a rule
related to cell phone or a rulerelated to a pickle.
My guidance here is that rulesare important sometimes, but we

(01:56):
should actively search outstupid rules and we should make
every effort to get rid of themat all costs.
So one of my favorite tacticswhen somebody comes to me and
says we have to have a policyfor this, we need a rule for
that.
If I don't have a clear-cutpolicy with 17 different steps

(02:17):
and a flow chart that describesexactly what we're doing in
every scenario within thesituation, my favorite response
is I would be happy to look intocreating a policy for you, but
what policy are we going to getrid of?
Because I'm not adding any morepolicies into our handbook.
The handbook in itself can be arelatively archaic and complex

(02:42):
thing.
How many people actually takethe time during orientation to
allow people to read through anentire handbook, fully
understand and then sign thatacknowledgement form at the end
of it?
It just doesn't happen.
And if it does happen, thatsounds like a terrible

(03:03):
orientation experience.
The goal should not be to makemore rules or apply more
bureaucracy to systems.
Human resources should befocused on building culture and
building systems and structuresthat build trust and allow
people to understand that theyshould not be setting off

(03:25):
catapults at work and, as we allknow, they should be able to
drop a pickle from a one-footheight and have it bounce.
Almost as silly as the sixthiteration of the attendance
policy that still didn't work.
Thanks, rebels.

(03:46):
Happy Weekend.
Follow us on Facebook atRebelHRPodcast, twitter at
RebelHRGuy, or see our websiteat RebelHumanResourcescom.
Views and opinions expressed byRebelHRPodcast are those of the
authors and do not necessarilyreflect the official policy or
position of any of theorganizations that you are
listening to, baby.