How to Save HR — Step 3 — Avoid the knucklehead stuff

Quick recap: The introduction to the problem is here. The first step in saving HR— establishing a Talent Department run by the Chief Talent Officer — is here. The second step is to get rid of the nickel-and-dime stuff — the traditional, unimportant, uninspiring personnel administrivia.

Step Three is just as important: getting rid of the knucklehead stuff — the often-well-intentioned but inadvertently small-minded rules that accomplish nothing except giving HR a bad name.

An example, straight from the I-swear-I'm-not-making-this-up department:

A friend of mine just started a new job. With the holiday season around the corner, she was delighted to learn that the employer had an annual holiday party that was always a fun affair. Spouses were welcome. Even boyfriends and girlfriends. That is, if you had been dating for eight weeks. Otherwise, sorry. HR rules.

It's nice that the company wants to reward its employees with a little Festivus action at the end of the year. And it's even nicer to spend the extra dough to include the missus or mister at the fancy dinner. And it's further even nicer to extend that holiday cheer to the unmarried but reasonably committed. But you can just imagine the brow-furrowing that went on to decide where to draw the line. It might have gone something like this:

HR rulemaker: "We can't limit it to married couples. That could be discriminatory. What if the couple isn't married because they're gay? Or commitophobic?"

Other HR rulemaker (looking anguished): "But we can't just open the doors to a couple that just met yesterday! That wouldn't do."

"Good point. How about one months?"

"Too short. Could go either way. How about six months?"

"Two. They've probably met the parents by then."

"Sold!"

OK: we kid because we love. But there had to be some thought that went into this, and it led to the ridiculous eight-week rule at my friend's company. And this is part of the reason why HR often lacks the respect they otherwise deserve. Well-intentioned rules that end up being silly.

Have the party — great! Let the employees bring dates — fine. But stay out of the business of qualifying those dates. That's just knucklehead stuff.