Every organization has rules — people, by nature, need rules to maintain structure. But what are the best rules to implement when hiring?
Mel Kleiman, president of Humetrics and an authority on recruiting, writes for TLNT.com about his insights on making rules. Kleiman’s article, Hiring Wisdom: The Rule When It Comes to Making Rules, provides a succinct list of his own guidelines, or rules for making rules. 
1. Don’t have dumb rules
Kleiman doesn’t specify what “dumb” rules are, exactly, but the basic premise: be reasonable.
2. Don’t have too many rules
Too many rules can cause complications, so have only the amount you need.
3. If they get in the way of doing business, get rid of them or change them.
This is pretty self-explanatory: do the rules negatively affect your business? If so, they’re unnecessary.
4. Don’t make your people break any rules to satisfy a customer.
Setting rules that may need to be broken to satisfy a customer’s interests are unfair to your employees and to your customers, because both deserve fair treatment.
5. If you aren’t going to enforce it, forget it.
Again, self-explanatory: why have a rule that you’re not going to enforce? This takes away credibility from your other rules.
6. You don’t have to treat people equally, but you do need to treat them fairly.
Different people at different levels can have different rules, but be fair.
7. Review all rules once a year and see if you still need them or if you need new ones.
A lot can change in a year, so check to see if your rules are outdated. If they need to be deleted, do so, and if they need to be replaced, do so — but keep in mind rules one through six above!
Kleiman then points out an old policy of Nordstrom, which he says incorporates the entire “policy manual.” There was only one rule and it said: Use your best judgment in all situations. There will be no additional rules.
This rule, while vague, is all encompassing. It may not work for every situation where employees may need a little more guidance, but Kleiman uses it as an example of the simplicity and bluntness a rule should have.
What rules does your organization have? Do you think they should be re-evaluated?
