I Hate It Here S9 E10: 50 Shades of Gray Areas in Policy with Stephanie Shuler
Sep 22, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Stephanie Shuler, a seasoned HR leader with over 15 years of experience, explores the nuances of HR policies and the gray areas often overlooked. She highlights how strict adherence to policies can sometimes lead to harm, advocating for a more nuanced approach. Shuler emphasizes the importance of balancing consistency with fairness and the need for transparency, especially when dealing with CEOs stuck in 'by-the-book' thinking. She also stresses HR's role as a translator of policy intent, sharing insights on when rule-bending can actually foster a better workplace culture.
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Policies Are Hypotheses Not Gospel
- Policies are hypotheses intended to produce the right outcomes on average.
- When a policy's application rings wrong, prioritize the policy's intent over its letter.
Revisiting A Harmful Policy Decision
- Stephanie described a past case where following policy initially blocked a transgender employee from using the restroom matching her gender.
- She kept advocating and later successfully revisited the decision to restore the employee's dignity.
Empower Managers To Grant Reasonable Exceptions
- Empower managers to make reasonable exceptions for their teams without always routing to HR.
- Give managers a framework and trust them to judge low-risk PTO, attendance, and dress-code decisions.