A prudish policy would just be ignored. Policies that everyone ignores are unenforceable. And you don't want to be a party pooper. When I write a handbook, I think about the situations where the policy will come up. I ask questions like "Under what circumstances would someone get in trouble for this? What frameworks can I give them to make decisions that won’t get them in trouble? What guidelines can I give a manager if they needed to hold someone accountable to this policy?"

Every decision looks different in the abstract vs. when you have a real person sitting in front of you. If fairness requires that someone makes a decision that feels shitty, give your decision-makers the context that they need to follow the policy (and still sleep at night).

Your handbook should help people make decisions. Not just disciplinary decisions. The handbook should draw bright lines where possible, and give guidance for situations that are unclear. Your handbook should give guidance on the unspoken habits your organization runs on.

You don’t need to live like this help is available. 🛟 Hiring an outside HR compliance consultant can help you identify the gaps in your co