(1) Interpretation. These rules shall be interpreted liberally to promote justice and to facilitate the decision of cases on the merits.

(2) Waiver. The chairperson of the commission or an administrative law judge, on their own initiative or on motion of a party, may waive or alter the procedures in any of these rules and may enlarge or shorten the time within which an act must be done in a particular case, in order to serve the ends of justice.