What kind of crazy or restrictive rules have you had at your workplace(s)?

@fluffysue (1482)
United States
May 22, 2008 12:55pm CST
A couple of months ago, I quit my most recent job after 4 years. They had a very odd culture of rules which I eventually got used to, but whenever I told people about them, they would think I was nuts working there. 1)We had to dress "professionally" because theoretically customers could come in anytime. (Dress pants/shirts/ties for men. Women had more variety but tons of restrictions). Now, my job there consisted of sitting at a computer and dealing wtih customers by phone. In 4 years I met ONE customer; though I will admit they do go through the office sometimes, half the time THEY wear jeans, capris, polo shirts, etc. But "appearances" are everything to this company. 2)Only 1 or 2 personal items allowed on the desk.(I heard both and never did figure out if it was 1 or 2).--Now I have worked places where the clutter was out of hand, and I get distracted with too much junk around, but really. I will grant that this was rarely enforced, but it was enforced quite arbitrarily. 3)Working on one file at a time--This was a nightmare before we went "paperless". In the strictest sense, following this rule meant taking out a file, working on whatever needed to be done, putting it away, then taking out the next one. God forbid a phone rings and it is a customer asking about THEIR shipment. Theoretically you would have to put away file you were working on, take out new file, deal with customer, put it back...try to remember what you were doing as you put other file away! lol Thank God this was only enforced during our internal audits, or if a high-level company person was at our office; even our branch manager understood this was impossible. 4)Everything cleared off desk at the end of the day.--I understand the need for a neat desk, but the time wasted the next day, taking everything out, trying to figure out where you left off, etc., made a serious dent in productivity. Not to mention it was annoying. 5)Phone had to be answered on 4 rings (sometimes changed to 2), even before and after hours. E.g. office hours are 8-5, if you are there at 8 trying to get work done, you still have to answer the phone. I should note that due to the industry, we were dealing with people around the world, so to be fair, we could get important calls at any hour. But if you answered in off hours, there was a good chance that it would be a call for someone else and you can't help them...but we couldn't say that, we still were required to try...even if it was for a different department that left 3 hours ago.... So what kind of rules have you encountered. Please leave out company names to protect the guilty!
6 responses
@aplaza (630)
• Netherlands
23 May 08
Once I worked at a place that had the weirdest rules I'd ever come across. They had tile floors. You would not be allowed to get up from your desk during working hours because of the sound that would make. They said that you weren't allowed to go to the bathroom unless it was break-time. But they would expect you to be able to do overtime without prior notification and no way to get lunch before you did your next shift.
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
24 May 08
Wow, how often were there breaks? I can't believe they would say you cannot get up from your desk, even to go to the restroom. I am pretty sure that in the U.S. that would violate some sort of labor law (depending on the state). Though I do remember the inventory company I worked for did not always allow breaks, even to get a drink, because it was considered part-time work...though you could be working several hours. They actually have a class-action suit against them now for that and other related issues.
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
9 Jun 08
That is crazy!! I can't imagine working at a place like that for very long.
@aplaza (630)
• Netherlands
24 May 08
Well. let's see, you'd get a coffee break once during a four hour shift. I don't have a particularly weak bladder. I don't abuse bathroom privileges, especially since theirs wasn't the cleanest btw. But I wont accept being told when I can and when I can't take a leak! Just imagine how it was if you will.....10 people who have been drinking coffee for two hours and it's break time. There is one - unisex - bathroom. The break is about 10 minutes. Basically you'd spend your break time waiting to use the facilities! ughhh!
1 person likes this
@adoremay (2065)
• Philippines
26 May 08
This rule was with my previous employer. It is a one meter or an arm length apart rule. A she and he employee must be apart in that distance when talking, discussing, or be it walking in the hallway. This is to avoid any mutual understanding between a she and he employee that will further lead into relationship.
1 person likes this
@adoremay (2065)
• Philippines
29 May 08
It does... Sometimes we often forget that such a memorandum exists. As we want the tasks to be done, we don't mind if we were beyond the one meter apart rule.
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@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
29 May 08
That is interesting. I seem to remember learning in psychology, about what people's typical boundaries of space are, baased on their relationships. If I recall correctly, an arm's length should be about right for a typical work relationship. Generally, the people allowed closer than a foot would be a close friend, relative, or spouse. I know that I have experienced co-workers who think it is OK to be right in my face, and I do not like it. But it is intersting that they made this an actual rule. I would think this could hinder things such as deskside training.
23 May 08
At one of my previous jobs they had a really stupid yearly and six monthly review system. I will freely admit that we need to have some sort of review, and that it should be appropriate for the role. However, at this particular job, we were assigned "objectives", things which we were supposed to accomplish over and above our actual job description. Depending on how we performed on these "objectives" determined whether or not we qualified for a pay rise. Bearing in mind that these objectives were not usually related to our day to day roles, come review time, much time and effort was expended in accomplishing tasks which had nothing to do with our actual job. Much better idea would have been to reward people who actually fulfil their day to day tasks efficiently and accurately!
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
24 May 08
That is very odd. I would also think that raises should be given to those who succeed at their day-to-day tasks, rather than additional unrelated tasks. This is a new one for me!
• China
23 May 08
It is necessary to obey the rules in company.Years ago, I have to wear the same uniforms all year round. My colleagues were tired of this. Aha,my god, on the contrary, I almost spent no money in buying new clothes!
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
24 May 08
That is the one thing I am glad about, is not wearing a uniform. Nine years of Catholic school, and several jobs requiring uniforms, some of them quite hideous, makes me very grateful that I do not have to wear one.
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
22 May 08
The strangest rules I ever encountered were in a job a long, long time ago when I was fairly new in the workforce. I worked for an insurance company and was one of the clericl staff. I worked in a huge file room much of the day and typed policies when policy typists were backed up. (See? I said it was long ago.) There were 25 typists in a huge room, with the supervisor at the back of the room. Any time someone wanted to use the restroom, they had to raise their hands and wait for the supervisor to come to the desk and give permission.
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
24 May 08
OK that is just insane. It sounds a little like kindergarten, no offense. Did they ever deny permission? It seems that if there were 25 people there typing (I remember typing!lol), it shouldn't be a big deal if someone left to use the restroom.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
22 May 08
I don't think those rules are nuts. The dress code is up to the company. Even if no customer ever is expected to come by, if the boss wants you to dress up, you do it. They probably believed that the professional appearance will improve productivity. That's also why they did not allow more than two personal items and required a neat desk. The less distraction and the more you are in 'work mode' due to your close the less likely you are to slack off. The one file requirement is a bit out of hand but again, productivity. If you put it away you more likely to do that neatly. If you have it on your desk more are bound to be piled on top of it. It may also be a confidentiality matter. And the four ring phone requirement is a customer curtesy. Not necessarily a nice environment to work in I assume. It's an overly professional one. People probably didn't socialize around the water cooler that much either.
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
24 May 08
I can see where the rules make sense individually, but put altogether, it was a bit much. I have worked in other office environments and have never seen one that was so rigid in so many ways, particularly since when my first manager interviewed me, he stressed what a fun work environment it was! I am very much a "follow the rules, do your job, and go home" person, but sometimes the rules got to be too much. (I should note that really has nothing to do with why I quit, though). Actually there was quite a bit of socializing there. For all it was supposed to be a "professional" environment, I felt many of my co-workers were very loud, distracting, and rude. Since we didn't take breaks, they would talk and joke with each other across the aisles.