10+ People On The Most Ridiculous Rules In Their Places Of Work
How ridiculous.
In order for a business to run efficiently a lot of rules need to be enforced so that everything runs as smoothly as possible and without any complications. But in a couple of rare cases, some places of work have one or more ridiculous rules that don't make any sense at all, and if you refuse to follow those rules, your employer will have no choice but to fire you, even though the rules don't serve any purpose at all.
1. redemption_songs
At my old job, HR held a meeting to tell us that there was too much swearing on the sales floor. Someone raised their hand and pointed out that swearing is very common in our industry and that is the way that our customers speak. HR later sent out a memo explaining that swearing should be limited to conversations with clients. It was amazing.
2. gshell
If you are stuck in traffic on the way to work, you must email the CEO. Phone calls and texts are not permitted, only email.
3. X0AN
I used to work at a place in which my boss implemented a no more than 2 glasses a day water policy.
What a cunt. I ignored this rule and complained directly to our CEO and the matter ended later that day.
What was weird though was the majority of people actually followed the rule and some even shopped me up to HR about 'breaking the rules'.
I left not long after that because not only was my boss a bellend, but if my colleagues were going to hr over me drinking water, then I obviously couldn't trust them.
4. jamaidens
Had a workplace time our bathroom breaks and deduct them from our allotted 15 minute breaks or lunch. We had to go see the office manager to get a key to open the restroom. As soon as we left his office he would start a timer... when you got back he would stop the timer and tell you how much time you needed to deduct from your lunch or next break. They watched our breaks like a hawk.
Also, if you made a mistake they would stand over you and time you while you fixed it and deduct that from your lunch or breaks.
You couldn't bring anything "that smells" for lunch and they had no way of heating anything up.
I worked out my contract and split.
5. McNuggetsBitch
Business casual dress code even when i work at home. (They skype me to check)
6. fedupwithpeople
My dad told me this one a while back. He used to work for a PR firm... The way he described the office environment, think "The Office" but in the 1980's.
The company hired a "Corporate Efficiency Specialist" to come in and "improve" things. She came in and implemented all kinds of rules, which seemed to follow some sort of caste system.
Her philosophy was, the higher your office rank, the more "perks" you get...
Her idea of perks:
Number of pictures you are allowed in your cubicle.
Whether you are allowed to have a potted plant or not.
Coffee mugs were only allowed to senior employees. Others had to use paper cups.
Being allowed to leave the office for lunch was also considered a "perk"
Needless to say, a coup soon followed, and she was tossed out on her hiney.
7. Monkeytuesday
Once worked at a place where some miniboss decided that since UPS trucks don't turn left, we shouldn't either.
I don't know or care how well that worked out for UPS, but this was a god damned ambulance company with a 911 contract. I will turn left if and when I fucking need to turn left.
8. willboase
No accusing other staff members of being witches. (Yeah, it happened so we had to make a rule. I run a hostel in Uganda.)
9. JennLegend3
Not my current job but I used to work for some crazy people.
- you had to stand in a specific area while eating so they could see you on the camera
- don't talk to customers longer than 3 minutes unless you're making a big sale, even then, keep it short
- answer the phone within 2 rings, keep the conversation to less than 30 seconds
- you can't talk to your co workers outside of work
- you can't talk to your co workers while at work, even if there was not a single customer in the store
I'm sure there's more I just can't think of right now.
10. Anvirel
The VP of our company just held a mass meeting to tell all of us we can't have pictures or plants or food or any form of non office supplied object on our desk. Tons of coworkers have family pictures or their kids' finger paintings pinned up on the cubicle walls. All that has to be removed. People were pissed.
11. Historiun
Old job of mine in a warehouse. Our stations were pretty far apart, so when we'd listen to music we'd all usually have our own stuff playing. Not a problem since you could barely hear the neighbors music. Well, the CEO didn't like hearing multiple songs when walking through the warehouse. He made a rule that we all either had to listen to the same music, or none at all.
12. Whosyabobby
If you are 1 min late it is a tardy. If you take a half day nothing goes on your record. I was told to just take a half day if you are going to be late because they straight up fire you for tardies. Also if you clock out early it is a tardy. If you have to go to the doctor on lunch break and it is going to take and hour and ten min, take the rest of the day off. Weird.
13. bondsman333
Dress code policy is just dumb at my work. Different positions have different requirements. Even though we all work in the same office.
My favorite rule though is the one on shorts. We can wear shorts on Fridays between memorial day and labor day. However the shorts can't have pockets on the side. It was written to discourage ratty cargo shorts. But the way in which it is written allows me to wear gym shorts. So I do.
14. Haligan74
Fireman...our Risk Management department decided long ago that poles were too risky for us. So we use the stairs. We have poles. Anyway, now the newest rule is no free weights....as in NO free weights to work out, stay fit. Go into burning high rise- absolutely, walk around the station carrying 40lb dumbells...too risky
15. NicolasCage4eva
I once needed a pen. Figured this was a reasonable ask. Went to the supply closet on my floor, which was locked. Asked the floor's admin, she told me to go to the main supply room in the basement. Went to the basement and explained my situation of needing a pen. They told me all requests for supplies must be approved by my department head. Problem is, being new, I'd never met my department head. She also worked in San Francisco (I worked in Milwaukee), so I needed to send an email both introducing myself, and asking her if I had permission to get a pen from the supply closet.
Sometimes going to work is definitely not something we look forward to. Who wants to sit in an office all day? But, sometimes you just find yourself lucky and happen to have colleagues that make working such a fun space. Check out these office workers who are having just way too much fun!
Ayoub
