People Reveal The Harshest, Most Ridiculous Rules In Their Workplace

From Redditor /u/JennLegend3:

I used to work for some [strange] people; this is not my current job.

I am sure there is more I just cannot think of right now.

From Redditor /u/NicolasCage4eva:

I needed a pen. I asked the floor admin about a locked supply closet. She sent me to the basement. They said my department head had to approve supply requests. Since I was new, I hadn't met my department head. She worked in San Francisco, not Milwaukee. I emailed her to introduce myself and ask for permission to get a pen.

From a former Reddit user:

Two weeks after I left my previous job, a memo circulated saying people could not look out of the windows at work anymore.

It is a big glass building.

From Redditor /u/X0AN:

My boss set a limit of two glasses of water per day.

What a jerk. I ignored this rule and complained directly to the CEO; the issue ended that day.

What was odd was that most people followed the rule. Some even reported me to HR for 'breaking the rules.'

I left soon after because my boss was a jerk. If my colleagues went to HR over me drinking water, I could not trust them.

From Redditor /u/jamaidens:

Bathroom breaks had a set time. Staff deducted this time from their 15-minute breaks or lunch. We needed the office manager's key for the restroom. After leaving his office, he started a timer. He stopped it later and told us how much time to deduct from lunch or the next break. They watched our breaks closely.

Also, if you made a mistake, they stood over you and timed you while you fixed it, deducting that time from your lunch or breaks.

You could not bring anything 'that smells' for lunch; they had no way to heat food.

I finished my contract and split.

From Redditor /u/Monkeytuesday:

I worked at a place where a miniboss decided that since UPS trucks do not turn left, we should not either.

I do not know how that worked for UPS, but this was a damned ambulance company with a 911 contract. I will turn left if and when I fucking need to.

...I do not know if UPS trucks turn left or not or if that helps them. Frankly, I do not care. The point is the miniboss thought they did; that was his reason. He was an idiot. I did not stay long.

From Redditor /u/icecreampopncereal:

To take a full five-day week off, employees needed two vacation days, one personal day, and two more vacation days. Three vacation days straight was not allowed.

From Redditor /u/clemente769:

I am a lifeguard... and I am not allowed to use a whistle.

From Redditor /u/People reveal the harshest, most ridiculous workplace rules in 'People Reveal The Harshest, Most Ridiculous Rules In Their Workplace' about 'A Caste System With 'Perks' Was Instituted'.People reveal the harshest, most ridiculous workplace rules in their jobs: 'A Caste System With 'Perks' Was Instituted'.

My dad shared this story. He worked for a PR firm. He described the office environment like 'The Office' from the 1980s.

The company hired a 'Corporate Efficiency Specialist' to improve things. She implemented rules that acted like a caste system.

Her philosophy stated that higher office rank meant more 'perks'.

Her perks idea:

The number of pictures you can put in your cubicle.

Whether you can have a potted plant.

Senior employees got coffee mugs. Others had to use paper cups.

Leaving the office for lunch counted as a 'perk'.

A coup followed quickly. They tossed her out.

From Redditor /u/McNuggetsBitch

Business casual dress code applies even when working from home. (They Skype me to check).

From Redditor /u/aiueo6

What you can get at the cafeteria's salad bar:

Take two cherry tomatoes, two baby corn, three broccoli.

Cafeteria workers will chase you if you take more than this.

From Redditor /u/CoolioDaggett

I teach wood shop. I follow many rules. The worst one is my performance review uses student improvement on the STAR literacy test.

From Redditor /u/ImJustSo

I drive valet. The handbook forbids backing up. Ever.

You cannot do the job without reverse. It is impossible.

The rule exists for liability and insurance. This way, the valet always takes the blame if an accident happens.

...If the rule says no reverse, yet you must park a car, how can you park it?

Answer: Never hit anything, and always reverse despite the rules. Expect firing if you hit something in reverse, but probably not. The rule exists for the company's sake. If they see you as an asset, you likely won't be fired. Many question the legality, and you are right. It won't hold up in court, but it's in the handbook and it's silly.

From Redditor /u/Anvirel

The VP held a mass meeting. He told everyone they could not have pictures, plants, food, or any non-office supplied objects on their desks. Many coworkers had family photos or kids' drawings on cubicle walls. Remove everything. People were upset.

From Redditor /u/redemption_songs

At my old job, HR held a meeting about too much swearing on the sales floor. Someone spoke up, pointing out swearing is common in our industry and how customers speak. HR later sent a memo limiting swearing to client conversations. It was amazing.