by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on June 7th, 2007

Sheriff Raff  -Answerhag

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What is the most ridiculous workplace rule that you ever had to abide by?

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Answers. 39 helpful answers below.

  • by Dazed and Confused on October 3rd, 2008

    Dazed and Confused

    That I can't shut my office door. Um, why?

    1. I'm a programmer, I don't have visitors come by my office.

    2. None of my co-workers or supervisors come to my office, we all chat via IM or email.

    3. Then I get yelled at for when I'm on the phone, people can hear me all down the hall. Well then LET ME SHUT MY DOOR! I can't help it that no one else makes a peep and every noise echos up and down the hallway!

    So it's like, "you can't shut your door, but you can't talk loud enough for the customer on the phone to hear you."

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  • by tikitika on July 16th, 2009

    tikitika

    I have one for you. My boss was trying to control how fast our office supplies were used up. All the cupboards and drawers containing office supplies were locked up. In order to get a new pen, we had to prove that the old pen was entirely out of ink. Each time we needed a pen, the receptionist who was in charge of the key to the supply cupboards had to test the pen that she was given before she could give out a new one. God forbid we ever lost our pen.

    Once I wanted to order paper clips - we were almost completely out. The controller (who sucked up to the boss all the time) went around, searched in every person`s desk and came back to me with a handful of paper clips saying that I just wasn`t looking hard enough.

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  • by unknown on June 9th, 2007

    unknown

    Wearing uniforms. I was a hairstylist for the sake of Pete. We are supposed to be on the edge of the fashion industry. Why in heck should we all dress alike.

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  • by Shemarq the Wamama on July 7th, 2009

    Shemarq the Wamama

    At a place I used to work at, we got a new manager/supervisor for our department. She made all of us document everything we did all day DOWN TO THE MINUTE and turn it in every day!! She was a major control freak. Needless to say, just about everyone either quit or transfered into other departments.

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  • by vera city on July 16th, 2009

    vera city

    when i was in the Marines in the 1980's, sexism was rampant. rules for female Marines were often ridiculously biased. for instance, when serving in areas of extreme heat it was perfectly acceptable for male Marines to remove their camouflage utility blouse and work in their t-shirts. However, female Marines were banned from removing their blouses. it was assumed that the sight of our t-shirted upper half would so distract our male co-workers they'd be unable to concentrate on their duties.

    i was part of a combined service force at Ft Carson Colorado in 1987. 2,000+ Marines took part in the live-fire exercise, and a support force of a couple hundred Marines (military police, medical, motor t, communications, and leadership) were working 11 miles from the front, at a 1/2 mile square "tent city". after work hours, off-duty male Marines were allowed to change into civilian clothes, blue jeans or shorts and tank tops and flip flops or tennis shoes were the preferred choice for most of the men. off-duty women, however, had to remain in our heavy camouflage uniforms unless we were asleep in our racks. and we women were banned from using the field shower facilities. even though the showers were 50 yards from our tents, we had to go days without showering until a bus came from mainside and drove us 7 miles to the base gym where we were "allowed" to shower, and then immediately change back into our uniforms.

    unbelievable that such policies were permitted

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  • by Suny on July 9th, 2009

    Suny

    Cameras, the bosses and selected co workers enjoy four views constantly. It's not about security or quality control they just want to watch us work, to lazy to join us.

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  • by Rince on June 9th, 2007

    Rince

    Wearing a shirt and tie. we are in sales, we work on the phone, no one can see us, so who knows ?

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  • by tomsims on June 7th, 2007

    tomsims

    Thankfully, i have not had to live by workplace rules for decades. I don't think I could. I am essentially self-employed. When i have people work for me, I try to create an environment where they can do their best work according to the ways they have been hardwired.

    I think any rules that do not recognize people are different, allow for time flexibility, and reward creativity, production, and risk would fall into the category of ridiculous.

    If you must work for a paycheck, I suggest a good attitude and observance of even the most silly rules.

    I also recommend going the second mile and doing more than is expected.

    Finally, I recommend starting a home based business during your "T.V. time" at home in the evenings so that eventually, you can fire your boss and start signing your own paychecks.

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  • by 89bravo on June 7th, 2007

    89bravo

    everyone has to be a hour earlier than their shift. I cna understand being early but thats just stupid. It only takes a few moniutes to get cash registers up which were always open so we dont need to and then we head to work. Its now conditioned to just sit oustide and smoke for about 40 to 50 minutes not unless were getting yelled at.

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  • by Ed the Jetpacking Headbanger on July 16th, 2009

    Ed the Jetpacking Headbanger

    We were required to keep a log of every task we worked on for a 12 hour shift. The minutes had to add up to our entire 12 hours spent in the office.

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  • by Jadey - Vive la difference on July 16th, 2009

    Jadey - Vive la difference

    If you are absent from work sick, for even half a day, you would be required to bring a doctors note in or get a warning.

    Rediculous.

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  • by theresanchez on July 7th, 2009

    theresanchez

    Having an approved vacation but no pay until the company says so.

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  • by Yanstari on March 16th, 2008

    Yanstari

    To agree not to internet date in my own time, because I might then meet someone in another town and leave the job at a later point.
    To agree that a girlfriend will not visit in work time, whilst other employees were having 20 minute chats with their girlfriends in the back office !

    I wrote an imaginary job advert for my job as a humourous exercise to highlight the ridiculous rules in place at this job,

    Here it is;-

    JOB VACANCY
    A vacancy has arisen for a part timer in this shop for 3 days a week to be fully flexible with hours worked. The job will involve all aspects of shop work.
    Essential attributes include the willingness to work for free for 15 minutes each delivery morning.
    A vital skill is the ability to write a number 8 properly, clockwise and not anticlockwise. Failure to do so will result in being reduced to tears.
    We are looking for someone who is willing to be “put in a box” so to speak and who will not “kick out against the sides”, otherwise the “box” will get smaller and smaller.
    The successful candidate will also be required to be “past internet dating” and will be asked to sign a document agreeing not to waste time and energy on long distance relationships, and if it is breached it will be regrettably referred to later.
    Recycling and litter picking to help the environment are not allowed, in work or outside of work in the town centre.
    The candidate will also be required not to use a mobile phone or have a partner visit in work hours, thought the other workers will have this privilege.
    A distinct advantage will be a candidate who is willing to declare a romantic or sexual relationship prior to joining the company, and who is willing to declare any “dates” during the employment.
    Upon employment, the successful applicant will need to dress all in black, as if for a wake, for work in this shop selling many colourful lines.
    People who want to help the planet and recycle other shops rubbish need not apply.

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  • by hemiman on June 7th, 2007

    hemiman

    I was told by a supervisor when I worked for the post office that I could not wear my Navy jacket because it still had my E-6 chevrons on it. I thought that was pretty stupid.

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  • by Lets Go Sharks on July 16th, 2009

    Lets Go Sharks

    no cellphones,yet my bosses all have theirs and take personal calls. Arent they supposed to set the example?

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  • by Slipshod Wombat and Co. on July 16th, 2009

    Slipshod Wombat and Co.

    having to smile while talking on the phone, and then recording your voice and and listening to it to determine if you sound happy or not.

    or, where my dad uesd to work, his employers telling him to lie to his customers. needless to say, he no longer works there.

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  • by Route 66Truckerman on July 15th, 2009

    Route 66Truckerman

    I wasn't allowed to bring explosives to work!

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  • by RubyDoobyDoo on July 7th, 2009

    RubyDoobyDoo

    No facial piercings- how am I going to snag my nose ring?

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  • by weatherman taking week or so off on October 3rd, 2008

    weatherman taking week or so off

    "Computer and network passwords must be difficult to guess." How do I know if I am in compliance? How do I know if my staff has chosen passwords which are "difficult to guess". Somebody in corporate security has WAY too much time on their hands.

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  • by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on June 7th, 2007

    Sheriff Raff  -Answerhag

    i worked at this plant that made plastic badges and security seals. they did not want women employees to wear open toed shoes or to not have on hoisery. i could understand in the manufacturing area for safety reasons but the office staff didn't venture there.

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  • by Mokey on July 16th, 2009

    Mokey

    Having to wear the top of a sock over my tattoos so that I wouldn't offend the customers when the manager had tattoos showing. I forgot the sock one day and got fired for it.

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  • by Spirit of the Nomad on July 16th, 2009

    Spirit of the Nomad

    I worked for a company where we weren't allowed to speak directly to the owners or anyone above our direct boss in the hierarchy unless they talked to you, otherwise all communication had to go through my direct boss to whomever I wanted to speak. It made even the simplest tasks really time consuming.

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  • by Possum on July 16th, 2009

    Possum

    No dating inmates or patients

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  • by Dodgy Dog in a Sable COAT on July 16th, 2009

    Dodgy Dog in a Sable COAT

    Have to sign the in and out attendance book every time you want to go to the toilet.

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  • by Beavis - the other white meat on July 16th, 2009

    Beavis - the other white meat

    No sex in the prep area

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  • by Dr_Dredd on July 16th, 2009

    Dr_Dredd

    If I'm attacked by a patient, I'm not allowed to fight back. We were shown various "strategies" to de-escalate a situation, but actually fighting back is not allowed. Striking someone, even in self-defense, is grounds for termination. Something about it being our fault for letting ourselves get into a situation like that.

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  • by marymel on July 16th, 2009

    marymel

    Not allowed to take any tea breaks? weird uh

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  • by LiLDoe on June 9th, 2007

    LiLDoe

    if you wanted a vacation even if you been here for years. . you needed a doctors note or be laid up in the hospital other than that vacation what vacation. *(I'm talking about unpaid vacation time)

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  • by Kyogre-Stataen on June 7th, 2007

    Kyogre-Stataen

    No picking your nose...it looks disgusting!

    I can't believe that I saw something like that.

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  • by -Icy- on July 16th, 2009

    -Icy-

    no swimming, till the end of your shift, pool concession stand.

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  • by Neuguy69 on February 23rd, 2011

    Neuguy69

    Share your answer...

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  • by Anonymous on June 9th, 2007

    Anonymous

    A camera inside a police station.

    Our question is why?

    I spy is watching.

    Who is one the other end?

  • by Neuguy69 on February 23rd, 2011

    Neuguy69

    Not being able to masturbate in my car on my break. I get horny when I'm drunk!!

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  • by 232499 on July 16th, 2009

    232499

    No fireworks in the office.

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  • by dancer on July 16th, 2009

    dancer

    Talk to the Ombudsman who was a spy for management. Talk about a slimy person.

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  • by Angel Kisses on December 12th, 2009

    Angel Kisses

    I hate the rule that you aren't allowed to wear any type of clothing that will promote another business by their name or logo.

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  • by mazzerdazzer18 on July 16th, 2009

    mazzerdazzer18

    I WORK AT FRYS, AND THEY SEEM TO COME UP WITH DIFFERENT RULES AND GUIDE LINES THAT YOU HAVE TO ABIDE BY. BUT THE ONE THAT I REALLY THOUGHT WAS CRAZY WAS WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO SAY HI TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WALKS IN TO THE STORE.. LAME HUH

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  • by machinerat on July 16th, 2009

    machinerat

    Not being able to say no to returns that I knew were fraudulent (got to take care of the customer)

    For Halloween, having to change my soldier costume because it said 'US Army' on it (our clothing couldn't have any words on them)

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  • by VeeVee on July 16th, 2009

    VeeVee

    If I didn't park my car exactly in the center of the parking space provided in the parking lot of the company I worked for I was asked to center it.

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