9 Insane Office Rules No One Should Have To Follow

9 Insane Office Rules No One Should Have To FollowOffice Rules are important. And companies have them for a reason. However, too often a company seeks to correct the bad behavior of a very few employees by making big, sweeping (and often overreaching) rules that affect everyone. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here are 9 examples of the worst kinds of overmanagementthe sorts of rules that can really alienate a workforce.1. Restricting the InternetJust because one idiot looked at, ahem, objectionablecontenton a work computeror spent mora time refreshing Twitter than answering vital emails,that doesnt mean everyone should be punished by having their internet usage restricted. Responsible adult employees should be allowed to check personal email and even Facebook in their breaks. As long as work doesnt suffer, it should never be a management concern. Besides, policies like these can prevent employees from doing valuable research online when the Internet could be a useful tool.2. Time PolicingYes, employees are supposed to work their predetermined hours. But theyre hired and paid for the work they do, not the sum of all the minutes they sit in their desk chairs. Draconian late policies or strict documentation requirements for sick days are just unnecessary and will breed distrust and discontent in employees who would otherwise be happy to do good work and care about their jobs.3. Email PolicingHeard of companies that require you to select a pre-approved subject before able to send an email through the companys email client? Thats completely ridiculous. A little trust in ones employees to communicate effectively about their tasks can go a long way to making sure everyone isnttotally miserable.4. Bathroom PolicingSeriously. This isnt kindergarten. Limiting peoples trips to the bathroom is only going to give them UTIs and a healthy case of rage. If your job does this, find a new job. Seriously.5. Stinginess with MilesComp anies that require employees to travel for work should always let themaccumulate personal miles on work trips. This is one of the few perks for having to constantly be on the go, or in the air. Theres no reason to hoard them, unless a company is actively looking to breed resentment.6. Policing All LanguageIts one thing to have an emphasis on diversity and tolerance in the workplace and a low tolerance for inappropriate or hateful comments. Thats mandatory. But getting too involved in every potential microaggression, such as denouncing someone for saying bless you to a colleague when they sneeze? Overkill.7. Rigid RankingIts one thing to track performance. It is another thing entirely to force employees to be evaluated on the same rigid curve. Everyone ends up feelingdehumanized and undervalued, and honestlyends up underperforming as a result. Companies should evaluate their employees individually. Every time.8. Banning Cell PhonesBanning mobile phones entirely only penalizes the goo d employees who use their phones only on breaks or in emergencies. If someoneis on their phone all day, thats a conversation for their teamberater to undertake with that person only No one else needs to be punished with a sweeping, overreaching rule.9. Limiting Self ExpressionNo personal items on the desk? No water bottles? Restrictive dress policy? These kinds of policies just make employees feel like cogs in an assembly line. Surely theres a better way to handle employees who arent sure how to decorate or dress in a professional manner.Bottom line Employees should be trusted to do the job. Were all adults who should be leftalone unless underperformance is an issue. Everyone shouldnt be punished for the infractions of a few.