15 Dumb Workplace Rules Some Jobs Really Have
Every workplace has rules, and most of them exist for perfectly reasonable reasons. Then there are the policies that make employees wonder whether management has completely lost the plot. Imagine needing permission to give someone a five-dollar discount while being allowed to hand out a thousand dollars without asking. Or discovering that the office coffee room is the one place you’re not allowed to drink coffee. Reddit users have shared some remarkably specific workplace restrictions, covering everything from dress codes to the exact minute lunch must begin. Some are inconvenient, others are genuinely baffling, and a few practically invite employees to find loopholes. Here are 15 workplace rules people say they actually encountered.
No Coffee in the Coffee Room
One employee described an office with a beautifully furnished coffee room, complete with machines and mugs, where a handwritten sign explicitly prohibited drinking coffee.
A Thousand Dollars Is Fine, but Five Needs Approval
A customer service worker claimed they could issue $1,000 in account credits without approval, but needed management’s permission to offer a recurring $5 discount.
Lunch Must Start at 12:17
A former employee recalled a manager who insisted that breaks begin and end at times that didn’t finish in zero or five, such as 12:17 and 12:47.
One Minute Late Means Going Home
At one company, arriving just one minute late reportedly meant using an entire vacation day, a rule that once sent an employee and their boss home together.
Print Three Copies and Throw One Away
A former bank employee said staff printed three copies of every document, immediately discarded one, and refused to change the process because it was how things had always been done.
No Ladders, Even When You Need One
One worker recalled a workplace that banned ladders and step stools over fall concerns, leaving a wheeled office chair as the available way to reach equipment.
Water Bottles Require a Doctor’s Note
A grocery store employee said management banned personal water bottles on the sales floor unless workers supplied a doctor’s note, while office managers could keep theirs.
No Sitting Without Medical Permission
A sales employee described a manager who removed chairs from workers’ stands and demanded medical notes before allowing anyone to sit, including elderly employees.
Shoulders Are Apparently a Workplace Distraction
An employee at a telephone survey company said sleeveless tops were prohibited, even though workers never met customers and the air conditioning frequently stopped working.
Jeans Are Fine, but Only in Black
One office employee reported a dress code that allowed black jeans but banned other colors, despite the fact that the job involved no customer contact.
Snacks Must Come in a Bag
After workers started eating chicken wings at their desks during calls, one office reportedly introduced a rule allowing only food kept inside bags.
Come to the Office for Your Video Calls
A Reddit user described being required to commute three days a week, only to spend their office hours attending Microsoft Teams meetings with colleagues in other buildings.
Everybody Needs Your Vacation Invitation
One company reportedly required employees to create calendar invitations for time off and send them to everyone who might need to know, even for short appointments.
A Safety Vest Over an Even Safer Coat
An employee recalled a supervisor requiring a Class 2 high-visibility vest over a Class 3 high-visibility coat, interpreting the dress rule literally despite the coat’s higher visibility classification.
No Leaning Against the Fence
A theme park game attendant said they were reprimanded for leaning against a fence, even though they were trying to stay clear of customers throwing balls.