Work involves more than what we do—it’s also how we’re allowed to do it. While companies have many rules to keep things ticking over, not all of these rules make us happy and some of them are actually a real drag. And that’s true even if we don’t openly complain about them. Here are eleven work policies that we wish didn’t exist—but we’ll never tell our bosses that!
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Strict Dress Codes
Having to wear a tie or heels every single day is exhausting. And it’s especially bad if you’re going to be sitting at your desk all day! Some companies are quite strict about what you wear and they’ll insist on professional attire all the time. It’s a bit much! Surely it’s better to feel comfortable while you work, especially if you’re not meeting clients?
Limited Remote Work Options
After getting a taste of working in pajamas during the pandemic, being told you have to come back to the office full-time doesn’t feel great. Unfortunately, some companies still keep a tight leash on remote work. There’s no real reason why we can’t enjoy the best of both worlds—for most jobs, anyway.
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Rigid Work Hours
Being stuck in the 9-to-5 routine with no wiggle room is rather annoying, especially if you’re a night owl or have to juggle picking up the kids from school. Not everyone’s at their best during the traditional work hours! A little flexibility would really help because we’d work when we’re the most productive. It’d also give us the freedom to fit work into our lives & not the other way around.
Micromanagement
Nothing says “I don’t trust you” quite like having your boss breathe down your neck, asking for updates every five minutes. Give us some space! Being micromanaged makes us feel like we’re under a microscope—nobody likes that. We’d rather be trusted to take initiative and make decisions since it’s quite empowering.
Mandatory Overtime
Being told you HAVE to stay late or work weekends shouldn’t be okay—especially on short notice. Sure, we understand that sometimes there’s a crunch but making overtime a regular thing really wears you down. A little heads up and some recognition for the extra miles we go wouldn’t hurt to make us feel more valued.
Limited Vacation Time
Having only a few days off a year makes planning that dream vacation feel like a distant fantasy. After all, companies that are stingy with time off make you hoard your vacation days! We all need a break to recharge & come back refreshed so we’re ready to tackle challenges with new energy. A generous vacation policy is a necessity for a happy, healthy team.
Excessive Performance Reviews
Having to prove yourself over & over again with endless evaluations is never fun. Not only does constantly being under the microscope add pressure but it also stifles creativity. Being so focused on hitting every metric will make you miss opportunities to think outside the box—or take risks that could lead to big wins. Stop giving us so much feedback!
Overly Detailed Time Tracking
Logging every minute of your day puts the focus on filling out timesheets rather than actually working. It’s tedious—and makes it seem like we’re being watched all the time. Such micromanagement of our time causes stress. Worse still, we feel like our productivity is being measured by the clock as opposed to the quality of our work.
Inflexible Break Policies
Needing a break and being told it’s not time yet is one way to feel like you’re back in school. Sometimes you just need a moment to step away and recharge! But strict policies can make that hard, leaving you watching the clock until your next “allowed” break, even though we should be treated like the adults we are.
Mandatory Social Events
Not everyone wants to spend their free time with coworkers—no matter how nice they are. Being required to show up at every after-hours work event is an intrusion into our personal time. We all have different ways of unwinding & recharging. For some of us, that involves spending time away from work and workmates!
Unpaid Internships
Of course, gaining experience is valuable but it doesn’t pay the bills. So why do we allow unpaid internships? These positions put a strain on those who can’t afford to work without a paycheck and they limit opportunities to those who are financially secure. Instead, we should recognize that everyone’s time and effort deserve compensation.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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