New coworker demands that things are done "by the book" forcing the manager to remove flexible working agreements with the staff and making everything worse for everyone: 'Rules are Rules and they are there for a reason'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jul 9, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

We're all so used to getting one pulled over on us all the time that we almost come to expect it. Some of us have adjusted to this by learning to object to everything, and finding everything objectionable is almost intoxicating in its own right, leading us down the pathway of contrarianism to our own folly. 

But sometimes you just need to recognize when you're getting a good deal, even if that deal isn't technically by the book. And it can be a shock for those coming from a corporate environment to a small office. Some people, especially those coming from a large corporation, are so used to railing against authority and the inert mass of the large corporate bureaucracy that they don't even realize that everyone in their new workplace is shocked by their constant outrage.

The very phrase "quid pro quo" has negative connotations for obvious reasons, but it's not always a bad thing to have things work this way. This manager had a quid pro quo arrangement with their staff, where their staff were able to take longer lunch breaks in exchange for dropping something off at the post office or at the bank on their way to wherever they were having lunch out of the office. This worked well; the 15 minutes extra the staff got for lunch far exceeded the time it took for them to complete the task, so this was effectively an extension of their lunch break. However, when a new staff member joined and challenged the practice, it led to a race to the bottom in which everything needed to be done "by the book," and things were worse for everyone.

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  • 01

    "Rules are rules, unless you don't like them. Office edition."

    Worked in a pretty low key chill office of about five. Mostly younger women with younger children (that's kinda relevant). I asked if they would drop mail at the post office or make a bank deposit on the way to or from lunch (they always went out). Both were on the way to/from lunch. I told them to take an extra 15 min or so as needed so to not have them rush their lunch time.
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  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10527375616
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    The image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 03
    So, new woman starts and her and another person come to me and tell me that under Fair Labor Act, and various other rules/requirements they are to be additionally compensated, get mileage for vehicle use and so forth.... and Rules are Rules and they are there for a reason. Yeah, they probably were correct on that point. I removed the ask that they go to the bank and such.
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  • 04
    Now, some days later one of the staff come to me to say they will be in about half hour late on such and such day as their kid has to be dropped for something. No problem I tell her, but she might as well just come in at noon. Why she asks? Well Rules are Rules and the policy manual (same one they quoted to me) states that if they are more than 15 min late, PTO must be taken. A second policy, same manual, requires PTO be taken in blocks of four hours. This was not a well received announcement.
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  • 05
    OK, some of you are already probably responding with this being a move on my part. I gotta point out that these folks often had kid stuff to do (school events, Dr. Appt, kids missing the bus and so forth). They would need to come in late, leave early, and so forth. Usually an hour or two here and there. My attitude about this was always "do what you gotta do with your kiddo's,
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  • 06
    let someone know if you'll be gone and just make it up whenever." It was a complete honor system. Didn't write it down, didn't really pay much attention as I they were adults, honest, knew what was expected of them and I trusted them to do the right thing. Needless to say that PTO thing was my making a point. They quickly decided they didn't need all those demands formally made and we went back to them going to the post office and such when convenient for them and coming in late without penalty
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  • 07
    Valpo1996 Yep. My last job was a small company. Founder still running the place. He was lax about hours. Oh you missed a day this week? Make up 4 hours next week and we will call it good. So you are getting effectively double time pay. Had one worker complain that he should get time and a half for those four hours. Got it. 6 hours pay for those four. But you are getting docked for the 8 you missed last week.
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  • 08
    He couldn't understand what happened. He wasn't with us much longer after that.
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  • 09
    Grumpy_Old_One Malicious Compliance goes both ways.
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  • 10
    The... A college student sat down for a test one day, and fifteen minutes after the test began he raised his hand. "I request and require steak and ale." "Sorry? What?" The teacher said. "I request and require steak and ale." "And why do you think that will work?"
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  • 11
    Student shows the college handbook, which dated back to the founding of the college 300 years before. Under exams, there is a school policy clearly noted: "If, during an exam, a student requests and requires steak and ale, such shall be provided." So, a burger and beer being agreed upon as the modern equivalent, they were provided.
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  • 12
    The next day, the student was fined for not wearing his sword to class.
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  • 13
    Deaconse Several years ago, my spouse and I were going to hear Wagner's complete Ring cycle. That's roughly fifteen hours of opera (not counting intermissions!) in four evenings over five days. in one week. Not for the faint of heart, and not for the tired or sleepy.
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  • 14
    I put in a request to work a week of half-days, beginning midmorning and leaving mid-afternoon. Come in late, leave early, refreshed for work and for the music: everybody wins! My boss thought that was a fine idea and approved the request without hesitation, but her boss refused, saying that half-days must begin at the usual 8:30 am start time and end at noon, or begin after lunch and end at the close of the usual workday.
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  • 15
    F , I took the week. My work didn't get done on time as you wanted it? Well, I offered but you refused....
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  • 16
    feuwbar I tell people that on everybody's desk sits an invisible thing called "the piggy bank of goodwill." Being flexible and reasonable makes deposits and asking for schedule and other flexibility makes withdrawals. Piggy bank has deposits? Sure, do what you need to do. Piggy completely empty? Sorry, no. Life is a two way street.
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  • 17
    kewlness There is always that one person who ruins the nice things for everybody else. Management gets so much grief in this sub (and for good reason) but it is awesome to see it go the other way as well.
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  • 18
    BrainWaveCC Bi-directional Malicious Compliance? Or maybe, Retributive Malicious Compliance? Malicious Quid Pro Quo Compliance. That's it.
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  • 19
    Informal_Bullfrog_... I am usually the first to say manager is the AH but not here. Also, this isnt corporate but a small office. FAFO
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