Boss demands employees follow protocol by the book, only to have the entire office shut down after discovering “the book” hasn't been updated in a decade: ‘Nobody noticed because nobody followed it’

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Nov 4, 2025 9:00 AM EST

The boss in the story below wanted everything done "by the book", but he didn't know what he was asking for until one of his employees actually read said book. 

If we're being completely honest, no one really follows a protocol down to the last detail. We all take shortcuts, and we all try to get our work done as quickly and efficiently as possible, even if it's technically against a few rules. So when the employee in the story below was told they had to do everything by the book from now on, they used it to show the boss how little that request made sense.

How did they manage that? By doing exactly as they were told and following the protocol completely. It wasn't long before the boss realized just how the protocol slows the workflow, which was mostly due to "the book" not being updated in a decade. 

This quickly led to a protocol update, but only after the entire work had to shut down for a whole day because of the boss's demands.

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  • Surprisingly, after reading the story below, some people agreed with the boss's demands for protocol. Scroll down to read the full tale and let us know what you think in the comments below.

  • 01

    Boss wanted everything done "by the book." So I did. Entire office shut down for a day.

    Work as a lab technician at a hospital in Milwaukee. Been there about nine months. My supervisor Derek is one of those guys who panics about everything.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 02
    Boss sutting computer for the day
    via gradyreese

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 03
    Two weeks ago state inspectors came through and he completely spiraled. Started implementing all these new "protocols" that are technically in our safety manual but nobody actually follows because they're outdated from like 1997.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 04
    Friday morning he sends this department-wide email in all caps about how we're doing EVERYTHING by the book from now on, zero shortcuts, he doesn't care if it takes longer.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 05
    Anyone caught skipping steps gets written up. Thing is. Our equipment sterilization protocol in the official manual requires 8 hours of UV exposure between uses.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 06
    We have six pieces of equipment. We run maybe 40 tests a day across all of them.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 07
    You see the problem. Monday morning I start the UV cycle on the first machine I use.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 08
    Derek walks by later and asks why I'm not running samples. I show him the manual, show him his email, explain the math.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 09
    If we actually follow protocol we can run maybe 3 tests total per day as a department.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10571472896
    via NicolasMcComber

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 11
    His face went through like five different emotions. Tries to say "you know that's not what I meant" and I'm like but you said everything by the book, zero shortcuts, remember?
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 12
    He had to call the department head. They had to get someone from compliance on the phone.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 13
    Turns out that protocol was supposed to be updated in 2015 and just... wasn't. Nobody noticed because nobody followed it.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 14
    We shut down non- emergency testing for the entire day while they pushed through an emergency protocol update.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 15
    Derek won't make eye contact with me now. My coworker Amanda bought me coffee this morning though so that was cool.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 16
    OP Any_Effective8727 the actual cleaning we do works fine, the UV thing is just overkill that was supposed to be removed years ago. our normal process meets current safety standards. also I maybe feel slightly bad because some routine tests got delayed and patients had to wait an extra day for results. but also like. Derek has been unbearable for two weeks and maybe this will chill him out? my wife thinks the coffee thing means Amanda wants me to cause more chaos. she's probably right.
    via Any_Effective8727
  • 17
    WakandaNowAndThen I like Derek's attitude here. He's doing what he feels is best in his position, and has probably been told by his own bosses what kind of standard he needs to hold people to. You told him and showed him what "by the book" would mean, and he was proactive in getting that shit clarified/fixed while everything was practically shut down like the book said. Maybe he should have addressed that deficiency before telling the team their orders, but he was probably trying to be in compli
    via WakandaNowAndThen
  • 18
    Think-Committee-4394 This dear friends shows exactly why you make sure your documented process is updated regularly & industry compliant →
    via Think-Committee-4394
  • 19
    Agent-c1983 If you have a written safety protocol that nobody is following, that's a major lawsuit risk. But if you're not updating your manuals in almost 2 decades with updated safety proceedures, that's a whole other thing...
    via Agent-c1983
  • 20
    PAUL_DNAP Nice one Derek. We also have loads of work instructions and safe systems of work that refer to processes, products equipment and even people that just don't exist anymore.
    via PAUL_DNAP
  • 21
    ersentenza >He had to call the department head. They had to get someone from compliance on the phone. Turns out that protocol was supposed to be updated in 2015 and just... wasn't. Nobody noticed because nobody followed it. You have a colossal problem and it isn't your boss
    via ersentenza
  • 22
    LaFlibuste I am firmly in the camp that protocols should always be followed. If they aren't and something happens, it'll be a total shitshow. But companies should also update them and accept the limitations and delays they introduce.
    via LaFlibuste
  • 23
    lizufyr I'm responsible for the technological side of IT security at my company. There are lots of things that are done pretty badly (which is probably true for all companies). I'm working on implementing better processes. But if people were told to instantly only use best practices, we would be unable to function. Changing processes requires inquiry on why things are done the way they are, and how they should be done, and then planning on how to actually get to the "should be" process.
    via lizufyr

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rules boss workplace-stories employee manager job malicious compliance protocol tales-from-the-workplace reddit story overworked-employees workplace Reddit company
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