Stupidest rules your job has

[Ringtail Z28]

Of course we cannot buy a giftcard with our credit card, etc. and then immediately use it to pay with our discount. Its a cruel way of limiting the instances where the employee discounts are used.

So the jerks caught on to that little loophole did they? I've always had the feeling that they wanted to get rid of the employee discount completely.

[tacohuman]

I used to work at a couple of grocery stores.
* No drink's in the food prep areas. But people always did and they never got yelled at except me.

* No food kept in the cooler that is not "supermarket's" food. I mean, you could not bring your own lunch and keep it in the walk-in. You either had to go home and eat or buy something or bring something non-perishable.

i don't know about your state, but here both of these aren't store rules, they're state health codes. we also can't eat in our food prep areas. if we're making something and want to taste it, we have to go beyond the threshold of the prep kitchen.

[Horsetuna]

That sucks, HorseTuna; how about wearing gloves? Will they let you wear a pair of thin white gloves? There's hardly anything less "tacky".

Realized I didnt reply to this. Nope. No gloves. Even transparent ones. You can't shuffle with gloves on anyways.

[I_Hate_SCs]

But it isn't gender discrimination to require all the men to tuck in their shirts while the females don't have to?

Just as Ryu already pointed out, it doesn't seem to be gender discrimination unless its to females. No offense to females, of course, since I know there are many legitimate issues in the workplace out there that is definitely, in fact, gender discrimination. It was quite funny, the female employees actually thought it was discrimination themselves since they weren't asked to do it, but every male with their shirts un-tucked were asked to tuck their shirts in before entering the salesfloor.

Same thing at my store. And then the managers have the chutzpah to whine that the floor looks messy when all the salesfloor people have been backup cashiering for much of their shift.

When I first started working there they would make the cashiers over 18 stay until the salesfloor leaves at around 11:30pm on days we were on the lanes all night for backup (for fairness) and make them help us. Somebody must've complained since the cashiers now leave at 10pm sharp even if the store is in ruins and we're up there for hours on end ringing people up. One day all of the cashiers who had to stay to help us were very pissed they couldn't leave at 10pm like the minors. One of them told me that their job is done at 10pm, and they should leave then. He then asked me why they should stay, and I said "Well given the fact that we have been on the front lanes all night helping you keep the lines down, you owe it to us. We weren't hired to be cashiers. Of course he rolled his eyes at me. I then said "Well if you don't want our help, you could have mile-long lines all night, and still be ringing people up now at 11:30pm after we're closed. I can tell the manager for you if you'd like!" That shut him up.

In Wisconsin state law says that displays of infant furniture cannot be sold for safety reasons. As for everything else, we can sell displays if they go on clearance and are the last one available.

Well I am unsure if the baby furniture was being sold when it went clearance since I usually don't work over there, but I'd not be surprised. I'll have to ask the girl who works over there. I know for a fact that other displays like regular (non-baby) furniture, vacuums or toaster ovens are sold when its the last one we have.

Aren't there laws that prohibit creditors from telling your place of employment that you have delinquent debts? If so, the fact that the bank and the store happen to be under the same corporate umbrella shouldn't make it OK.

I am unsure, I'll just say that I've answered many a phone call from Target Credit Services asking to speak to an employee, and you know they aren't calling to ask employees to open an account. One time they called in one shift about 2-3 times asking for the same employee, and I already told them that she worked overnight only, and is probably sleeping right now!

I'd attribute that to sucky co-workers, and not necessarily any kind of corporate policy.

From what I understand, we're supposed to put the heavy items (like furniture, etc.) on the top two shelves. They say the reason is because the lighter items are accessed more, and it would be better to have them on the lower shelves to make retrieving them easier. They don't take into account that if you work in the furniture, seasonal (depending on what time of year) and other departments that people would always be asking for those heavy items. I'd rather go up on a tall ladder for a small vase versus an entertainment center! Maybe its something from District or store management. Either way, it is a pain because half of the stuff is too darn heavy for you to get yourself (even though I am a guy and am not weak ... it is hard to be on top of a 10ft-tall ladder or so and get a 50000 pound box of whatever down from the top shelf when the powered lift vehicles we have can't even fit down the skinny aisle of the backroom. Although I don't wish harm on anybody, I just hope these top-heavy shelves fall to the floor one day in a domino effect (one row of shelves landing on the next row, causing it to fall also.) Maybe then they'll realize that it is more logical to put heavy stuff on the BOTTOM of the shelves!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

From what I understand, we're supposed to put the heavy items (like furniture, etc.) on the top two shelves. They say the reason is because the lighter items are accessed more, and it would be better to have them on the lower shelves to make retrieving them easier.

That's the kind of thing the suits can say knowing they're not the ones that will have to go up on a ladder to retrieve those heavy items.

They should get the message after, oh, say a few dozen gruesome accidents where people fell off ladders while trying to retrieve heavy items. Or maybe they'll just write a nastygram telling everybody to work more safely.

[repsac]

Since it's just me and the day help, I've got a rather nice sign. It's got a list of all the policies, and rules I expect obeyed by the camera crews and the random laborers I hire. Some of the rules, are funny. Even I admit that. (Reasons included.)

1.) If your question begins with "This may sound stupid but..." don't ask it.

2.) The computers are not for LAN parties.

3.) Nor are they for porn.

4.) Camera crews must call in every hour with updates on film dates.
(This is hard to understand, but when I've someone on location, I like to be updated how their shoot is going. Or, if they have any problems.)

5.) Crews should supply their own cameras.

6.) If you get arrested, we will not bail you out. (don't even ask)

7.) No, you can not bring your brother/son/daughter/sister up to play on the computers. Unless the sister is cute and over eighteen. Oh, and single.

8.) The name is MJ12. It does not stand for Michael Jackson.

9.) Majestic is spelled without a g. Please, learn this.

10.) Do not forget rule number one.

[ladylabyrinth]

'No cup holders at tables'.


"no rubber thimbles for employees'. Why? Because they're 'tacky'. My fingers for some reason are smooth as silk. I CANNOT grip the cards and pull them out of the shoes efficiently without pushing very hard and then my fingers ache. A tiny red rubber thimble makes my job a lot easier. I wonder if my benefits will cover strain injuries from pushing too hard on the cards.

Just a thought, though if they're being that strict about stuff at the table (and I can understand why, being a casino) I dunno if you'd get away with it...

There's this wonderful product called SortKwikTM. Stupid name, but it gets the job done. It's a "fingertip moistener". I work for a catalog company, and on Saturdays I open, sort, and batch the mail orders for entry. I also have smooth, usually dry fingers that will NOT grip without assistance, especially the thin, slick paper they use for the order forms. This stuff has saved my sanity. It's non-toxic and anti-bacterial, so no worries there. I don't want to turn this into an ad for the stuff, so I'll leave it there, but you can find it (or something similar I'm sure) in any standard office supply chain. If you can find a way to have it around for easy access, I bet that would save your poor hands from unnecessary abuse. Just my $0.02.

[Gurndigarn]

There's this wonderful product called SortKwikTM. Stupid name, but it gets the job done.

It's not quite that stupid a name. I believe it was designed for bank teller use, where they need to sort bundles of money.

[ladylabyrinth]

Gurndigarn: Fair enough, about the bank teller thing, but I have a personal pet peeve for any product/store/franchise that spells things in a "cute" way, e.g. Kwik. Just a personal opinion.

[Rapscallion]

I have to admit that I try to maintain a grammatical boycott.

Spud-U-like? I'll not eat there.

Kwik-Fit? I prefer to get my car dealt with elsewhere.

Hi-Tech? Some other footwear, please.

I've not exactly been joined by the masses in this, but I'd yet to start campaigning.

Rapscallion

[Becks]

I can't believe I haven't mentioned this yet...

When we're calling for a clean up of spilled liquids, we can't use the word "immediately" over the PA.

Of course, that means the janitors take their sweet time to get to the spill in question and clean it up.

[Tejas]

we have a dress code at work - i have to show up in a shirt, with dress pants and polished shoes. this sounds OK, because we often have film crews (other than ours) and reporters on set alot. however the reason this is stupid is beacuse i show up to work with my good clothes on, than i head to wardrobe and put on a T-shirt and jeans or shorts. i have not had a scene yet when i wear a shirt and dress pants.

[Imogene]

Spud-U-like? I'll not eat there.

I think I already know what your answer is going to be, but, what the hell do they sell at 'Spud-U-Like'? They can't possibly have cornered the market on Baked Potato sales. Can they?

[DerangedHermit]

I can't believe I haven't mentioned this yet...

When we're calling for a clean up of spilled liquids, we can't use the word "immediately" over the PA.

Can you use synonyms?

[Rapscallion]

I think I already know what your answer is going to be, but, what the hell do they sell at 'Spud-U-Like'? They can't possibly have cornered the market on Baked Potato sales. Can they?

Natioanlly, yes, to the screams of dismay of many English teachers...

Rapscallion