Shortsighted Rules That Decrease Employee Morale

As a company you definitely need to have rules, that is a given, But you should not be lazy and shortsighted in your need to bring in order. It is tempting to make a new rule everytime someone crosses a line.

This is where you have to differentiate yourself rather than blow out. Not every problem needs to be answered with an establishment of a new rule. Some problems need a closer inspection on an individual level rather than killing the morale of other employees.

If you cannot an outlandish behaviour of a few individuals, it is a management problem, and there is no sense in alienating your entire workforce for the same.

Here are a few bad rules companies make to bring in order amongst employees

Ridiculous leave, attendance and time rules

People are given salary for the work they do and not for the number of hours they sit at their desks. When you ask questions to your employees for coming in ten minutes late, although they might put in hours on weekend to be productive, you make it clear that rules take precedence over performance. When you keep unnecessary strict requirements for bereavement or medical leave, it leaves a sour taste in employees mouth.

Also, If your employees need to fake death or ill health to miss a day’s work, what does it talk about your company?

Forced rankings of performance

Job performance often does not follow natural bell-shaped curves like talents. By forcing employees into already existing ranking systems you evaluate performance incorrectly, make people feel like numbers, create insecurity, dissatisfaction and fear among employees that they will be fired. Evaluating each individual objectively based on individual merits and interests is hard but had long-term repercussions on maintaining a healthy culture in your company.

Bad E-mail policies

Some companies are recently getting to restrictive email use like employees have to select from a huge list of approved topics before they can send the message. This clearly sends out the message that you have no trust in your employees. Again, if you have no trust, you could have rather avoided hiring them in the first place. In an attempt to order a few bad guys you make everyone miserable. And the bad news is the bad guys always find a way.

Restricting  use of the internet

There are certain sites that people should not visit at work like pornographic and other obvious stuff. But once that is done, its an arbitrary and difficult line to draw. Most companies draw a line at an awkward place. Restricting facebook would mean the inability to check the profile of someone you just interviewed and that is a bad idea. It might also mean that it would become more difficult to do online research as well. When people are unable to check their social media profiles, it often limits their ability and enthusiasm to continue work productively.

Pathetic attempts to make it politically correct

It is good to attempt maintaining high standards for everyone for how to treat each other as we live in a world that is full of discrimination and animosity. Here also employers need to know where to draw a line. Do not go on a witch hunt as someone said “bless you” to his colleague. This will instil paranoia without making any improvement.

Placing limits on self-expression

You do not need to control how many photographs people can display,or should they or should they not be using water-bottles. It is the old “If I could hire robots instead of people, I would not be having any problem”attitude. Same is with the dress code. If you hire professionals, they will dress up professionally. However, if someone crosses the line, the management can take care of that individually.

Companies need to look more closely into their rules and regulations and analyse and re-analyse what is necessary and what is Not. Your organization should provide people with enough opportunities to flourish and be productive instead of just following rules.