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Petty Things Banned From The Workplace

24

Comments

  • Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,936 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    Fishyfreak wrote: »
    Toasters banned. One clever guy tried to bring in a George Foreman, it lasted a week.

    One colleague wore his "I found jesus........he was behind the sofa" t-shirt one day, also banned.

    THE MONSTERS!!!

    Toasters, George Foreman grills (and sandwich toasters), and burco boilers were banned in our company for health and safety reasons. The branch I was in promptly ignored this and continued to use them anyway. Then one day the health and safety auditors came, so we had to stash them in the boot of the manager's car. The weird thing was our kitchen had one of those old freestanding electric hob and oven combos, which I would have thought was far more of a hazard than the toaster or kettle (hob being left on, tea towel on hob, etc) but they weren't worried about it at all.


  • Posts: 26,052 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    A petty busybody bean counter who works in the office told me my t-shirt was inappropriate for work and actually tried to send me home to change, even though she works in a support position (it was a day when I was in my office alone and I do dress accordingly when I've to be in front of anyone). She added that cartoon t-shirts were particularly unwelcome, although she has NO authority over me and no hard dress code exists. My boss had words with her and told me to ignore her, so I have, and both of us take great pleasure in seeing how close we can push her to the edge. He's come in in baggy shorts and baseball caps, and our mission is to find him an hawaiian style shirt like Matt Taylors. That would make her spontaneously combust.

    Every chance I get I come in in another cartoon T-shirt as I've a bit of a collection. I've shown up in everything from Care Bears to He-Man and She-Ra. I hate the days I've to wear a suit now, it feels like she's winning.

    Keeping her opinion to herself is killing her, which makes me quite happy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,349 ✭✭✭✭super_furry


    Hope. It's not exactly a formal ban but it's well observed.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,473 ✭✭✭Wacker The Attacker


    Porn sites, Nothing funnier than hearing a random loud grunting groaning sound.

    I plan on making those in the bog


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,794 ✭✭✭Aongus Von Bismarck


    I've tried unsuccessfully to have sneakers and uncollared shirts to be banned from our offices. In fairness most people stick to a professional dress code, but you have the odd few who insist on dressing very scruffily!


  • Posts: 24,714 [Deleted User]


    I've tried unsuccessfully to have sneakers and uncollared shirts to be banned from our offices. In fairness most people stick to a professional dress code, but you have the odd few who insist on dressing very scruffily!

    Jeans, t-shirts or polos and casual shoes or runners are standard dress in my office. If you see someone in a suit they stand out like a sore thumb and know there must be something very important going on that day for them.

    I detest pointless dress codes like the one you appear to like. Such a waste of time.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,331 ✭✭✭deise08


    I read that as pretty things banned.
    was wondering what the f ya were talking about a radio ?


  • Registered Users Posts: 274 ✭✭CPSW


    I worked for a US bank in the IFSC for 7 years and the list of things banned were laughable. No decorations allowed to be stuck to the wall at Christmas, all devices that were not the companies had to be tested before they could be plugged in, so you couldn't make a cup of tea/coffee you had to avail of their overpriced coffee dock, even the stairs had arrows to direct you as to which side you should walk up and down. I do understand the reasons behind some things, but all were a great way of demoralising staff.

    Here I am sitting at my desk listening to the radio (and running down the clock till 5:30!!), with a beer in my hand which is permitted after 5 every Friday, same industry, but a world apart in workplace happiness


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,341 ✭✭✭miezekatze


    We're banned from having kettles/coffee makers at our desk or work areas. Apparently a H&S issue. Work in a huge office and there are very few kettles as it is. Conveniently, you can buy as much overpriced tea or coffee in the canteen downstairs if you want though


    It's the same where I work. :/

    We don't have any soap by the sink next to the bin area so I asked if this could be provided, or even if we could buy our own and leave it there. No, not allowed! Have to go to the bathroom at the other end of the building to wash your hands properly.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,717 ✭✭✭YFlyer


    I work in a pub/bistro

    We arent allowed drink or eat there. I can understand the no drinking rule but not being allowed eat there (we have to pay for food, even when we work, and dont get breaks. Food has to be taken away) is silly

    How do you have time to take the food away?

    Sure bring your own.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,794 ✭✭✭Aongus Von Bismarck


    While I happen to think that most beards are hideous and unkempt things; I thought the decision to ban beards for all front office and client facing staff was a rule too far. A small number of my colleagues had a beard, and I agreed that guidelines on the length and style of beard would have been more appropriate than an outright ban. There is no comparison between a neat and tidy beard, especially on a man with the facial structure and gravitas to wear one, than some long thing with knots/beads/curls that scream laziness.

    I didn't feel so strongly about it that I'd bring it up at a team roundtable. It just seemed slightly silly.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,717 ✭✭✭YFlyer


    Candie wrote: »
    A petty busybody bean counter who works in the office told me my t-shirt was inappropriate for work and actually tried to send me home to change, even though she works in a support position (it was a day when I was in my office alone and I do dress accordingly when I've to be in front of anyone). She added that cartoon t-shirts were particularly unwelcome, although she has NO authority over me and no hard dress code exists. My boss had words with her and told me to ignore her, so I have, and both of us take great pleasure in seeing how close we can push her to the edge. He's come in in baggy shorts and baseball caps, and our mission is to find him an hawaiian style shirt like Matt Taylors. That would make her spontaneously combust.

    Every chance I get I come in in another cartoon T-shirt as I've a bit of a collection. I've shown up in everything from Care Bears to He-Man and She-Ra. I hate the days I've to wear a suit now, it feels like she's winning.

    Keeping her opinion to herself is killing her, which makes me quite happy.

    wear that shirt that the engineering guy had on who landed the rocket on the comet.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,717 ✭✭✭YFlyer


    I've tried unsuccessfully to have sneakers and uncollared shirts to be banned from our offices. In fairness most people stick to a professional dress code, but you have the odd few who insist on dressing very scruffily!

    The IT heads?


  • Posts: 26,052 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    YFlyer wrote: »
    wear that shirt that the engineering guy had on who landed the rocket on the comet.

    It wouldn't look good on me, since it's a mens shirt. As I mentioned, my boss and myself are trying to find a similar one for him to wear.
    He's come in in baggy shorts and baseball caps, and our mission is to find him an hawaiian style shirt like Matt Taylors.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,990 ✭✭✭Cool_CM


    Not banned, but a company that I used to
    work for specified in their employee handbook that all employees had to wear underwear whilst at work. I'd love to know the story behind what caused it!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,717 ✭✭✭YFlyer


    Candie wrote: »
    It wouldn't look good on me, since it's a mens shirt.

    I love when a woman wears my shirt. Always looks good ;)


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,068 ✭✭✭Specialun


    We were bannedfrom bringing in our phone chargers..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,005 ✭✭✭✭Cuddlesworth


    Agricola wrote: »
    Without doubt health and safety. There was a permanent fold out wet floor sign in the mens room in a job I was in afew years back. It was never taken down! Companies can never be too careful when it comes to their accident prone staff! :rolleyes:

    In one of the large places I worked, I was one of the first sent on a H&S workplace lifting course in house. 5 hours in room with 10 others being told how to lift a empty box off a variety of surfaces properly.

    A women on the course failed. For 5 hours I watched a man tell her how to lift a box. And for 5 hours she failed in every aspect. I later discovered that the lady in question had sued the company for back problems claiming it was from lifting light boxes. She had been awarded a considerably large settlement because of poor workplace procedures. The course was in response to her lawsuit and she was in the first class due to it.

    Keep this in mind, it was deemed the companies responsibility to teach somebody how to do one of life's most basic skills. This was a women who in 35 years of adulthood had never once bent her knees to pick up something. Ever. And was awarded money for that sheer monumentus stupidity. And he disability could in no way be directly attributed to her workplace activities. And who, in 5 hours, could not be replicate the action of bending her knees under direct supervision on an increasingly exasperated instructor.

    So at this point, I see things like wet floors signs and other H&S measures as valuable corporate tools to protect companies and identify idiots.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,554 ✭✭✭bjork


    uch wrote: »
    There's a Bedroom in the office I work in, in case you need 40 winks, great on a Monday when dying with a sore head

    Johnson?




    - from 3.30


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,361 ✭✭✭Boskowski


    Thankfully in my office the great regulation craze has not yet set in. We have a bit of a dress code but it basically means don't come in too scruffy. Beyond that its not really enforced.

    I'm worried though it may be just a matter of time. These days legal and bean counters call the shots it seems. If it statistically saves three pound fiddy or avoids 0.4 lawsuits annually then sure its worth treating your staff like 5 years olds.

    But so far so good and I'm hopeful it remains like this.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,075 ✭✭✭IamtheWalrus


    Candie wrote: »
    A petty busybody bean counter who works in the office told me my t-shirt was inappropriate for work and actually tried to send me home to change, even though she works in a support position (it was a day when I was in my office alone and I do dress accordingly when I've to be in front of anyone). She added that cartoon t-shirts were particularly unwelcome, although she has NO authority over me and no hard dress code exists. My boss had words with her and told me to ignore her, so I have, and both of us take great pleasure in seeing how close we can push her to the edge. He's come in in baggy shorts and baseball caps, and our mission is to find him an hawaiian style shirt like Matt Taylors. That would make her spontaneously combust.

    Every chance I get I come in in another cartoon T-shirt as I've a bit of a collection. I've shown up in everything from Care Bears to He-Man and She-Ra. I hate the days I've to wear a suit now, it feels like she's winning.

    Keeping her opinion to herself is killing her, which makes me quite happy.


    This pettiness is what makes me loath offices.


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I've tried unsuccessfully to have sneakers and uncollared shirts to be banned from our offices. In fairness most people stick to a professional dress code, but you have the odd few who insist on dressing very scruffily!

    :eek: *Retrieves monocle from champagne* People wear uncollared shirts!?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,710 ✭✭✭branners69


    In a previous job an email was circulated by management for staff to refrain from using recreational drugs in the bathroom, someone had left a line!!!

    And no it wasnt the Dail!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,996 ✭✭✭✭gozunda


    gozunda wrote:
    Falling asleep at your desk (even accidetly) was a sackable offence in one screwed up crew I did business with ...
    uch wrote:
    There's a Bedroom in the office I work in, in case you need 40 winks, great on a Monday when dying with a sore head
    Cool_CM wrote: »
    Not banned, but a company that I used to
    work for specified in their employee handbook that all employees had to wear underwear whilst at work. I'd love to know the story behind what caused it!

    Cool_CM I seriously wonder what individual there used to permantly sleep at their desk that necessitated a condition of instant sacking on the occasion of 40 winks !


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,805 ✭✭✭Rothmans


    :eek: *Retrieves monocle from champagne* People wear uncollared shirts!?

    It may comfort you to know that he only has to endure it on the rare occasions he comes down from his ivory tower.


  • Posts: 26,052 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    .


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,611 ✭✭✭Valetta


    Totally understand the radio being banned from an office.

    Agree.

    Offices are for work, not listening to the radio.

    For those who say .... Well, anything really , it's just an excuse to justify having something that can only distract from what you're supposed to be concentrating on.

    By all means have a radio in the canteen, or wherever breKs are taken.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,247 ✭✭✭Tigger99


    Porn. I mean how could anybody deny somebody else pleasure?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,395 ✭✭✭✭mikemac1


    lol at the post of the American multinational that puts arrows on the stairs

    Those arows are still there :rolleyes:

    Yet they ignore important things like water on the floor outside the mailroom left by the wheelie bins. The floor is painted and a wet painted floor is trechorous. Twisted my ankle on it not long ago.

    Their solution? Put a couple of wet floor signs down to cover their ass but doesn't solve the problem.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,247 ✭✭✭Tigger99


    Rothmans wrote: »
    It may comfort you to know that he only has to endure it on the rare occasions he comes down from his ivory tower.

    Yes but imaginary ivory towers are pretty much ground level.

    Can I kick it, yes I can.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,050 ✭✭✭axel rose


    To those of you who use earphones- how can you hear the phone ring, or a colleagues query?
    I must be getting well old because I was delighted when the earphone ban was brought on our place- No one could be contacted, half of them were fiddling with their ipods at any given time, you'd be halfway through a question before you'd realise that they didn't hear a word.

    Don't even get me started on the fact that I forced to hear the overflow from the crappy cheap headphones...... Ban them and burn them I say!


  • Posts: 0 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Jeremias Ambitious Oat


    We don't have radios in our office. The last division I worked in was very client based so there'd usually be a phone ringing and you'd answer anyone's phone to take a message for them at least. So no headphones either except out of usual hours
    My new division I think some people do use earphones especially the IT area but I've gotten out of the habit anyway and it's good to hear what's going on around you

    I don't think anything is really banned, not that I've heard of
    Dress code is business mon-thurs all right


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,954 ✭✭✭counterlock


    Valetta wrote: »
    Offices are for work, not listening to the radio.

    I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven, I told Bill that if Sandra is going to listen to her headphones while she's filing then I should be able to listen to the radio while I'm collating so I don't see why I should have to turn down the radio because I enjoy listening at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,458 ✭✭✭JoeA3


    I worked in a place once (US financial services company) where a global mail was sent out. The men were kindly asked to refrain from wiping the contents of their noses on the doors in the toilet cubicles and to please "clean the toilet bowls" after using them. The email was well warranted to be fair. There were some unidentfied animals working there. Friday's and Monday's (presumably after the weekend feed of Guinness) were the worst.

    I heard since that sharp knives were banned from the canteen.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,261 ✭✭✭Baron Kurtz


    Tilly wrote: »
    I wish they would ban this radio in the office. I work with someone who hums EVERY FÚCKING SONG :mad:

    Try a whistler! Ffs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,420 ✭✭✭Lollipops23


    Cen taurus wrote: »
    It does make you wonder why grown adults would be running anywhere at a normal workplace, unless someone had collapsed or something, maybe bad forward planning ?

    It's not all that out there to run up for down stairs :confused:

    I wouldn't be ok with someone tearing around the office or anything, but the stairs?


  • Registered Users Posts: 406 ✭✭Yurt


    mikemac1 wrote: »
    lol at the post of the American multinational that puts arrows on the stairs

    Those arows are still there :rolleyes:

    Yet they ignore important things like water on the floor outside the mailroom left by the wheelie bins. The floor is painted and a wet painted floor is trechorous. Twisted my ankle on it not long ago.

    Their solution? Put a couple of wet floor signs down to cover their ass but doesn't solve the problem.

    Is this the same company in Dublin Citi that im thinking off ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,725 ✭✭✭✭blueser


    Trebor176 wrote: »
    Today, myself and five colleagues in the office were notified by e-mail from the boss that radios are banned from today. Now, three of us always had radios on, never that loud, and nothing was ever said until today. The ban extends to the use of headphones and any way of listening to music.

    We're the only office in the building (one of three) to have radios banned. Even the directors had no say in this and have no issues with others listening to music.

    What sort of things have been banned from your workplace, if anything?
    Fun
    Enjoyment in doing my job
    Pay rises (none since '07)
    Motivation
    Workers' rights (no union)
    Ambition


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,180 ✭✭✭hfallada


    In my last job which was retail. We were told that perfume and aftershave was banned. But we had to wear deo. A manager also told one of the girls to remove her red lipstick as she couldnt look like a whore on the floor floor. There literally 3 peoples are things, we could have/do in work and things we had to do like wear Deo, a t-shirt that when women lifted their arms, side boobs could not be seen(same manager tested it on one of the girls).


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  • Site Banned Posts: 777 ✭✭✭Youngblood.III


    Having an opinion, oh...no we cannot have that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 760 ✭✭✭Desolation Of Smug


    Our place has banned moaning about the music being too loud. That is one of the main reasons I still look forward to going into work there.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,395 ✭✭✭✭mikemac1


    Yurt wrote: »
    Is this the same company in Dublin Citi that im thinking off ?

    If you need a key to the door on the North wall of your house it may well be ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,745 ✭✭✭pawrick


    Cool_CM wrote: »
    Not banned, but a company that I used to
    work for specified in their employee handbook that all employees had to wear underwear whilst at work. I'd love to know the story behind what caused it!

    I worked in an office where this was an issue re see through summer dresses. Some girl went commando and had to be asked to go home and change. I don't think she realised just how see through her dress was but wearing white didn't help.


  • Site Banned Posts: 777 ✭✭✭Youngblood.III


    uch wrote: »
    There's a Bedroom in the office I work in, in case you need 40 winks, great on a Monday when dying with a sore head

    Is this a Revenue building ;-)


  • Site Banned Posts: 777 ✭✭✭Youngblood.III


    Back in the 90s was workplace bliss, been totally pissed, stoned, late for work, sleeping on the job, fighting, doing no work was ......OK.

    I was even told told by my boss, there's a great spot to snooze up into the plant room!!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,893 ✭✭✭Canis Lupus


    :eek: *Retrieves monocle from champagne* People wear uncollared shirts!?

    Probably insists tshirts are tucked in as well.


  • Posts: 24,714 [Deleted User]


    Valetta wrote: »
    Agree.

    Offices are for work, not listening to the radio.

    Listening to music is far better for concentrating on work than listening to 20 random background conversations happening around the office. There is no way I could have written a thesis without headphones and music.
    axel rose wrote: »
    To those of you who use earphones- how can you hear the phone ring, or a colleagues query?

    My job doesn't involve answering the phone, I think I've had two work related calls to my desk phone in the last 6 years. If someone wants me and I've headphones in they kick my chair, throw something at me or wave in front of me if they are being extra polite. If I want someone who listening to music it's vice versa. People are far too polite that's the issue, so what if someone can't hear you get their attention in another way.

    I would crack up if I couldn't listen to music at work, it's so ingrained in me at this stage I couldn't even comprehend doing without it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,108 ✭✭✭Electric Sheep


    Fishyfreak wrote: »
    Toasters banned. One clever guy tried to bring in a George Foreman, it lasted a week.

    One colleague wore his "I found jesus........he was behind the sofa" t-shirt one day, also banned.

    THE MONSTERS!!!

    Yeah, we have the toaster ban too, I hate it! One lady brought one in and hid it in the closet in the kitchen, but it got confiscated.

    The annoying thing is that this ban is only on my floor, the other floors are allowed toasters!


  • Registered Users Posts: 71 ✭✭Golaco


    uch wrote: »
    There's a Bedroom in the office I work in, in case you need 40 winks, great on a Monday when dying with a sore head

    IKEA?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,567 ✭✭✭Squeeonline


    Tilly wrote: »
    I wish they would ban this radio in the office. I work with someone who hums EVERY FÚCKING SONG :mad:

    I've got it worse. My colleague whistles. And when asked to stop, she proclaims that she can't help it. I swear she does it just to piss me off now. Also she has a terrible taste in music, and will whistle the same little bit of a crappy song for an entire week, even when listening to other crap music.


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