Supervisor Enforces Stupid Rule, Goes Pale When It Affects The Boss: “Chief Executive Officer!?”

If your workplace enforces a rule that seems completely pointless, you have two options—fight it or follow it to the letter to prove a point.

This Redditor chose the latter. As a security guard, he was instructed to keep employees from using the main entrance and direct them elsewhere. No exceptions. So, he did exactly that, even when the person standing at the door was none other than the CEO himself.

Read the full story below.

The security guard was instructed not to let employees through the main entrance

Security worker standing by a gate, in compliance with rules.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)

So he did just that, even when the person standing at the door was the CEO

Worker enforces rule, blocking CEO's building entry, text story on malicious compliance in security setting.

Text showing worker's story about a hospital entrance rule and confusion.

Text outlining a policy for staff to use the West entrance, highlighting a management decision.

Text describing employee's instructions to ensure staff uses West entrance and list those who refuse.

Turnstile in an office entrance, illustrating compliance with a company rule.

Image credits: user20119892 (not the actual image)

Text description related to malicious compliance with management rules.

Text excerpt discussing a worker's experience with security tasks and inefficient entrance posting.

A suited man leads businesspeople, ID badge visible, speaking with enthusiasm toward a main entrance.

Text exchange about using the west entrance due to hospital policy, highlighting worker's compliance with a rule.

Worker follows rule, notes names for supervisor, as person points to door, holding ID badge awkwardly.

Security officer patting down a worker in a suit at a checkpoint, highlighting compliance with workplace rules.

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual image)

Text describing a worker maliciously complying with a frustrating rule and interacting with a security supervisor.

Supervisor questioning a worker about a list, highlighting CEO incident.

Supervisor shocked after worker complies, making CEO look foolish.

Text from a story about a worker's compliance leading to embarrassment for a CEO.

Office workers and nurses discussing in a modern hallway, highlighting workplace dynamics and compliance issues.

Image credits: wavebreakmedia_micro (not the actual image)

Text screenshot about policy change causing CEO embarrassment at hospital entrance.

Text about compliance with a rule, leading to a CEO learning a lesson.

Image credits: Infinite-Salary5861

“One of the strangest jobs ever”

Curious to learn more about what it’s like working hospital security, especially in a place no stranger to danger, Bored Panda reached out to the author of the post, u/Infinite-Salary5861. He described it as “one of the strangest jobs ever.”

“If you’re the night shift guy like I was, it’s long periods of idleness and boredom with brief interruptions of excitement,” he explained.

Though that version of excitement might not be what most people imagine. “Sometimes it involves restraining a combative patient. Or finding a missing psych or dementia patient who wandered off,” OP shared. “Sometimes you assist with lifting a bariatric patient. Sometimes you’re chasing off someone caught performing a lewd act in public (again).”

Other times, things could be far more disturbing. “Every single night we were called to unlock the morgue for a patient who passed away,” he recalled. “This was before and during the COVID pandemic. Sometimes it was a child. Sometimes you’re called to break up a fight between family members when a loved one passes away and they begin to blame each other for the accident that caused the death.”

According to OP, the role was a chaotic mix of hilarious and heart-breaking moments, either of which could happen in a single shift.

Ultimately, he left the job because the pay didn’t reflect the risks. “I was armed and expected to use deadly force in the event of a mass shooter. Meanwhile, the literal mall cops across town were making more money and had no expectation of putting themselves in danger,” he said.

As inflation took its toll, he found himself living paycheck to paycheck. And ironically, despite spending his days in a hospital, he had no health insurance of his own. “I left that job in 2022. I’m still doing security work, but at a much higher level and for much better pay. I make six figures now and have health insurance.”

Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)

Expert advice on how to cope with dumb rules at work

We’re glad OP found a job that values his skills and pays him what he deserves. But not everyone is so lucky, and even in the best workplaces, there will be times when things don’t go our way. Sometimes, that frustration comes in the form of pointless rules.

If you’re not in management, it might feel like you have no power to challenge these rules. However, Liz Ryan, founder and CEO of the consulting firm Human Workplace, shared several strategies in Forbes on how to navigate them. Here are some takeaways:

When you come across a rule in your company’s handbook or policy manual that doesn’t make sense, ask about it. “I was an HR leader, and luckily my co-workers questioned our policies all the time. Their questions got me to say, ‘Wait, this policy is dumb. Let’s scrap it,’” she explained. Unless challenged, people tend to keep doing things just because that’s how it’s always been done.

Do your research. If your company enacts a rule that horrifies you and your co-workers, dig into its background. Use your internet sleuthing skills: read blogs, listen to podcasts, and find expert opinions on the topic. This will help you build a case for reviewing, revising, or getting rid of the policy.

This next approach might raise some eyebrows, but Liz also suggests breaking company rules that don’t make sense—within reason. “It goes without saying that you cannot break the law, put yourself or anyone else in danger, skip or cut corners on any process that is subject to regulatory control, or mess with anybody’s money. Beyond that, rule-bending is a principal way that bad rules eventually get changed,” she says.

While it’s great to have your manager’s or boss’s support in pushing for change, Liz reminds us that they might not be willing to speak up publicly, even if they express interest privately. That doesn’t mean you should give up. Instead, consider gathering like-minded coworkers to put together a proposal and bring it to HR.

Don’t just point out that a rule is bad. Suggest a better alternative. This gives you a head start and allows you to brainstorm with others to find a workable solution.

Also, keep in mind that some company policies or unwritten “guidelines” may actually violate the law. “There is a tremendous amount of information available online about wage and hour laws, employment discrimination laws, and other laws that affect working people,” Liz points out. “If your company’s rules break the law, that’s a great reason to talk with HR—not as an adversary, but as someone who wants to see them abiding by employment laws and staying out of trouble.”

But if all else fails, it might be time to make an exit plan. “Everybody knows how painful it is to listen to a smart and capable full-grown person complain about their job as though they were rooted in place and couldn’t possibly make a change. You don’t want to be that person!” Liz insists. “A company that runs on ancient, petty rules is not a place for a brilliant person like you to waste any more time in. If your company’s culture is sucking your mojo away, why not start planning your escape right now?”

Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)

In the comments, the author shared more context

Reddit thread discussing what defines an "Emotionally Disturbed Person" or EDP.

Text conversation about armed hospital security and gang violence.

Text exchange discussing compliance with a dumb rule, questioning if the policy writer was fired.

But readers couldn’t get over the epic power move he pulled

Text on a forum about a "Chief Something Officer" jokingly discussing a CSO acronym, with humor about work rules.

Reddit comment criticizing a policy, referencing CEO and worker's predicament.

Text screenshot discussing dumb rule compliance and CEO.

Comment about malicious compliance making the CEO look foolish.

Reddit comment discussing investor impressions on upholding security policies and rules.

CEO questioned dumb rule, security officer praised for compliance despite foolishness.

Text exchange showing a worker's malicious compliance with a rule, leading to an unexpected response from the CEO.

Comment discussing hotel owner's legal issue over firing worker.

Text exchange about hospital food issues leading to private room upgrade.

Text describing a worker's experience with new security rules after a senator's visit.

Reddit comment praising malicious compliance and mocking CEO's reaction to a worker's actions.

Text post sharing a story about a worker complying with a rule, leading to unexpected praise from a CEO-like figure.

Text conversation about a school memo on visible IDs, highlighting a superintendent not following rules.

A text post recounts a security incident at a NASCAR event involving a governor and a badge rule.

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