Thanks for completing our questionnaire about policies, procedures, and rules that drive you crazy at work.
We're looking for utterly stupid policies, procedures, and rules that make it harder for people to do their work well. They stand in the way of serving customers, or end up costing the organization when they're supposed to save money. They act like pebbles in the shoes of employees trying to do a good job. After a while, they wear us down and cause us all to give a little bit less of ourselves to our work.
Example: a company had a policy that any expense for which an employee wanted reimbursement had to be paid by company credit card. Their salespeople in Manhattan liked to grab a quick hot dog from a street vendor for lunch. But hot dog stands don't take credit cards. In order to get reimbursed, the salespeople ended up eating in more expensive, sit-down restaurants.
We'll read all of the responses, and we may use some in helping clients and readers understand how to eliminate these kinds of practices, to make their workforces more effective.
We're not interested in getting anyone in hot water. You don't need to identify yourself, the organization you're describing, or anything else that might make you uncomfortable.
The deadline for entries is January 31, 2014. The next day, we'll hold a random drawing, and two winners will receive one copy each of any of our 3 books that are currently available. We'll ask only for your email address in the questionnaire. Winners will be notified, and we'll get their names and other contact information then.
Thanks for your help!
Richard Hadden
Bill Catlette