Rules are meant to bring order—but sometimes they just bring chaos. These stories show what happens when employees take bad rules literally:

A manager paranoid about “the cloud” demanded every file be printed, leading to a fire marshal discovering a dangerously overstuffed archive room. A director required all emails to CC management, and one programmer’s strict compliance crashed the CEO’s inbox. A “corporate efficiency specialist” created a bizarre office caste system, restricting things like coffee mugs and lunch breaks based on rank.

A black shoe dress code inspired the entire office to show up in giant squeaky clown shoes. A call center supervisor demanded exact script reading—until a rep’s robotic compliance embarrassed her into reversing the rule. A bathroom sign-in rule devolved into a log filled with names like Napoleon and Cleopatra.

A boss who required text permission between jobs was forced to personally handle a furious client after ignoring an employee’s request. Forced identical music rules led to an entire warehouse Rickrolling their CEO, in chaotic disharmony. A remote boss’ constant webcam rule gave the whole company an unwanted front-row seat to diaper duty.

A “clean desk” policy caused an injury claim when an employee’s proper ergonomic gear was banned. A strict water rationing rule collapsed under the weight of mountains of required paperwork.

These tales prove one thing: when leaders make ridiculous rules, employees will follow them—and expose just how foolish they really are.