One strict rule I have at work is: you can ignore any process if you know, what the process entails and why it was implemented. Also, you have to deal with the consequences for not following process.
Helps to keep tasks flowing.
It’s an unfortunately rare skill set to change documents. If the way it’s being done is better than the document, there is a process to make the document match, but that idea seems to not even occur to most of my coworkers, across multiple industries in my couple of decades working.
I have filled out so many change review forms justification field “updating document to match existing practice. No process change.” Boss always signs.
Depends what it is…
For non-tangible tasks (software/business processes). Yeah, whatever. They tend to not keep up with technology or an office change or whatever. Just update and move on.
For physical tasks, the process might be what it is to pass an audit or more importantly for safety. Workers want to do it in a non-compliant way cause it ‘works’ and takes half the time. Especially for safety reasons that’s a failure on management not enforcing it.
I work in manufacturing, lots of physical tasks. The work instructions for the physical tasks get out of date with control system and physical machine changes just as much as the non-tangible type work documents.
I have found work instructions that (succintly, no essays) explain when something is a safety protection, or affects quality, are more effective. Most workers want to make a good product, and are genuinely trying to be helpful by making a change, but might not have visibility to the full impact. Explanations can also help reduce change fear: often managers won’t approve change because they don’t know why a rule exists, but are afraid it’s important. Having the explanation right there with the rule can help reasonable arguments prevail over fear.
Will you be my co-worker?
Aw, thanks. I hope you gain a document savvy coworker!
Employee: “Change thing for (cost savings, expediency, safety)!
Management: (if they reply at all) “No. Do it the way we have always done it. Change is expensive.”
If you know why the rules exist then you know when they can be disregarded.
Oh it’s easy;
Does doing it the correct way increase your workload but make the business more profitable in the short term? Do it the correct way.
Does doing it the correct way preserve your safety at the cost of operating efficiency? Do it the incorrect way.
The second kind of unfollowed rule is there as a liability shield, it’s so that if you get hurt the business can claim you weren’t following your mandatory training and they aren’t liable.
But if people did follow it then they would get a kind word from their supervisor saying we don’t have the time for that even if it is in the official training. Because the supervisor themselves is in a worse bind, they have to tell management that the new liability shield is being followed as it won’t work otherwise, but they are on the hook for the productivity of their team in such a way that they can’t allow people to follow the slow process.
actually this *
Sooo… you’ve replied to the same comment you said you had incorrectly replied to.
We will spare his pain for now.
this.
edit - oh damn i meant “this” to the comment above, the one this comment was replying to.
I’ve heard that this could also used as a defence for companies, “we told them not to do it that way so it’s clearly not our fault(sure we might have added some winks when we said that but that was just dry air, honest)”.
Yeah this happened to me and then I got fired for doing things that way.
Wasn’t supposed to use a certain cleaner on the floor. Was specifically told by a veteran employee to use it anyway, as it’s the only thing that works. Used it. Got yelled at. Didn’t use it the next time, got yelled at for the floor not being clean. Got fired.
My first job was at a convenience store. I was told I was allowed to wear black or tan pants and the company provided shirt.
The first time I wore a new pair of black pants there I was told to wash the floors. I was given a bucket of water and a bottle of bleach to do so. I’d never heard of bleach before.
Turns out that pouring bleach onto the floor from shoulder level isn’t a great idea when wearing brand new black pants. Your mom might get upset with you and the results. Or she might blame the manufacturer and you might be too scared to fess up.
… Not that I would know.
Used it. Got yelled at.
At this point, if you don’t feel comfortable to tell them why and the consequences of doing what they ask of you, then you might want to start finding another place, because the subsequent events are inevitable.
Jeez. Learn to follow instructions!
I’ve got a guy who is amazing, but he’s not allowed to teach noobs. In fact, I tell them to not even look at him, and if they do, don’t do ANYTHING he does. I gave up on trying to correct him a long time ago.
I usually show the correct method a couple of times for context, make sure they understand, then use the shortcut going forward. At least when they fuck up they know how to fix it properly.
Just don’t skimp on safety.
Hahahahahahah
I’m currently dealing with the opposite and it’s actually quite frustrating.
One of the products we sell are chicken wraps and my trainer acts like if I don’t assemble the wrap the exact same way in the exact same order every time the world will end.
The world won’t end. Karen will end you if her wrap doesn’t look like the picture, though.
Literally today me
yep, me last night
But first, me two days ago
we are truly the backbone of the economy
Hahaha. Yeah, I know how not to fuck up now they don’t.
Applies to every industry. Welcome to humans!
