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Spoken, but unwritten. Followed, by most. Options?
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I've been working in Iowa for a privately held company for over 4 years now as a salaried employee.
For the last 2 1/2 years, I have had a photo of my daughter at my desk. Our cubes / desks are in a quiet office where we work with software.
I was recently told by my manager to take down the picture, because employee's are not allowed to have them on their desk.
This is an unwritten rule, and various others throughout the company have pictures of their children at their desks.
What are my options, if any? How can I communicate effectively that I do not understand why I am being required to remove the picture?
company-policy politics termination
edited Jun 11 '13 at 14:23
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
asked Jun 10 '13 at 19:58
Erked
584
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
I've been working in Iowa for a privately held company for over 4 years now as a salaried employee.
For the last 2 1/2 years, I have had a photo of my daughter at my desk. Our cubes / desks are in a quiet office where we work with software.
I was recently told by my manager to take down the picture, because employee's are not allowed to have them on their desk.
This is an unwritten rule, and various others throughout the company have pictures of their children at their desks.
What are my options, if any? How can I communicate effectively that I do not understand why I am being required to remove the picture?
company-policy politics termination
edited Jun 11 '13 at 14:23
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
asked Jun 10 '13 at 19:58
Erked
584
4
Told by whom? Did you point out that other people have pictures on their desks?
– kevin cline
Jun 10 '13 at 20:07
@kevincline Edited OP - my manager. I mentioned this and was told "they shouldnt"
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:08
@JoeStrazzere Changed departments, different mgr who is more strict about unwritten policy. So it seems the answer is employers can enforce any request so long as it is somewhat within reason.
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:24
1
Welcome to the Workplace Erked. Generally speaking, "Is there a law that...?" questions aren't the best fit for here. Rephrasing it to focus on your first question ("What are my options?") would make it a better fit and get you better responses.
– jmac
Jun 10 '13 at 23:12
3
Why is this closed as too localized? While the specific situation here might apply to the OP, I have heard of similar things happening in many places. Voting to reopen.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jun 11 '13 at 13:09
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
I've been working in Iowa for a privately held company for over 4 years now as a salaried employee.
For the last 2 1/2 years, I have had a photo of my daughter at my desk. Our cubes / desks are in a quiet office where we work with software.
I was recently told by my manager to take down the picture, because employee's are not allowed to have them on their desk.
This is an unwritten rule, and various others throughout the company have pictures of their children at their desks.
What are my options, if any? How can I communicate effectively that I do not understand why I am being required to remove the picture?
company-policy politics termination
edited Jun 11 '13 at 14:23
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
asked Jun 10 '13 at 19:58
Erked
584
I've been working in Iowa for a privately held company for over 4 years now as a salaried employee.
For the last 2 1/2 years, I have had a photo of my daughter at my desk. Our cubes / desks are in a quiet office where we work with software.
I was recently told by my manager to take down the picture, because employee's are not allowed to have them on their desk.
This is an unwritten rule, and various others throughout the company have pictures of their children at their desks.
What are my options, if any? How can I communicate effectively that I do not understand why I am being required to remove the picture?
company-policy politics termination
edited Jun 11 '13 at 14:23
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
asked Jun 10 '13 at 19:58
Erked
584
edited Jun 11 '13 at 14:23
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
edited Jun 11 '13 at 14:23
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
edited Jun 11 '13 at 14:23
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
43.9k1398188
asked Jun 10 '13 at 19:58
Erked
584
asked Jun 10 '13 at 19:58
Erked
584
asked Jun 10 '13 at 19:58
Erked
584
584
4
Told by whom? Did you point out that other people have pictures on their desks?
– kevin cline
Jun 10 '13 at 20:07
@kevincline Edited OP - my manager. I mentioned this and was told "they shouldnt"
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:08
@JoeStrazzere Changed departments, different mgr who is more strict about unwritten policy. So it seems the answer is employers can enforce any request so long as it is somewhat within reason.
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:24
1
Welcome to the Workplace Erked. Generally speaking, "Is there a law that...?" questions aren't the best fit for here. Rephrasing it to focus on your first question ("What are my options?") would make it a better fit and get you better responses.
– jmac
Jun 10 '13 at 23:12
3
Why is this closed as too localized? While the specific situation here might apply to the OP, I have heard of similar things happening in many places. Voting to reopen.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jun 11 '13 at 13:09
 |Â
show 2 more comments
4
Told by whom? Did you point out that other people have pictures on their desks?
– kevin cline
Jun 10 '13 at 20:07
@kevincline Edited OP - my manager. I mentioned this and was told "they shouldnt"
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:08
@JoeStrazzere Changed departments, different mgr who is more strict about unwritten policy. So it seems the answer is employers can enforce any request so long as it is somewhat within reason.
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:24
1
Welcome to the Workplace Erked. Generally speaking, "Is there a law that...?" questions aren't the best fit for here. Rephrasing it to focus on your first question ("What are my options?") would make it a better fit and get you better responses.
– jmac
Jun 10 '13 at 23:12
3
Why is this closed as too localized? While the specific situation here might apply to the OP, I have heard of similar things happening in many places. Voting to reopen.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jun 11 '13 at 13:09
4
4
Told by whom? Did you point out that other people have pictures on their desks?
– kevin cline
Jun 10 '13 at 20:07
Told by whom? Did you point out that other people have pictures on their desks?
– kevin cline
Jun 10 '13 at 20:07
@kevincline Edited OP - my manager. I mentioned this and was told "they shouldnt"
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:08
@kevincline Edited OP - my manager. I mentioned this and was told "they shouldnt"
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:08
@JoeStrazzere Changed departments, different mgr who is more strict about unwritten policy. So it seems the answer is employers can enforce any request so long as it is somewhat within reason.
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:24
@JoeStrazzere Changed departments, different mgr who is more strict about unwritten policy. So it seems the answer is employers can enforce any request so long as it is somewhat within reason.
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:24
1
1
Welcome to the Workplace Erked. Generally speaking, "Is there a law that...?" questions aren't the best fit for here. Rephrasing it to focus on your first question ("What are my options?") would make it a better fit and get you better responses.
– jmac
Jun 10 '13 at 23:12
Welcome to the Workplace Erked. Generally speaking, "Is there a law that...?" questions aren't the best fit for here. Rephrasing it to focus on your first question ("What are my options?") would make it a better fit and get you better responses.
– jmac
Jun 10 '13 at 23:12
3
3
Why is this closed as too localized? While the specific situation here might apply to the OP, I have heard of similar things happening in many places. Voting to reopen.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jun 11 '13 at 13:09
Why is this closed as too localized? While the specific situation here might apply to the OP, I have heard of similar things happening in many places. Voting to reopen.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jun 11 '13 at 13:09
 |Â
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
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oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
accepted
In general, employment in the United States is "at will". That means that barring a situation where an employer is violating some anti-discrimination law, either the employer or the employee can terminate employment at any time for any reason. Unless the employer is doing something like allowing employees of one race/ gender/ religion to have photographs and barring others from doing so or the employer is creating rules just for you as a pretext to discriminate, it's well within the employer's rights to create stupid policies and to enforce them (even imperfectly).
Of course, most employers recognize that just because they can create stupid policies, that is no reason to go out and do so. Allowing employees to do a bit of personalization of their environment generally makes them happier and more productive and doesn't generally cost the employer anything. It may be worth asking your manager to explain why the policy exists and seeing if the policy can be changed. Perhaps there were problems in the past where employees were going crazy decorating their offices/ cubicles to the point that it was creating a fire hazard or infringing on their ability to get work done with decorations on every surface. If that's the case, the company should be willing to change the policy to allow a couple of family photos and other incidentals.
answered Jun 10 '13 at 20:28
Justin Cave
34.9k9112136
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
accepted
In general, employment in the United States is "at will". That means that barring a situation where an employer is violating some anti-discrimination law, either the employer or the employee can terminate employment at any time for any reason. Unless the employer is doing something like allowing employees of one race/ gender/ religion to have photographs and barring others from doing so or the employer is creating rules just for you as a pretext to discriminate, it's well within the employer's rights to create stupid policies and to enforce them (even imperfectly).
Of course, most employers recognize that just because they can create stupid policies, that is no reason to go out and do so. Allowing employees to do a bit of personalization of their environment generally makes them happier and more productive and doesn't generally cost the employer anything. It may be worth asking your manager to explain why the policy exists and seeing if the policy can be changed. Perhaps there were problems in the past where employees were going crazy decorating their offices/ cubicles to the point that it was creating a fire hazard or infringing on their ability to get work done with decorations on every surface. If that's the case, the company should be willing to change the policy to allow a couple of family photos and other incidentals.
answered Jun 10 '13 at 20:28
Justin Cave
34.9k9112136
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
accepted
In general, employment in the United States is "at will". That means that barring a situation where an employer is violating some anti-discrimination law, either the employer or the employee can terminate employment at any time for any reason. Unless the employer is doing something like allowing employees of one race/ gender/ religion to have photographs and barring others from doing so or the employer is creating rules just for you as a pretext to discriminate, it's well within the employer's rights to create stupid policies and to enforce them (even imperfectly).
Of course, most employers recognize that just because they can create stupid policies, that is no reason to go out and do so. Allowing employees to do a bit of personalization of their environment generally makes them happier and more productive and doesn't generally cost the employer anything. It may be worth asking your manager to explain why the policy exists and seeing if the policy can be changed. Perhaps there were problems in the past where employees were going crazy decorating their offices/ cubicles to the point that it was creating a fire hazard or infringing on their ability to get work done with decorations on every surface. If that's the case, the company should be willing to change the policy to allow a couple of family photos and other incidentals.
answered Jun 10 '13 at 20:28
Justin Cave
34.9k9112136
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
accepted
up vote
10
down vote
accepted
In general, employment in the United States is "at will". That means that barring a situation where an employer is violating some anti-discrimination law, either the employer or the employee can terminate employment at any time for any reason. Unless the employer is doing something like allowing employees of one race/ gender/ religion to have photographs and barring others from doing so or the employer is creating rules just for you as a pretext to discriminate, it's well within the employer's rights to create stupid policies and to enforce them (even imperfectly).
Of course, most employers recognize that just because they can create stupid policies, that is no reason to go out and do so. Allowing employees to do a bit of personalization of their environment generally makes them happier and more productive and doesn't generally cost the employer anything. It may be worth asking your manager to explain why the policy exists and seeing if the policy can be changed. Perhaps there were problems in the past where employees were going crazy decorating their offices/ cubicles to the point that it was creating a fire hazard or infringing on their ability to get work done with decorations on every surface. If that's the case, the company should be willing to change the policy to allow a couple of family photos and other incidentals.
answered Jun 10 '13 at 20:28
Justin Cave
34.9k9112136
In general, employment in the United States is "at will". That means that barring a situation where an employer is violating some anti-discrimination law, either the employer or the employee can terminate employment at any time for any reason. Unless the employer is doing something like allowing employees of one race/ gender/ religion to have photographs and barring others from doing so or the employer is creating rules just for you as a pretext to discriminate, it's well within the employer's rights to create stupid policies and to enforce them (even imperfectly).
Of course, most employers recognize that just because they can create stupid policies, that is no reason to go out and do so. Allowing employees to do a bit of personalization of their environment generally makes them happier and more productive and doesn't generally cost the employer anything. It may be worth asking your manager to explain why the policy exists and seeing if the policy can be changed. Perhaps there were problems in the past where employees were going crazy decorating their offices/ cubicles to the point that it was creating a fire hazard or infringing on their ability to get work done with decorations on every surface. If that's the case, the company should be willing to change the policy to allow a couple of family photos and other incidentals.
answered Jun 10 '13 at 20:28
Justin Cave
34.9k9112136
answered Jun 10 '13 at 20:28
Justin Cave
34.9k9112136
answered Jun 10 '13 at 20:28
Justin Cave
34.9k9112136
answered Jun 10 '13 at 20:28
Justin Cave
34.9k9112136
34.9k9112136
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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4
Told by whom? Did you point out that other people have pictures on their desks?
– kevin cline
Jun 10 '13 at 20:07
@kevincline Edited OP - my manager. I mentioned this and was told "they shouldnt"
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:08
@JoeStrazzere Changed departments, different mgr who is more strict about unwritten policy. So it seems the answer is employers can enforce any request so long as it is somewhat within reason.
– Erked
Jun 10 '13 at 20:24
1
Welcome to the Workplace Erked. Generally speaking, "Is there a law that...?" questions aren't the best fit for here. Rephrasing it to focus on your first question ("What are my options?") would make it a better fit and get you better responses.
– jmac
Jun 10 '13 at 23:12
3
Why is this closed as too localized? While the specific situation here might apply to the OP, I have heard of similar things happening in many places. Voting to reopen.
– Elysian Fields♦
Jun 11 '13 at 13:09