Employers' Policies That Don't Make Sense!

Have you ever wondered why employers' policies don't make any sense? That's because they make their own rules and policies. Here are three of my favorites:

1) You must produce a doctor's note when you return to work if you're sick, otherwise your absence is unauthorized. This is General Motors policy. According to this policy, if you have the flu, you have to spend $40 for the doctor to say, get plenty of rest and drink lots of liquids. Do you really need to go to the doctor and pay $40 to hear this? Oh, I forgot, you need the doctor's note to give to your supervisor, because your employer doesn't trust you.

2) If you call off twice in 30 days, you're fired. (Calling off for those of you out there who don't know what "calling off" means, it is notifying your supervisor that you're sick, or you have an emergency and you won't be coming in.) This is a Dunbar Armored policy. Is that 30 calendar days or 30 business days? So, if I have 2 separate emergencies, which I have no control over, you're fired. That's a hell of a thread to be hanging from.

3) A three (3) to five (5) day bereavement policy is standard in most employee handbooks. If you lost your child in a devastating accident, would that be enough time to regroup, gather your thoughts and get back to work? This is how employers deal with employees who are hit with unforeseeable and isolated crisis. They don't care about the practicality of their rules, they have a business to run.

Have you come across a few impractical policies at work?