New employer has too many rules, not comfortable, need Advice

Errata

f1621688 wrote: »

Hello,
I work in IT as a computer programmer (experienced). My past (four) employers in this sector have had usually lax policies about dress codes, work times etc, as long as you are good at what you do and get the job done.

I have just started a new job and am finding the company has many 'rules' that seem a little arbitrary to me.

Heres the list so far:

Firstly I was told I am not allowed to eat at my desk, not even a sandwich or pack of crisps.
Because crumbs get in the kit and you don;t need to eat at your desk
Then I was told I am not allowed to drink tea from a ceramic cup - when I got my own cup. You are supposed to use the company provided paper cups, put a lid on it at all times.
Because unlidded drink containers can fall over and spill their contents in the kit

Then I was told I am not allowed to wear dark blue jeans, only black jeans or trousers (any colour) - I normally dark blue jeans and a light blue shirt.Company wants dress code uniformity

I am also told that I cannot use my creative abilities to modify the software code, I have to stick with the flow etc.What's the problem with being told what to do?

It seems the rules were made the MD who sits in the same office. Most people either don't mind or have told me if the MD says it there is not much you can do to argue.His bat and ball, his rules. He runs a successful business, you're a code monkey

There seems to be a sense of hierarchy in the company. Certain individuals or groups are treated as being above others.More experience? More sense?

I am finding myself feeling increasingly uncomfortable thinking about this. I feel like i've been put in a tiny box. I am not sure what to do. So using this forum to get some perspective and advice from others who may have experienced such a workplace environment. I haven't.

I'm on a 3 month probation, its just been 2 weeks.

Welcome to the world of real work.

Undervalued

Marktheshark wrote: »

If you look at the Calender you will see it is 2015 and we have a Tory lead Government that is about to walk the election due to inept opposition (much to my Disdain.
If you are lucky enough to have a real job outside one of the many schemes and wage avoidance scams you keep your trap shut and head down.

I know you can't resist exuding this Marxists claptrap at every opportunity but I can't think of a single thing the current government has done that that in any way affects the OP's issues.

The only significant changes to employment law have been putting the unfair dismissal qualifying period back up to two years and introducing tribunal charges. Neither of which are an any way relevant to the OP's current concerns.

It is worth remembering that there was a two year UD qualification in the fairly recent past even under a Labour government.

Zero hour contracts (again not relevant here) have existed for as long as I can remember as has an employer's right to insist on ALL of the rules the OP dislikes.

By the way it is Calendar! A calender is a machine for smoothing paper and fabric!

f1621688

To clarify some points. I work in the creative industries where I am required to engineer software solutions. In my experience the work culture has always been easy going. I was hired for skills based on interview which was for making architecture level changes to software, I told them I enjoy that sort of work. Now I am being told that those kind of changes require permissions or are done by another team etc.

I wore the same dress during interview and I was not told all these things before I took up employment. If I had been, I would have looked elsewhere. At the interview they were very eager for me to join them.

During the interview a large set of skills are requested of you, you should be able to do this, do that etc then after hire they want you to be a code monkey. I feel frustrated.

Undervalued

f1621688 wrote: »

I feel frustrated.

I can understand that but they are not doing anything unlawful. If you can't negotiate a solution then the only alternative is find somewhere else to work that has an culture more to your liking.

Edinburgh65

I don't see anything wrong with these rules either, especially the eating and drinking ones when you are working in IT, and might spill liquids or drop crumbs into kit as others have said (I once spilled a glass of wine into a keyboard at an office party).

I wouldn't be too hasty if I was you, working life can get a whole lot worse than this.

Errata

f1621688 wrote: »

To clarify some points. I work in the creative industries where I am required to engineer software solutions. In my experience the work culture has always been easy going. I was hired for skills based on interview which was for making architecture level changes to software, I told them I enjoy that sort of work. Now I am being told that those kind of changes require permissions or are done by another team etc.

I wore the same dress during interview and I was not told all these things before I took up employment. If I had been, I would have looked elsewhere. At the interview they were very eager for me to join them.

During the interview a large set of skills are requested of you, you should be able to do this, do that etc then after hire they want you to be a code monkey. I feel frustrated.

Of course changes need someone to agree them, it's called line management whether you're working for a 'creative industry' whatever that means, or NASA.
For goodness sake, all the things you're moaning about are a given in most workplaces and that's why they don't get mentioned at interview.

pathtofreedom

f1621688 wrote: »

Hello,
I am also told that I cannot use my creative abilities to modify the software code, I have to stick with the flow etc.

I'm on a 3 month probation, its just been 2 weeks.

What sort of programming? What sort of clients? Were your old places of work the same level of client or are you moving up in the world? If you're just doing little non fuctional websites then it is a lot easier to just put what you want in the code. If you're working on high availability, mission critical systems internet facing or not you can't just change code without it going through a process as you could introduce vunerabilties they have spent years coding out. There will be methodoliges like agile or whatever to suggest updates which would then need to go through dev / uat testing etc before being put live.

It sounds from what you've said you've worked for much smaller companies before where the work wasn't as structured. So if you want to get bigger bucks you need to learn how team development works more.

Also you're not just on a 3 month probation, you might get more perks after 3 months but if this is a permanent job and not a fixed term contract, then until you have worked somewhere for 2 years you can be let go for no reason as long as it isn't for protected ones like race, sex, disability etc.

When you had your interview did you ask them things like dress code and try and find out more about the style of the office? Some places are a lot more friendly and play up on that energy by having a lot more team activites etc, some are more corporate and even if you're not customer facing expect a certain professional style. Especially if you're working in a sector such as finance or defence or something with extra regulatory obligations which your code will have to meet. Also in turn be more worried about health and saftey, eg not spilling hot coffee by having to have cups with lids etc. If you work somewhere that has more internal / external audits they try harder to stick to a lot more rules you might find irrelevant to your day to day work.

If you don't like the corporate vibe there I think you're better off looking somewhere else, and really thinking what kind of sector you want to work for. Maybe something more media based than corporate might suit you better and research the company ethos etc and ask about it at interview to make sure you're more of a fit. If you have the technical skills you can work in lots of different places it is just finding one that suits your style as well.

pathtofreedom

Also you have only been there 2 weeks, they aren't going to see you as some quirky genius in that time who doesn't have to comply with any rules. If you intend to stay see what others do, do they have more flexible working? How hard did they work to earn that? Did they do a lot of out of hours changes or what.

We're in a recession right now so you need them a lot more than they need you no matter how good a coder you are. So if you can't see anyone getting any flexi time why should they allow it to you who has been there 2 weeks?

tomtontom

I can't believe someone would get so "frustrated" over such trivial issues!

getmore4less

Did you not have a look round the office and ask about work conditions?