work to rule
Strategic strict adherence
Work to rule is a form of labor protest in which employees do exactly what their contract requires—nothing more—following every procedure to the letter while refusing overtime, extra tasks, or informal cooperation that normally keeps things running smoothly.
Unlike a strike, workers remain on the job but deliberately slow productivity by adhering rigidly to official rules.
The nurses announced they would work to rule until management addressed staffing concerns.
- go-slowDeliberate work deceleration
- by the bookFollowing established procedures exactly
- letter of the lawExact statutory language
- malicious complianceHarmful adherence to instructions
- job actionOrganized work stoppage
union action · blue flu · passive resistance · protest · shop floor · compliance · boycott · contractual obligations · toe the line · factory · employee morale · operational efficiency · labor law · labor relations · collective bargaining · rulebook · collective agreement · grievance procedure
- labor strikeswalkouts, walkout, picket lines, strike action, coal strike
- labor unionsunion dues, trade union, union membership, labor union, union shops
- labor relationslabor relations, labor disputes, collective agreement, union elections, bargaining
- strikesgeneral strike, labor strike, wildcat strike, strike action, walkout
work to rulestrike
Forceful impact or stoppage
walkout · wildcat strike · work stoppage · sit-down strike · general strike
work to rulego the extra mile
Surpass what's asked
go above and beyond · bend the rules · cut corners · defy · disobey
work, rule, worker, working, works, workers, worked, workday, handiwork