office rules

Meaning

The official guidelines, regulations, or code of conduct that employees must follow while at the workplace. These often cover dress code, working hours, and kitchen etiquette.

Examples

• The HR department sent an email listing the updated office rules.

  The HR department sent an email listing the updated office rules.

• All new employees must read and understand the office rules on their first day.

  All new employees must read and understand the office rules on their first day.

• According to the office rules, we cannot eat lunch at our desks.

  According to the office rules, we cannot eat lunch at our desks.

• Some office rules are very strict, but they help keep things organized.

  Some office rules are very strict, but they help keep things organized.

• We need to respect the office rules regarding noise levels in the open area.

  We need to respect the office rules regarding noise levels in the open area.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ You must follow the office laws.

  ✓ You must follow the office rules.

  'Laws' refer to national or regional legal codes. Company guidelines are called 'rules' or 'policies'.

• ✗ The office rules says we should arrive at 9 AM.

  ✓ The office rules say we should arrive at 9 AM.

  'Rules' is plural, so the verb must agree and be plural ('say', not 'says').

Related Expressions

Practice

• Cleaning up after yourself in the kitchen is one of our basic ___.

  💡 Workplace guidelines.

  Show answer

  office rules

• Where can I find the document about the company's ___?

  💡 The regulations employees must follow.

  Show answer

  office rules