I’ve had it with policies and procedures.
I was griping to my sister about the food program I work for that’s associated with the daycare. They pop in every month or so to watch me serve the kids a healthy meal and I get reimbursed for a portion of the money I spend on food each month. I am constantly frustrated with these people and I can list a thousand reasons why that is, but I’d have to explain the entire system to you and none of us have time for that.
Here’s a quick example, one day food lady watched me feed the kids apples as the fruit portion of their lunch. I mistakenly claimed they ate oranges. She saw me feed them apples. But because I wrote oranges, when indeed it was apples, she did not allow me to claim any of the meals I served for that lunch. This resulted in a loss of maybe 10 bucks or so…and about 5 minutes of my time, and I get that she was just doing her job, but DUDE!
She saw me feed them fruit!
I am required by law to feed the children fruit and she saw me serve them a healthy fruitful meal. I said it was oranges, I meant to say apples…tomatoes tomahtoes whatever they had fruit!
My sister sighed when I told her the story, like if she’s heard it once she’s heard it a thousand times.
“Policy.” she said.
Say what?
“It’s policy! Daveman and I were just talking about policy and no matter how strong your argument is and how right you are…all someone has to say is “Sorry, it’s our policy” and there’s nothing you can say. You can’t argue with policy. As soon as they pull the policy card your argument is over. How can you possibly get a company to back down on their policies?”
And she’s absolutely right. When someone shrugs their shoulder and says it’s out of their control due to policy you have no choice but to walk away frustrated. Maybe flip them off. Tell them to take their policy and shove it.
And you know what? I think I like that idea. Instead of suffering at the mercy of other people’s policies, I’m going to create my own. It will be my personal policy not to abide by other people’s policies.
And the first thing I’m going to do with this new policy in place is call up the food lady, “I’m sorry, It’s my policy not to accept policies as a reason not to negotiate with me…so why don’t you go on ahead and give me those meals back.
YOU SAW ME GIVE THEM FRUIT!!”
mjrodriguez says
i am backing you on this 100% (actually make that 200%)
i have a few gripes about company policies as well, but they are just too negative for my blog and therefore not worth mentioning. most of them are just BS about power-hugging freaks who want to make your life difficult.
you go girl! you my idol, mama kat!
MacDougal Street Baby says
This reminds me of Jamie Oliver’s show he had on recently about food in America. You should check it out. We were frustrated just being the audience. I really admire people who, when faced with “policy,” have the wits to dismantle it.
Gigi says
I like this concept. From now on it is my policy not to deal with the morons at work. Maybe that will make them go away and leave me alone.
Karen and Gerard says
Maybe you should just be more general next time and write “fruit.”
Tina says
Food Program SUCKS. I don’t do it. I’d be on the lower tier and it is just not worth it to me. I still feed healthy and get to avoid the paperwork and extra visits. It is my policy to not do things that are not worth it to me.
I like your new policy. :o)
Jennifer says
We have to fill out these forms for daycare ALL the time so that they can be reimbursed by the state. Drives me nuts. They send them in, they get lost, we have to fill out another one. Crazy. Luckily I haven’t had to do one in a while, but I’m sure I totally just jinxed myself and will get one next week.
Teresa says
I laughed at loud at your new policy! I love it!
erin says
Ugh! How frustrating!
Grams says
You’re right, policies suck. But really it’s not the “policy” it’s the person. I think I would have asked who has the authority to review this problem and asked to talk to them. What’s the old saying? “Never let anyone tell you no who doesn’t have the authority to tell you yes.”
Shell says
Hmmm, maybe I need to come up with a few policies of my own…
Grace @ Arms Wide Open says
ugh! policy is so annoying sometimes, isn’t it?! we have had our share of navigating the bureaucracy of mexican policies and “laws” (or lack thereof!!)and it makes me want to rip my hair out sometimes! so i totally get this post.
mjrodriguez says
i know the comment ain’t for me….but just gotta say that i love the old saying! i’ma use it for my status now, lol!
Joy says
um yea this is why the kids I watch bring their own food. I am not one to like other peoples policies!
Tristina says
Oh. My. God. I love you SO HARD for writing this.
I had a major fight with our bank this week (that resulted in a VERY IRATE letter) to them over holding my husband’s paycheck. It’s their “policy” to randomly hold money for no reason. And our account was/is in the negative and I have a BABY at home! Then the lady had the NERVE to make it sound like we were “lucky” that they were “letting us” have a small portion of it.
Like, tiny.
I told them I was sick of their policies and to be decent human beings.
The money is still being held.
Cyrene says
I love your new policy and Gigi’s up there who commented! I think I’m going to adopt them from now on too. Had me laughing out loud I almost woke my daughter up.
mom taxi julie says
Don’t you just love the government! That’s the kind of stuff that ends up costing tax payers a ton of money. First they have to get a form, then postage, mailing etc. instead of just saying oh yeah those were oranges..
Jackie says
I agree!
It just seems silly that she couldn’t have accepted that you were following the guidelines as opposed the exact piece of fruit!
Is there a sheet to sign up for to boycott policies?
liz says
It saddens me greatly that common sense no longer matters.
trash says
‘Policiesandprocedures’ is one of the main reasons I gave up childcare. Lucky that children don’t have ‘policiesandprocedures’, makes it far more fun to be around them.
Michelle says
I so agree with you! I’m always getting blind-sided with someone else’s policy – but I usually rail against the stupid system and try to affect a change.
Peace,
Michelle ;)
Molly says
I love that! Sorry, but my policy is not to accept policies. I am totally going to have to try that sometime. Probably sometime really, really soon.
Wendy says
This is great advice. I am one of the lucky people who gets to try to align practice and policy together. Policy tells us what we should do. Sometimes practice needs to change, sometimes policy. I’d find out who to talk to see which it is in this case.
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says
Policies DO SUCK!!! That is ridiculous. Aren’t these the same type of assholes that count french fries as a vegetable????
Kathy says
wow. that food lady was just wrong if you ask me. she saw you give them fruit so that’s what counts. stupid woman.
Mama Zen says
I think that I’m going to adopt this policy, too!
Angie says
Let me know how that works out for you. :)
nic @mybottesup says
eww. she needs to back the hell out of your kitchen.
MarfMom says
it’s SO frustrating! good luck fighting it. their whole point SHOULD be about the kids, not stupid red tape.
Morgan S. says
Just wanted to let you know I gave you a shout out in this post:
http://theprincessmommydiaries.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-top-10-pet-peeves.html
Love following your blog, hope you will follow mine!
Sara R-The Millennial Housewife says
Sometimes I am at a loss for words over other’s ignorance. Does it really matter what fruit it was – as long as it was fruit? How does a woman like that obtain a government job? I truly don’t understand.
Policies mean nothing when your employees are stupid. This is a frightening inside look at the minds that really control state and local government programs. We all should be very afraid.
OMG says
OMG, I’ve never heard of anything like this! Can you switch banks!? I would. That is just so ReDiCkuLouS!
Melody says
lol, I’m a dork; I thought that comment was suppose to go directly under Tristina’s (the woman who’s husband’s bank was “holding” his paycheck)!
Mama, You ROCK. It’s craziness that that woman couldn’t just employ some common sense!
Rachael says
I like your policy. Maybe I’ll adopt it too.
I just don’t understand why businesses can’t be more personal and less rigid…