work to rule

or work-to-rule

[ wurk tuh rool ]

noun

1. the act of working only according to the strictest interpretation of written requirements and regulations, as a job action or protest: slowdown ( def 2 ).

   They were offered a one-off payment of $1,000 each to end their unofficial work to rule.

adjective

1. characterized by or consisting of working only according to the strictest interpretation of the rules of a job, as a job action or protest: Tea estate workers launched a work-to-rule campaign in which they will only pick one kilogram of leaves per day.

   Yesterday, members voted to recommence a set of work to rule actions that will continue until Friday.

   Tea estate workers launched a work-to-rule campaign in which they will only pick one kilogram of leaves per day.

verb (used without object)

1. to work only according to the strictest interpretation of the rules of a job as a job action or protest:

   Thousands of teaching assistants are set to begin working to rule this Monday following a failure in negotiations.

work-to-rule

noun

1. a form of industrial action in which employees adhere strictly to all the working rules laid down by their employers, with the deliberate intention of reducing the rate of working

verb

1. intr to decrease the rate of working by this means

Word History and Origins

Origin of work to rule¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

After the four-day strike, Border Force staff will then work to rule and refuse to work overtime from 4 September until 22 September.

From BBC

Staff at Scotland's national exam body have begun work to rule action over a pay dispute.

From BBC

A planned work to rule by union members on Saturday has been suspended.

From BBC

They will also work to rule, which includes refusing to act-up to more senior roles.

From BBC

Although Congress is highly unlikely to permit an airline strike, disgruntled pilots could still cause disruption through "work to rule," Arthur Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell University, told AP.

From Salon