Manager Demands Last-Minute Setup, Gets A Harsh Reminder Of His Own Policy

We’ve all had those moments where you feel like you’re constantly fighting an uphill battle against last-minute demands. For an IT/AV team, it became a recurring issue until they implemented a policy that required proper notice for events. When a senior manager, Bill, ignored the rules for his own event, the team refused to budge and it cost him dearly.

By sticking to the policy they had all agreed on, the team didn’t just avoid extra stress; they delivered a much-needed lesson to Bill about respecting the boundaries everyone had signed off on.

An IT/AV team, following a policy requiring 5 business days’ notice for events, refuses upper management’s last-minute request for a 600-person event

When the IT team was faced with a last-minute request from upper management, they knew they had to stand firm on the policy they had worked so hard to implement.

The poster worked in a small IT/AV department, responsible for setting up technical aspects of events. Over time, they had become increasingly frustrated with last-minute requests that often led to rushed work and long hours.

To address this, the team introduced a policy requiring at least five business days’ notice for any event requiring technical support. This was meant to ensure that they had enough time to properly prepare and avoid unnecessary stress.

The policy was approved by upper management, and the team expected it to be followed by all employees.

However, when Bill, a senior manager, requested technical assistance for a large event just a few days before it was scheduled, the team had to turn him down. Although the event was important, Bill had failed to follow the policy. The team, already booked for the day, could not accommodate him, despite his insistence that they could handle it in time.

Instead of bending the rules, the manager sent Bill a polite reminder of the policy he had signed off on, along with a guide for setting things up himself. Bill, frustrated, had to run the event without the team’s help and faced several technical difficulties that could have been avoided had he adhered to the policy.

This story highlights the value of standing by your rules, especially when they were designed to ensure smooth operations and fairness. As Dr. David Maxfield, organizational behavior expert, notes, “When policies are clearly defined and consistently enforced, it strengthens team trust and reduces confusion.”

The decision to uphold the policy not only prevented burnout but also sent a clear message about the importance of respecting boundaries. It begs the question: in situations where rules are in place, should there be room for flexibility, even for upper management, or is it important to always hold firm?

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

These commenters highlighted the value of having a supportive manager who has your back

This group emphasized the importance of clear communication and setting boundaries

These Redditors shared experiences in the IT and AV world, stressing the importance of preparing ahead of time

These commenters discussed how well-defined policies and expectations

This group reflected on the attitude of some higher-ups who seem to think they’re above the rules

The IT team’s decision to enforce the policy, despite being asked for an exception, shows the importance of accountability in the workplace.

If you’ve ever had a situation where you were asked to bend the rules, what did you do? Should the team have handled Bill’s request differently, or did they play their cards just right? Share your thoughts below!