Email reveals ‘insane’ 5 minute rule and bathroom policy for work from home staff

A manager’s email to an employee about the “5 minute rule” their company has in place for those working from home has left fellow workers gobsmacked.

Anyone who has worked remotely knows there is a certain expectation that you be reachable or provide semi-regular updates throughout the day.

But one boss at an unnamed company has taken his concept to a whole new level, with social media users branding their WFH policy “insane.”

The email in question was recently shared on social media by OnRecord Networks, a US-based platform that allows people to leave honest reviews about companies they have worked for and their co-workers.

The company often shares examples of some of the emails they receive from workers outlining the questionable behavior experienced in various workplaces.

The email, which was received by an employee and then shared by OnRecord Networks, referenced the staff member’s “delayed” response to a group chat earlier that day.

“We have the 5 minute rule, I just wanted to check in to make sure everything is okay and to remind you of our policy,” the email read.

The sender stated that if the employee steps away from their desk for any reason, including to use the bathroom, they need to “notify the team.”

“This helps us stay aligned and ensures nothing is missed. Thank you for your co-operation,” the manager said.

Since being shared on TikTok, the video has been watched more than 218,000 times and has gained more than 1800 comments from horrified users.

“5 min? Are you saving lives through that keyboard?” one person asked.

“Oh I’d be so gone. This is crazy,” another said, while someone else branded the policy “insane and inappropriate.”

Multiple people said they “would immediately quit”, with one adding: “I’m not a child and won’t be asking to go to the bathroom in my own damn house.”

Others suggested the worker take the malicious compliance route and give the manager and the rest of the team every gory detail of their bathroom breaks.

Even managers who have employees who work from home slammed the email, claiming they don’t care what their team is doing throughout the day, so long as the work gets done.

Workplace expert Roxanne Calder said it is difficult to determine whether this “5 minute rule” is appropriate without knowing what the employee’s role is.

Speaking to news.com.au, the founder of recruitment company, EST10, noted that in some business-critical roles, a fast response time might be needed for real-time operations, could be critical to safety, or may be required in a high-stakes customer interaction.

It is also not known how long past the five-minute mark the employee’s response was.

“Having said all that, on the surface and as a general response, a five-minute rule doesn’t look like proper management; it seems more like panic formalized into policy,” Calder said.

“The need to monitor every moment reveals the absence of trust and an inability to manage by outcomes.

“When leaders equate productivity with instant replies, they’re not leading, they’re policing.”

Calder explained while clear expectations for employees are necessary, “treating adults like children is not”.

These kind of rules can easily create stress and resentment, ultimately pushing employees to look productive rather than actually being productive.

“In the long run, that kind of oversight drains initiative and loyalty, the very foundations of a successful remote team,” she said.

“Equally, it sits with employees to respect the trust with the WFH arrangement and be responsible and accountable.”

Calder also pointed out that many fragile leadership models have been exposed in the wake of the pandemic.

In her opinion, the issue in this scenario isn’t about distance or remote working, it is about distrust.

“When leaders start managing their own anxiety instead of their employees’ 5-minute breaks, everyone performs better,” she said.