Rules are probably a good thing but even rules with the best of intentions can have negative side effects. Even if the side effects are somewhat minimized, there might be other factors that really should be carefully considered – a car that is costs half as much as its competitor might not be as good a transport solution if it doesn’t have any brakes.
Unfortunately, my new boss isn’t able to make this distinction. When his boss says jump, he asks how high. Recently the rule came from above that all external staff should be working off campus which is really not a problem if they are not needed for face to face interactions. All communications are supposed to be done via the ticketing system and for that one location should be equivalent to all others.
The fly in the ointment is that it is still not possible to do all the same level of diagnostics and support remotely as while on-site. However, our boss is insistent that they have to leave by the end of next month whether or not full connectivity has been achieved or not.
On some days I can actually picture him marching over a cliff based on some silly order from above.