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• work to rule
  work to rule

  noun

  the act of working only according to the strictest interpretation of written requirements and regulations, as a job action or protest.
• work-to-rule
  work-to-rule

  noun

  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

work to rule

American  

[wurk tuh rool] / ˈwɜrk tə ˈrul /

Or work-to-rule

noun

1. the act of working only according to the strictest interpretation of written requirements and regulations, as a job action or protest.

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

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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 British  

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

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verb

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

Etymology

Origin of work to rule

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

work to rule work-to-rule

This could lead to a "work to rule" situation, similar to what was introduced in a previous dispute during which GPs limited patient appointments to the minimum required under their contract.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2025

That would involve a "work to rule" policy and refusing to cover for absent colleagues or take on additional duties.

From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2025

A few days later, I was so wracked with chest pains and shortness of breath that I had to get x-rays and lab work to rule out pneumonia or a blood clot.

From Salon ● Jan. 29, 2023

Workers at the refinery began a "work to rule" action at noon on Nov. 14 after failure to agree on a new contract that has been under negotiation since April.

From Reuters ● Nov. 21, 2022

It became the aim of the ablest kings to restore the power of this officer, and to carry on his work, to rule and defend a united country.

From Short History of Wales by Edwards, Owen Morgan, Sir

Some Nipsa representatives in NI Water are also expected to begin a work-to-rule starting on Thursday 1 January.

From BBC ● Dec. 31, 2025

NHS England has warned this work-to-rule action could push more people into seeking help from A&Es as well as having a wider impact on the system, such as delaying discharges from hospital.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2024

GPs believe that this focus means work-to-rule will not put them in breach of their contract under which they provide NHS services and, therefore, they should avoid having their funding docked.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2024

Flight Attendants Union said it will start work-to-rule industrial action from Thursday, amid an ongoing dispute over what it has described as long hours that management had not addressed.

From Reuters ● Jan. 19, 2023

She's on a work-to-rule till she gets her rockery, I reckon.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell