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English (US)

Meaning of work-to-rule in English

work-to-rule
noun [ C usually singular ]
us
/ˌwɝːk.təˈruːl/ uk
/ˌwɜːk.təˈruːl/
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a form of protest in which employees do exactly what is stated in their contracts, and nothing more, in order to slow down production :
A work-to-rule is seen as a way to protest against low pay or bad working conditions.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Industrial action
See more results »
work-to-rule
verb
us
/ˌwɝːk.təˈruːl/ uk
/ˌwɜːk.təˈruːl/
work to rule
UK
to arrange and perform a work-to-rule:
So far, the refuse collectors have not resorted to a strike but are working to rule.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Industrial action
See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
(Definition of work-to-rule from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

work-to-rule | Business English

work-to-rule
noun [ C, usually singular ]
UK
uk
/ˌwɜːktəˈruːl/ us
(US work-to-contract)
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WORKPLACE
a situation in which employees only do as much work as their contracts say they must do, as a way of showing that they are unhappy about pay, conditions, etc., but do not strike (= stop working completely):
On Thursday the airline had to charter 10 aircraft to counter industrial action by its pilots, who are on a work-to-rule.
(Definition of work-to-rule from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of work-to-rule

work-to-rule
The minority taking part in the miscalled "work-to-rule", however, deliberately withheld the necessary cooperation which usually exists between men and management.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
That was a complete misnomer, because in fact it was merely a ban on overtime and a work-to-rule.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
The work-to-rule by doctors three years ago lengthened the waiting lists, and the latest industrial action will also have serious consequences.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
This is not a go-slow or a work-to-rule.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
He referred a little earlier to a work-to-rule.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
That approach has not been forthcoming, and there has not been any sign of a willingness to suspend the work-to-rule and ban on overtime.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
Just as things were beginning to improve, an overtime ban was imposed and a work-to-rule.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
First, there was a sort of ex-cathedra pronouncement that the work-to-rule or go-slow does not involve a breach of contract of employment.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
Is it not true that this is not so much a work-to-rule as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the life and industry of the country?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
Had there been no work-to-rule at that time, demand could probably have been met with voltage reductions only.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
What information has she about the number and proportion of consultants who are participating in the work-to-rule?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
First, there has been a work-to-rule by telephonists.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
This little matter of the work-to-rule is the last straw which has brought matters to boiling point.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
Was it not a fact that there was a go-slow or a work-to-rule before the lockout?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
Those will not be the usual industrial practices, like the go-slow or the work-to-rule.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
See all examples of work-to-rule
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
What is the pronunciation of work-to-rule?
 

Translations of work-to-rule

in Chinese (Traditional)
（嚴格按章工作、有意減少工作量的）按章怠工…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
（严格按章工作、有意减少工作量的）变相怠工…
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in more languages
in Polish
strajk włoski…
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work-sharing
work-shy
work-study
work-to-contract
work-to-rule
work/do wonders idiom
work/go like a dream idiom
work/laugh/freeze, etc. your arse off idiom
work/laugh/freeze, etc. your ass off idiom

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