When multiple units are all under the same umbrella department, it’s tempting to want all the policies and practices to be the same. If Area A can’t work from home, why is it fair that Area B can? If Area B has a loose dress code, why can’t Area C? And if Area C can request time off via email instead of the form, why can’t Area A do that as well?
There are countless situations where job responsibilities, supervisor preference, and public-facing roles dictate a different set of regulations. While finger-pointing and questioning may occur regardless, much of it can be prevented by communicating clear expectations upfront.
When I worked on a college campus, my staff was aware that there were no vacations in August. This was my policy, not the university’s. Although many staff members did not like it, they all knew and followed it. As Brené Brown often says, “Clear is kind.”
It’s not only fine, but necessary, for different areas (even different functions in the same department) to have different expectations — just be clear to everyone about what they are. The goal is to have clarification, not standardization.
