- 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.
- characterized by or consisting of working only according to the strictest interpretation of the rules of a job, as a job action or protest: 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.
- 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.
- 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
- to decrease the rate of working by this means