14 Workplace Norms That Wouldn’t Fly Today
Work used to be a wild ride of smoking indoors, yelling in meetings, and faxing things like it was normal.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
The workplace of the past was a different world, where rules were looser and office culture was straight-up questionable. From dress codes to outdated tech, some things that used to be the norm would cause chaos (or lawsuits) today. Looking back, it’s amazing anyone got anything done without Slack, HR policies, or coffee that wasn’t burned.
1. Smoking in the Office
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People used to light up right at their desks like it was just part of the job. Ashtrays sat next to keyboards, and no one blinked. The air was a cloudy mix of stress and secondhand smoke. You could literally smell the deadline.
2. Zero Work-Life Balance
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You were expected to be “on” all the time, even during dinner or weekends. Taking a vacation meant you’d come back to a desk buried in guilt and paperwork. Leaving at 5 p.m. was suspicious. Burnout wasn’t a buzzword back then; it was just…life.
3. Men-Only Leadership
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The top floor was almost always a boys’ club, and promotions followed the same pattern. Women were stuck with titles like “secretary” no matter how hard they worked. Ideas were stolen and repackaged in deeper voices. Glass ceilings weren’t talked about; they were just quietly accepted.
4. Office Gossip as Entertainment
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Work drama was basically a sport. People openly gossiped at the water cooler like it was a soap opera. If your business wasn’t out there, someone would make it up. Privacy wasn’t a thing, but rumor mills definitely were.
5. No Mental Health Support
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Stress? Deal with it. Anxiety? Keep it to yourself. Talking about therapy was taboo and seen as a weakness. Crying in the bathroom was the unofficial employee assistance program.
6. Casual Harassment
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Offhand comments, “jokes,” and uncomfortable touches were brushed off like office furniture. People were told to lighten up or ignore them. Reporting them often meant risking their jobs. HR was either missing or complicit.
7. Fax Machines as Lifelines
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If that paper didn’t go through, you were doomed. People hovered over machines, praying the line wasn’t busy. It beeped, screeched, and jammed constantly. Half the time, it printed sideways or cut off the best part.
8. Toxic Loyalty Culture
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You stayed in one job for 20 years, or you were seen as flaky. Leaving a company was almost a betrayal. Raises were rare, and appreciation was even rarer. Staying too long just meant you got a cake when you finally gave up.
9. Dress Codes with No Chill
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Suits for everyone. Heels for women. Hot summers didn’t matter—you suffered in silence and polyester. Comfort was not part of the conversation. Looking “professional” mattered more than being able to breathe.
10. Loud, Aggressive Management
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Some bosses thought yelling showed strength. Slamming phones and public shaming were motivational tools. It was less leadership, more intimidation. Fear was considered an effective management style. Now, that kind of behavior gets you a LinkedIn post and a lawsuit.
11. No Remote Work Options
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If you weren’t in your seat, you weren’t working. Sick? Drag yourself in. Snowstorm? Get walking. Productivity was measured by how many hours your chair squeaked. Trust wasn’t a concept—they had to see you suffer to believe you were working.
12. Clock-Watching Bosses
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If you arrived two minutes late, someone noticed. If you left early, everyone noticed. Productivity was measured in hours, not results. You were more a body in a seat than a person with a brain. Efficiency didn’t count unless it looked like overtime.
13. No Parental Leave Support
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Having a baby? Good luck. Leaves were short, unpaid, or frowned upon. Coming back meant catching up on both work and judgment. Also, forget about pumping breaks or flexible hours. Parenting was treated like a personal hobby, not a life change.
14. The “Company Man” Mentality
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You were expected to be loyal for life. Questioning things was disrespectful. Benefits were dangled like rewards for obedience. Companies expected gratitude for basic decency. Leaving for a better job made you a traitor, not ambitious.