In contemporary American corporate culture, monotony prevails. Initially, the introduction of rigid six sigma methodologies by MBAs transformed employees into mere cogs in a machine. Subsequently, a myriad of regulations stifled whatever joy remained in the workplace.
The days of ingenious innovators profiting by marketing outlandish inventions, like the Turbo Encabulator, are long gone. Today, creativity is throttled by stringent rules and regulations, prominently displayed to workers first thing every morning as they sip their coffee.
According to our informal analysis, the so-called “break room metric” illustrates an economy laden with excessive regulations. This metric represents the percentage of wall space in office break rooms occupied by mandatory federal and state notices. A figure exceeding 10 percent signals significant regulatory burden.
Indeed, break rooms nationwide are nearing full capacity with mandatory postings. These include OSHA requirements and other notices on various topics, such as Industrial Relations, Fair Labor Standards, Family and Medical Leave, Equal Opportunity, and Anti-Discrimination policies.
For instance, one notice detailing Employee Rights under the National Labor Relations Act is plastered on the wall, stating, “This is an official Government Notice and must not be defaced by anyone,” with no clear rationale for its presence.
Additionally, various whistleblower hotlines are posted, instructing employees on how to report their employers for issues ranging from fraud to human trafficking.
A Giant Money Suck
In 2016, the Federal Register reached an unprecedented size, totaling 81,640 pages of regulations. Each rule likely purports to serve a valuable purpose, but the reality is that most are nothing more than bureaucratic clutter.
In truth, the paper could serve better as bird cage liner. Over time, such regulations perpetually morph into an unwieldy mass, similar to earlier legislation.
It’s notable that each law typically comes with an associated department or agency charged with enforcement. However, the actual contributions of these government employees to the productive economy remain ambiguous.
These employees likely spend their time sending emails, processing paperwork, and updating compliance files, all while eagerly anticipating their government-funded retirements.
From our perspective, the staff of regulatory agencies seem to diminish economic productivity rather than enhance it. Instead of contributing to progress, they appear to drain resources, funneling money into an endless cycle of inefficiency.
Consequently, one must consider the implications of eliminating certain regulations and the corresponding government positions they entail. Would anyone truly miss them? Would chaos ensue?
Putting an End to the Regulation Industry
Regulators, of course, claim that the absence of these rules would result in disorder and chaos. Moreover, stripping away these regulations would diminish their sense of purpose and fulfillment. One regulator even articulated:
“I think that’s really where the thrill comes from. And it is a thrill; it’s a high … I was born to regulate. I don’t know why, but that’s very true. So long as I am regulating, I’m happy.” – Marthe Kent, OSHA safety standards program director, National Review, June 26, 2000.
One of the more hopeful aspects of a Trump presidency was the prospect of dismantling extensive federal regulations. A few months ago, Trump asserted, “The regulation industry is one business I will absolutely put to an end on day one.”
Recently, he reiterated that “70 percent of regulations can go.” This sentiment seems quite reasonable. But where to initiate such an overhaul…
The Hill identified 14 specific regulations that Trump should consider targeting, including the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act, and parts of the Affordable Care Act.
We eagerly anticipate these changes. Completing regulatory forms and documents is often an exercise in sheer tedium. Beyond being an enormous drain on resources, overly complex regulatory compliance strips away the joy of genuinely productive work.
While Trump may not succeed in Making America Great Again, a significant reduction in excessive regulations could very well restore some fun to the workplace. Ultimately, these two outcomes may align more closely than we think.
Sincerely,
MN Gordon
for Economic Prism
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