8 Bizarre Rules Coca-Cola Employees Have to Follow — Eat This Not That

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By Ghuman

Introduction

Coca-Cola is one of the most iconic brands in the world, and its employees have to follow some pretty strict rules. From dress codes to social media policies, the company has a long list of regulations that its employees must abide by. But some of the rules are downright bizarre. From not being allowed to drink Pepsi to having to wear a certain type of shoe, here are 8 of the strangest rules that Coca-Cola employees have to follow.

8 Bizarre Rules Coca-Cola Employees Have to Follow

Coca-Cola is one of the most iconic brands in the world, and its employees have to abide by some pretty strict rules. From dress codes to social media policies, here are 8 bizarre rules Coca-Cola employees have to follow.

1. No Visible Tattoos

Coca-Cola has a strict policy when it comes to visible tattoos. Employees are not allowed to have any visible tattoos while on the job. This includes tattoos on the face, neck, and hands.

2. No Social Media Posts About the Company

Coca-Cola employees are not allowed to post anything about the company on social media. This includes posts about the company’s products, policies, or any other related topics.

3. No Eating or Drinking on the Job

Coca-Cola employees are not allowed to eat or drink while on the job. This includes any food or beverage, even if it is not a Coca-Cola product.

4. No Political or Religious Discussions

Coca-Cola employees are not allowed to discuss politics or religion while on the job. This includes any conversations about current events or personal beliefs.

5. No Unauthorized Use of Company Property

Coca-Cola employees are not allowed to use company property for any unauthorized purposes. This includes using company computers, phones, or other equipment for personal use.

6. No Unauthorized Use of Company Logos

Coca-Cola employees are not allowed to use the company’s logos or trademarks for any unauthorized purposes. This includes using the logos on clothing, websites, or other materials.

7. No Unauthorized Use of Company Information

Coca-Cola employees are not allowed to use any company information for any unauthorized purposes. This includes using confidential information for personal gain or sharing it with others.

8. No Unauthorized Use of Company Resources

Coca-Cola employees are not allowed to use any company resources for any unauthorized purposes. This includes using company time, money, or other resources for personal gain.

These 8 bizarre rules are just a few of the many that Coca-Cola employees have to follow. While some of them may seem strange, they are all in place to ensure that the company’s brand and reputation remain intact.

The Coca-Cola Company is, FYI, a massive international business conglomerate. Founded 130 years ago in 1892, the company currently has nearly 80,000 employees, according to Statista. In order to keep that large of an operation running smoothly, it’s no surprise that Coca-Cola employees have to follow quite a few rules—some of them quite bizarre—in order to maintain their employment status.

What is a surprise is how unusual some rules Coca-Cola workers have to follow really are. The company has a number of policies in place that range from the confusing to the amusing, and a few that are pretty harsh. But with annual revenues of around $38.6 billion USD, it’s not likely the company will make any major policy changes any time soon.

Here are eight bizarre rules Coca-Cola employees have to follow.

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In fact, Coca-Cola workers are forbidden to drink any competitors’ beverages while they are at work on the clock, according to employees who shared their experiences on Quora. One contributor wrote of the policy: “Upon being hired you actually sign an agreement stating you will not purchase or consume ANY competitors’ products or face termination.”

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Coke employees are beholden to follow the company’s lengthy Code of Business Conduct. And as part of the Code itself states: “It does not matter where you work or what you do for the Company—you have a responsibility to use good judgment and follow our Code. That includes every full-time or part-time employee at every level of the Company, all the way up to the executive suite.”

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Coca-Cola workers are expected to be at work on time for every scheduled shift and, without at least 48 hours of prior notice given, they will be penalized if they’re absent. According to a former Coke employee posting on Glassdoor: “They have a crazy strict attendance policy. NO sick days without penalty if you don’t give them a 48-hr notice. Who knows 48 [hours] in advance if you are going to have the flu?”

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A former Coca-Cola employee said on Quora that workers “aren’t allowed to be quoted in any media.” And that was supposed to be true across the boards, not only in regards to talking about Coke and even if “you are not associated with Coca-Cola by the media interview or statement,” the former worker added.

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According to an official Coca-Cola Company policy document: “If anyone becomes aware of any activity, situation or behavior that could compromise the physical or mental wellbeing of another person they should take action immediately and ensure that the person concerned and others involved are aware and harm avoided and must report it to a member of the CCEP management team immediately.” Quite a “Big Brother is watching” policy for a soft drink manufacturer.

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At most workplaces, a big screw-up will lead to the loss of your job; at Coke, it can lead to a loss of your freedom. For years. Witness a case in the early 2000s in which a former Coca-Cola secretarial worker was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for attempting to steal trade secrets from Coke with plans to sell them to the company’s arch-rival, Pepsi.

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According to the Associated Press, there are two nations on earth with which Coca-Cola officially proscribes doing business. These are North Korea and Cuba, the only two countries in which company policy prohibits operations and sales. Though plenty of counterfeit or black market Coke can be found in both.

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In one of the most infamous and at the same time laughable moments of corporate buffoonery in recent memory, according to the Toronto Sun, in late 202 and early 2021, Coca-Cola required many of its employees to undergo a training program called “Confronting Racism” that, among other things, contained the direction that workers should act “less white.” They were also admonished to “be less oppressive,” to “listen,” to “believe,” and to “break with white solidarity.”

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Steven John

Steven John is a freelancer writer for Eat This, Not That! based just outside New York City. Read more

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