0 a form of protest in which employees do exactly what is stated in their contracts, and nothing more, in order to slow down production :
2 a situation in which employees only do as much work as their contracts say they must do, as a way of showing that they are unhappy about pay, conditions, etc., but do not strike (= stop working completely):
The minority taking part in the miscalled "work-to-rule", however, deliberately withheld the necessary cooperation which usually exists between men and management.
That was a complete misnomer, because in fact it was merely a ban on overtime and a work-to-rule.
The work-to-rule by doctors three years ago lengthened the waiting lists, and the latest industrial action will also have serious consequences.
This is not a go-slow or a work-to-rule.
He referred a little earlier to a work-to-rule.
That approach has not been forthcoming, and there has not been any sign of a willingness to suspend the work-to-rule and ban on overtime.
Just as things were beginning to improve, an overtime ban was imposed and a work-to-rule.
First, there was a sort of ex-cathedra pronouncement that the work-to-rule or go-slow does not involve a breach of contract of employment.
