Are We for rules or Rules for us?

Many a times such situations occur in day to day life. The decision depends on the situation we are in at that moment and the effects of that decision on our lives, surroundings.

I came across two incidents, by which I have this question in mind. One of my senior told me the incident he knows, some days before. In one of the IT Company, there is a rule like – entry in the specific premise only with access card. Those who do not have access card cannot get entered. I think the place may be some client’s ODC and client wants such a way (I am not sure, and could not ask him so…). One day, some HOD or highly senior member came on Saturday (generally on non working day) with forgotten his access card. There were a glass door and a security person sat other side. He knocked many times but Security had not entertained him and not given any means of access to enter. Next day that senior member of organization, sent mail to all congratulating all for successful implementation of processes (rules).

Second incidence directly happened with me, last week. As per project need, one of my junior have to work as per US timings (7:00 pm to 3:00 am IST). As a process, he has to send me a status mail on end of his day.
That day there was an internet connectivity problem in office, by service provider (some downtime). Issue started something around 1:00 am and resolves at 5:00 am. He was waited till that and sent a status mail at 5:10 am. Next day (his next working day), I noticed the timing and asked him worriedly about too much work for him to handle? He told me the complete story and he was just waiting for internet connectivity from 1:00 am to 5:00 am, as he had completed his assigned work before only. That means, he was waiting for 3 hours (in deep midnight) only for sending a status mail (obeying the rule).
I was angry initially on him about his decision and asked him – “My dear friend, have you asked yourself sometimes – Are we for rules or Rules for us?” I concluded the discussion by saying –
1) I do not want donkeys in my team. (Of course he is not considering his capabilities and hard work.)
2) We made a rule/process for ease of operations and we have to stick for it.
3) But sometimes, somehow a situation occurs, such a way that, it is hard to follow rules, where we have to think differently. Like in first situation, consider the negative effect – If that senior member have some urgent meeting with client that highly affects on business and he missed it because of his mistake of forgetting access card and process. I blame process 90% in this situation. There should be some alternative to the process. And the alternative to second situation is –
a) Wait for half an hour or an hour till 1:30 to 2:00 am for internet connectivity and sending status mail, as there was no work as well. He had not his data card as well with him that day, by which he either send by using that (from home or from office).
b) If no connectivity – leave for the day.
c) In the next morning (or may be afternoon) when he wake up, directly call me and stating the status.
d) That’s it.
4) Finally - Rules for us and we are not for rules. Same the case for MONEY….