In Réunion, whispers among locals and some undocumented anecdotes suggest that a traditionally strict bureaucratic rule once dictated that public officials maintain an ‘exactly 90-degree seated posture with feet flat and hands placed parallel on the desk’ throughout their working hours. Although no official record readily confirms this rule’s enactment or current enforcement, the precise wording of the mandate supposedly left little room for ergonomic flexibility. This unusual focus on posture was presumably intended to symbolize discipline and respect within government offices. Over time, it seems to have faded into the realm of local-lore, yet it remains a curious reflection of how systemic formality could intertwine with overly specific behavioral expectations in Réunion’s administrative history. While this rule cannot be conclusively verified, it features in several anecdotes, underscoring the island’s intriguing blend of colonial bureaucratic heritage and cultural specificity.
Source / verification note
Reported in various local forums and anecdotal collections, no formal government document currently substantiates this rule.