Today I had a lot of work and did not have the time to go for a coffee.

So I decided to grab one from our cafeteria during late afternoon.

I know the cafeteria closes at 5PM, however the Coffee Lady closes the coffee machines a few minutes earlier in order to be able to leave at 5PM sharp.

Last week I experienced she closed already at 4.55PM, so today I decided to appear in the cafeteria earlier: at 4.48PM.

Me: ‘A coffee latte, please.’

She: ‘Sorry, I have already closed the coffee machines.’

Me: ‘When do you actually close??’

She: ‘At 5PM. But I close the coffee machines already 10 minutes before.’

Me: ‘It’s great news as it is exactly 4.48PM.

So, a coffee latte, please..’

She (giving a sad smile): ‘Unfortunately I cannot, because in order to be able to close the coffee machines at 4.50, it’s more careful if I stop selling coffee already a few minutes before..’

Me: ‘Did you still sell coffee at 3PM today?’

She: ‘Yes, of course!’

Me: ‘I am not sure it was sufficiently careful as it was only 1 hour 48 minutes before you need to stop selling coffee, in order to close the coffee machines 10 minutes before, in order to close the cafeteria at 5PM..’

Moral: There IS such a level of prudence when even Compliance says it is overdone..