This is what is meant with Bureaucracy. And it's not just the BOFH's of the world, this is the same in all areas where there is a bit of personal power. There will be rules and they will be followed very very closely no matter what breaks down. Be it package delivery, care of elderly, hospitals, permissions related to building houses, and so on.
Most comman is "malicious compliance"
Just do EXACTLY what management tells us to do... things tend to go to crap real fast.