MANHATTAN BEACH—In a mandatory agency meeting, Glenn Miller and Mickey Taylor announced their plan to be out of town for a week. The heads of the agency gathered the staff to outline specific rules during their absence.

The “House Rules” as they called the written document, which was handed out to all employees, included minor things like taking out the trash and keeping the agency clean. Failure to abide by these rules would result in some loss of privilege when Mr. Miller and Mr. Taylor return.

“We expect to come back to the agency the same we left it—clean,” said Mr. Miller in the Meeting. “If you dirty a dish, then wash the dish and put it away,” he added.

Higher on the list of House Rules was use of their vehicles. “We’ve written down the mileage on our cars, so don’t even think about it,” said Mr. Taylor to the sullen group of staffers.

Mr. Miller and Mr. Taylor detailed a few additional house rules and the resulting punishment for breaking them before getting to the top two rules, which were written, in all caps. “Stay out of the liquor cabinet and no parties,” Mr. Miller emphatically told the agency. “Mickey and I have worked hard for this agency and we don’t want to see it torn up,” he added.

The staffers were noticeably unhappy with the reading of each rule but Mr. Miller and Mr. Taylor pointed out the reward for their obedience, “if you can follow these rules, then you’ll be able to stay at the agency alone when we leave town in the future,” announced Mr. Miller.

The meeting ended with Mr. Taylor putting the House Rules document on the refrigerator and adding, “I’m putting a copy right here so you all can see it. There’s no excuse for not knowing the rules. If you forget what they are, then get your butt in here and read them.”

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