The place where I work decided they’ve had enough of personal expression and banned all personal pictures at work for everyone. Wasn’t triggered by any inappropriate pictures, just that the person in charge does not like the clutter. I’m wondering if anyone could link me to an article that shows that this kind of behavior has a negative affect on morale and is generally a bad idea.
Someone may arrive with a source you request soon. I just wanted to drop by with a WAG. I’d noticed, in past jobs, that reducing desktop clutter for everyone made sudden firings a lot easier – less to pack up, a shorter duration for security staff to gaurd the packing up of personal effects vs. business property, makes it easier for a 3rd party to handle the whole process, and what have you. So you might want to take my WAG under advisement.
I appreciate the heads up Arkcon but this is being driven by a ceo that has some kind of mild OCD or something. He actually had us remove every single scrap of paper including all of our work related stuff in addition to personal pictures, all of which were appropriate. The company is doing well and otherwise and the management is generally sane but this action is silly. I want to let them know that via an anonmyous email and a link to a good article explaining why this is so. I struck out trying to find a good one myself on google.
OK, I’m looking in Google Scholar (search term: office clutter) and found “Office Clutter Or Meaningful Personal Displays: The Role Of Office Personalization In Employee And Organizational Well-Being.” You may find more in the references section of the article.
If he is OCD, no amount of reason will change his mind. That’s why it is called a mental illness.
Agreed, but it would give me personal satisfaction to send an email to everyone at the company (including him) linking to an article backing up my position. Passive-agressive I know but I need the job.
Thanks Dewey, exactly what I was looking for but they want $50 for the PDF!
I wouldn’t send the email to everyone in the company if you need and want to keep the job. Instead, I recommend sending it to your direct manager, and possibly someone in HR.
In the Google Scholar search results, there’s a link to fifty articles that cite that one. Others may be cheaper. Or ask someone affiliate with a university if they have free access to articles. Or you could go to a public or academic library to access the articles.
There’s a reason why OCD is equated with the word “anal”; but “anal-retentive” is too mild an explanation.
But he may just be OC. It only rises to the level of a ‘disorder’ or mental illness when it interferes with his life. Lots of OC folks can ramp back their tendencies when shown good reason to do so.
No worries, they won’t know it was from me.
Make sure you also send it to yourself.
My undergrad and grad was in Environmental Psychology - the study of where humans live and work [environment]. I can give you lot’s of information but I think this person needs to know that there is a beneficial psychology to having picture of your loved ones at work. To me this is less about OCD and more about ego and control.
Google Scholar: Interpreting workplace identities: the role of office décor
and other variants of this and you will find cite after cite after cite for your case. There are bound to be some citations that are free.
If this is in fact about ego and control, be careful sending an email and or confronting the perpetrator - could be dangerous. Let me know if you need some full text studies and I can see if I can dig any up.
The whole staff will be getting the email and article just like the one he sent to everyone. 
I would like to direct the OP to the documentary film 9 to 5.
No direct confrontation, it will be to everyone here from an anonymous address.
Which do you need more: the job, or the personal satisfaction? Odds are, you won’t get to have both for very long …
Most authority types, don’t put alot of weight, if any, on anonymous whining.
I think it would be better for you to go to someone sympathetic in HR about this. They may not even need the articles, as I’m sure that they know the value of having some personal items on one’s desk.