In every arena I've operated this is always the case. Military, Big Company and on the streets. Not saying it's right, but it's extremely common (in my experience)
> Rules shouldn't be implicit in professional environments.
Totally agree. But again, everywhere I've been there are at least 2 sets of rules.
Maybe I am jaded by conforming to the 'It is what it is' mentality. In practice though, that has been my experience.
That's why it is more favorable in today's environment to have explicit rules like CoC. At least it brings people to the same understanding quicker.
It does carry risk though. When living in a world with more explicit rules, people tend to treat anything not in the rule to be OK, and ignore most implicit rules. That will rush more rules to be explicit, also, written poorly without broader debates and discussions during these rushes.
At least up to a point where some people clearly, but mostly not openly acted as if these unwritten rules don't apply to them. And these transgressions were not dealt with from management even when they became aware of it.
Was a shitty situation if one was trapped in such a bubble within the organisation.
Fast forward being acquired by a global corporation with an endless amount of rules and regulations. Nobody reads them. Everybody knows the important ones. Nonetheless nobody really cares in the global corp.
Exactly what I see happening in our part of this global org now starting. A sad situation.