Duty and responsibility, moral dilemmas and temptations, relationship friction, loss of control, power struggles

Bureaucracy, in the context of this entry, is a system of unrelenting rules or regulations that make it difficult for the character to complete a task.

Having to coordinate across government agencies in a time of emergency
Obtaining necessary certifications and licenses to start a business
Being required to report on friends or family (for suspected abuse, use of hate speech, etc.)
Red tape with the insurance company keeping one from receiving necessary medical care
Having to fire an employee, even if one empathizes with the reasons for their actions
Not being able to fire an employee because of all the regulations and rules
Not being able to change or bypass requirements associated with training for a degree, designation, or licensure
A legal case dragging out interminably because of due process
A health care provider being unable to deviate from the terms of their policy
Having to assign a particular punishment based on written law or policy
Homeowner Association rules limiting a property owner's rights
Being unable to act as a whistleblower due to losing one's security clearance

Losing productivity
Dealing with impatience, frustration, and aggravation
The character's creativity being diminished or restricted
Having to spend money on certifications and licenses
Other people farther down the chain of command becoming frustrated by the wait
Employees losing morale
Time wasted filling out forms and collecting required data to secure the next steps in a process
Experiencing delays
Having to pay fines or penalties for not adhering to standard practices
Being stuck in limbo while an appeal is filed
The character feeling like they're at the mercy of an uncaring system