New Rules??

So I've been gone from my store for a few weeks due to family stuff. I've been told that we're ( team members specifically) are not allowed to answer the phone anymore? Only team leads and other management are supposed to answer and we only answer if we absolutely have to. Is this a new thing I'm just not being aware of?? ( I heard all this from my receiver and one of my team leads so I'm kinda taking it with a the whole salt shaker at this point )