diff --git a/src/en/wizden-staff/maintainer/maintainer-workgroup-policy.md b/src/en/wizden-staff/maintainer/maintainer-workgroup-policy.md
index 10b4c2819f..d00dbc818c 100644
--- a/src/en/wizden-staff/maintainer/maintainer-workgroup-policy.md
+++ b/src/en/wizden-staff/maintainer/maintainer-workgroup-policy.md
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ Conflicts on pull requests that are internal to the workgroup are subjected to t
 ### Design Documents
 Workgroups are encouraged to make design documents for their game area.
 View the [Game Area Design Document Template](../../general-development/game-area-design-doc.md) and the Department Design Document Template on each drafted department for a good document basis.
+Relevant Game Area / Department design documents (which will describe pillars of design for the workgroup's dedicated area) should be merged before a workgroup will be considered fully-formed and functional. 
+Merging such a document will signify that the maintainer team has agreed to give more freedom of action to the workgroup in the designated area, and therefore any merge must be approved by a majority of maintainer votes. 
+The document must be accompanied by a separate Discourse thread, in which any other maintainer is able to request a merge delay (for a period not more than a week), in case they want to review the document but cannot do it right away.
+The document should be merged upon getting no requested changes / no merge delay requests for 1 week or more, and any existing requested changes have been addressed. 
 
 When a workgroup creates a design document, it is said to be owned by that workgroup.