For the newcomers will give a brief outline of my history of kilts at work. Hope that's okay with the mods.

I work as a licensed professional counselor in a rural behavioral health agency. Most of my work is with alcohol and drug clients with DUIs, on probation, parole, or doing treatment while in detox.

I began wearing kilts about three years ago. Started wearing them to work occasionally, then full time. At that time our agency dress code was, "Don't make us institute a dress code."

After two and half years of being kilted full time my then clinical supervisor told me I could no longer wear kilts. We had a meet and greet scheduled with the EAP for a large local plant seeking a contract with them for behavioral health services. I wore pants and did so well in connecting with the EAP - turns out we had many common friends in the profession - that the supervisor told me I could wear kilts whenever I wanted. So I did.

She was fired a few weeks later and a few months later my new clinical supervisor, a man I've worked with since I hired on six years before, came to me and said if I wore kilts anymore I'd be fired. Shortly after I spoke with the CEO who told me the supervisor got it wrong, that he only wanted me to look at whether wearing kilts affected my ability to establish rapport and develop a therapeutic relationship with my clients.

I put together a paper listing all the professional studies that indicate addressing cultural difference from the beginning of therapy is critical. Since many of my clients are Dine' and there are strong parallels in the Scottich culture and the Navajo culture I felt kilts helped there. Listed all the other things one normally would, women and pants 50 years ago, the 1746 proscription, kilt fashion boom, comfort, medical needs, etc.

I heard nothing for 8 weeks. They hired a new clinical supervisor. A young man who I worked with previously when he was a therapist. He'd come back as a supervisor now. Talking with him I asked if there had been any decision and gave him a copy of what had been submitted previously. Next day (Ironically 8/1/07 the 261st anniversary of the proscription) I had a no from my CEO.

I stewed on that because I work with people who come to work in flip flops, torn t-shirts, torn sweat pants. I went to HR to ask if I have any right of appeal. The HR director immediately whipped out the agency grievance policy and made me a copy. It said I had three days to file a grievance and the policy was very positive. Employees have the right to grieve. Have the right to grieve discrimination, and there is to be no retribuition for a grievance. Things are to be kept informal and resolved at the lowest level.

So on day three I submitted my grievance (I don't like that word, the spirit was of appeal) to my supervisor. The process would normally take it to the CEO, then to the personnel committee of the board of directors, then to the full board of directors.

A couple hours later I had an email from my supervisor saying he spoke with the CEO who told him he was "too busy" to deal with this, that "Ron can wear whatever he friggin' wants, greivance resolved."

The tone of the response has led me to continue wearing pants to work. My CEO was off Friday and I am off today. Know that he, as I, am very busy. Until I get clarification I'm feeling dismissed. The old supervisor cautioned me against going back to kilts, even with that hollow permission, saying it'd be like an open sore to the CEO. Um, does the policy mean what it says or not?

The old supervisor said he felt kilts were unprofessional and that I was just seeking attention. So, I told him about my PBH problems mentioned on the kilts and aging thread. He understood that since he's in his 70s.

The other common response is that our little town isn't ready for kilts. Yet our little town is a bastion of diversity. We host tourists from around the world and many ethnic cultures live here. We have a Thai restaurant and a Sushi bar! If this town is ready for a sushi bar its ready for kilts.

So, guess this week it'll shake out one way or another.

Not really seeking guidance or feedback. Just seeing all the posts referencing my situation thought maybe an update would be appropriate.

Ron