Unfriendly word from on high

[scottishlass]

First, I should mention that I'm working under "At Will" conditions in the US as a programmer.

After participating in Kilted Fridays for nearly 2 years with hearing nothing but compliments, I got a visit from my manager, not my supervisor, yesterday. Our COO has decided that kilts are ok to wear to work, however I've been forbidden from appearing in any customer facing meeting while wearing a kilt. It's not clear if that would include the customer stopping by my office or not (which often happens).

My manager said I'm embarrassed to have to even have this conversation. My co-workers who know about it are very supportive and thinking it bogus.

I'm not sure what I should or even can do about this, but at this point, I'm consulting our employee handbook, and polishing my resume.

What I would do is consult with Human Resources in regards to it emphasizing that it's your cultural heritage and that in the past has not effected your job performance. If HR says that your manager can make those requests then unfortunately, you may have to live with it. You could claim it is discriminating against your cultural heritage but if I were the HR manager reviewing the case, I would be asking you why your cultural heritage does not include the other four days of the week.

At the end of the day, ask yourself this: Is wearing the kilt on Friday's more important than earning a paycheck at this company. I know that's harsh and brutal but sometimes you have to look at things like that. Not every company is cool.

[O'Callaghan]

I thought I had commented before, but it seems I was thinking of an older thread?

Where I work, the dress code specifically limits men to trousers, although I suspect it's only because they didn't think any would want to wear anything else. Nevertheless, I don't plan to show up in a kilt any time soon. At the very least, I wouldn't want to be the only one.

Hair has always been the issue for me. A boss once suggested I cut my hair, whilst stressing that I didn't have to. I didn't, and it was never discussed again. In another job a colleague was always telling me to get a hair cut, although he was on the same pay grade as me with no authority over me - and bald, LOL! I also once got thrown off my stride in a job interview when the interviewer asked me why I had long hair, and that was in Washington DC, the only place AFAIK in the US where 'hair style' is protected in human rights law.

As for beards, I have one of those too, and have never seen a civilian dress code that banned those, although I am told there are some such companies in the US. There are certainly none in England, where I originally come from, although my father told me that such restrictions did exist when he was a young man. Things do change, and hopefully for the better.

[Stoff]

I don't know if you want to push this issue (and push hard). If you do, you might want to discuss the issue with an attorney who specializes in labor and anti-discrimination law. If you are of Scottish descent and where raised with a minimum of the culture, you might be able to push back as them acting in a culturally discriminatory manner. Just remember that if it goes that far you might just loose your job and have to sue. If that happens it WILL get ugly, so you have to decide if you want to fight that fight.

Just my two cents worth,

Christoph

[WillowEstate]

<snip>

As for beards, I have one of those too, and have never seen a civilian dress code that banned those, although I am told there are some such companies in the US. There are certainly none in England, where I originally come from, although my father told me that such restrictions did exist when he was a young man. Things do change, and hopefully for the better.

As I recall, in the 1980s or 1990s, there was an IT consultancy that did not allow beards in the UK, possibly Perot Systems or EDS but may have been someone else (little grey cells rusty!).

But I take your point.

[jumary]

I don't know if you want to push this issue (and push hard). If you do, you might want to discuss the issue with an attorney who specializes in labor and anti-discrimination law. If you are of Scottish descent and where raised with a minimum of the culture, you might be able to push back as them acting in a culturally discriminatory manner. Just remember that if it goes that far you might just loose your job and have to sue. If that happens it WILL get ugly, so you have to decide if you want to fight that fight.

Just my two cents worth,

Christoph

Excuse me if this is too blunt, but this is getting a bit ridiculous. People are much too willing to consider getting an attorney. We are just talking about a garment. Many jobs have required clothing standards. Get over it or work somewhere else. Come on.