Kilts in the office

[bubba]

Some of the big shot managers of the building where I live are getting pissy about my kilt wearing because they say "crossdressing" goes against the dress code in the building. .

A dress code in a residence building? That's a new one on me. Is it published? If not sue the stupid SOBs and nail them to the wall.

[Silverlake_Punk]

I have to agree with Schultz and Cav. The diplomatic route is the best one to take. I live in California, but I'm originally from the Chicago suburbs, and I am familiar with how uptight Lake/Cook/DuPage county folks can be. Being confrontational about it is just going to sour any good relations you have, make you look like a jerk, and may get you dejobbed pretty quick.

I wear the kilt daily to work, and I even wore my Thompson USAK when I spoke before the Los Angeles school board last year. But I'm protected by a pretty powerful teachers union, I maintain good relations with the principal, and I began wearing it in a way that didn't shove it in anyone's face. I wore it for me, wore it with pride, and while I didn't take any crap from anyone, I didn't give any out, either.

Bring some snapshots in and show them to your boss. If you approach it in a professional way, probably nobody's going to care one way or the other.

[Kilted Taper]

I'd also suggest the diplomatic route as well. My boss saw me out at a beer fest in my chocolate workman's UK. Some one else in the office was there as well and asked if I'd be allowed to wear it to work. The boss said no, but I've got to remember that it was a workman's and not something that would be allowed at work if it were pants. I too work in a conservative law firm in DC.

[chasem]

I wear the kilt daily to work, and I even wore my Thompson USAK when I spoke before the Los Angeles school board last year. But I'm protected by a pretty powerful teachers union, I maintain good relations with the principal, and I began wearing it in a way that didn't shove it in anyone's face. I wore it for me, wore it with pride, and while I didn't take any crap from anyone, I didn't give any out, either.

Teacher?

[Eujeankilt]

To KiltedCodeWarrior,

I agree with using caution and checking out beforehand. And I would go armed with information too. You might point out how many kilt makers there are in the US now. Show them some web sites. Also, we IT guys are a breed apart and are expected to dress a little differently. I work at a community college and our administration is very concerned with diversity issues, especially cultural and gender issues, so when I went kilted full time, no one cared. In fact, I'm on our departmental web page representing the face of IT (at least on a rotational basis) http://www.lanecc.edu/it

It could be a non-issue.

Good Luck,


Dale

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Alan and Mowgli,

You both have confirmed something that I suspected, i.e. that I would have an easier time doing this if I were still on the IT side of the company. When I started here (in May of this year), I moved into the business side. I think that traditionally IT has been more informal about some of the corporate policies because of the service they provide to the organization (the fact that we were always locked away in a data center probably din't hurt!).

RJI

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

My own approach/attitude would be to go with the low key sales/diplomatic approach. I like the idea of wearing the kilt to a social function attended by co-workers and will definitely work that in, even if I have to throw a party at my place!

The idea of pictures and pointing out the increased interest and wearing of kilts will alos be good.

It is unfortunate that the dress code policy is not more definitive on the subject. It is about three sentences and is completely vague. In fact, it only mentions trousers and "appropriate" shirts as accepted attire in a way that seems aimed at what a man can wear and no mention at all about female attire, which seems unusual.

Keep the ideas and experiences coming and I will keep everyone updated as I move forward.

RJI