WHY do I have to ask?

[ardchoille]

I would just wear a kilt to work. If they say it isn't allowed, I'd find a new job. I won't work for an organisation which discriminates against my heritage. I realise this can be seen as drastic, but I have to ask myself "where are my loyalties?" and go from there. I have a friend who threatened to do this and the employer made an exception for him, since he was a "valuable" employee. I would think that any employer with an ounce of common sense would make an exception as long as it wasn't a danger. But, that's just my opinion.

[mudd]

I never asked. I just wore it. Everyone was surprised, but the dress code issue never came up because I didn't present it that way. I just skirted the issue, so to speak.

[emolas]

I would just wear a kilt to work. If they say it isn't allowed, I'd find a new job. I won't work for an organisation which discriminates against my heritage. I realise this can be seen as drastic, but I have to ask myself "where are my loyalties?" and go from there. I have a friend who threatened to do this and the employer made an exception for him, since he was a "valuable" employee. I would think that any employer with an ounce of common sense would make an exception as long as it wasn't a danger. But, that's just my opinion.

That might work in a smaller company but when you are one of 350000 US employees and in a competetive field like IT, you are a bit more expendable.
I also agree that common sense says it shouldn't even have to be an issue but, when dealing with corporations: "common sense is an uncommon virtue" . Nobody wants to say it's OK and then have someone above them question their decision so it's easier to just say no.

[Archangel]

I would just wear a kilt to work. If they say it isn't allowed, I'd find a new job. I won't work for an organisation which discriminates against my heritage. I realise this can be seen as drastic, but I have to ask myself "where are my loyalties?" and go from there. I have a friend who threatened to do this and the employer made an exception for him, since he was a "valuable" employee. I would think that any employer with an ounce of common sense would make an exception as long as it wasn't a danger. But, that's just my opinion.

The reason you have to ask is a result of the basic equation: workers work, managers manage. You also have to look at the old Scottish saying: s/he who pays the piper calls the tune.

It's not much more complicated than that. The thread was started by someone in a clerk position. Safety is not an issue, it would be in my workplace, for example. If that person senses it is okay, that's great: go for it. If not, you just have to weigh your salary against your sense of injustice.

Common sense, ha, you don't see it driving home, why would you expect it at work.

Lastly, don't try the Scottish heritage thing, it's not a discrimination issue when it comes to kilts at work. Only when every man in Scotland has an obligation to wear a kilt does that become an argument.

[Clockwork John]

I say go for it. But then again, I work in education, in a classroom, and I am represented by a fairly good union, and there *technically* is no dress code in my contract... So they really can't tell me no.

It sounds like it would be within the guidelines they've given to you... The dress code does not specify that men must wear pants or that only women can wear skirts (I hate calling a kilt a skirt, but sometimes you have to...).

Worst case scenario, they tell you not to wear it again.