I apologize if this is innap, I need to release steam

[JamieKerr]

I live in Westfield NY, but I'm in Buffalo all the time. That's most definitely not far from me!

[Riverkilt]

Hey, I'm a State Licensed Professional Counselor and have "been there, done that" with my agency. Long stories and long threads. I got lucky and "won" after two setbacks.

Some thoughts.

Find out your agency policy on diversity...not what they do, but what they say. Should be in the agency policy manual or even on the wall somewhere in poster form. Likely your agency officially supports diversity. The concept of how one's ethnicity can possibly insult another person's ethnicity baffles me.

Go to http://tartans.byair.net/ click on K, then scroll down to Kerr and pick your favorite Kerr tartan and make it your desktop on your computer at work.

During the time I was "banned" from wearing kilts to work I wore tartan pants and tartan shirts. Orvis and L.L. Bean are your friends, plus whatever you may already have in your wardrobe.

I've also found and hung pictures of kilted Scots in my office.

I'm quite amazed that some agency somewhere is trying to so tightly control a social worker...us therapist types are usually given great leeway in our "style." You might wish to consider other agencies and use your Kerr/Viking courage to interview kilted.

To gain my "freedom of kilt" it came to me having to file a grievance - a poor choice of words - it was more of an appeal. In my agency I only had three days to do that so I was lucky I asked right away (hint hint).

What was fun was when I asked the Human Resources Department if I had any method of appeal the lady couldn't hand me the form fast enough. Its a step by step process at my agency. My clinical supervisor passed it directly on to the CEO who changed his "no kilts" edict rather than having me take it to the next step - a committee of the board of directors.

And, if your agency is receiving any Federal funding they're on extremely thin ice to squash cultural diversity. Its even more severe in that your ancestors were once banned from wearing the kilt over 200 years ago...they are replicating historic oppression. Try that with the Native American, Black or Hispanic culture and they'd be sued until they bled.

And there have been some successful threats to sue by attorneys who are members of clans. Wouldn't doubt that you may find some support from your local St. Andrew's type society.

Often, polite education is the key. Also look for coworkers who have Scottish names, if there are any. See what they feel about it.

Stay polite, stay cooperative, but don't give up. Persevere.

Ron

[SteveB]

Jamie,
First - a very warm from Boston, Massachusetts.
Second - You are not the one with the problem. Either a co-worker is out of line professionally, or is on the wrong end of supervision for cause. Whichever is the case, he/she has decided to use/abuse you as their personal scapegoat. I hope you can keep a professional air when the discussion comes up. I do not know the labor laws in the State of New York. If this were here in Massachusetts, the supervisor would be reported to human resources, with a suggestion for some culture/diversity training. I am an openly gay male, who is in a same sex marriage here in Massachusetts. I wear the kilt as a source of pride in my Scottish Ancestry, as well as for the comfort that goes along with it. Tuesday I was kilted all day in public as the supervisor of a precinct polling station here in Boston. I have had in the past a few rude remarks about the kilt. Most have been handled by some short words of education. I have been kilted over forty years, and have only had one person that needed education by being the caber that got tossed. I am also fortunate to live in a very culturally, and ethnically diverse city. I have been photographed on the subway while kilted, talking with another passenger in full Native American regalia.
At first, there were some issues. Over time they have faded away as more people here are showing pride in their heritage in their daily clothing.

Best wishes, Steve