Wearing a kilt to Work

[puckhead9]

The first few days I wore mine to work it was a bit distracting to my fellow workers. Once it became my "normal" attire, I really get no comments at all anymore. Wear the kilt and once they are used to seeing you in it the comments and such will stop.

[Catdad]

I checked with HR at my company and I am not allowed to wear a kilt to work. At least they can't stop me from going kilted on weekends!

[1malt]

I checked with HR at my company and I am not allowed to wear a kilt to work. At least they can't stop me from going kilted on weekends!

I wouldn't have asked, better to ask for forgiveness than permission and I doubt there is a written rule that specifically forbids wearing a kilt. I know, pick your battles..............

Ken

[Old Hippie]

I think and my friend agrees that wearing the kilt at work could well be a distraction as you would be inundated with questions and could not get on with your work.

Humans, like other animals, tend to react only to what doesn't "fit" or what seems out of place in their immediate environments. Once they're acclimated to the new thing, it tends not to attract notice unless it is perceived as a threat.

When I first started coming to the university kilted, people noticed much more than they do now. Now they may ask when I'll next wear it! I only got one reaction that could have been negative -- I was given a wolf whistle by a pair of First Nations cowboys, but let's just say I considered the source and it didn't worry me.

I'm a naturally gregarious fellow and already rather well known on campus even before showing up kilted, so most people just comment on the kilt but otherwise don't seem surprised. The first time in front of the class kilted was a hoot -- the students weren't at all sure how to act, which I found a good "teachable moment." They figured out that I was still me, and if anything the incidence of eyelid droop from sitting in a warm room filled with humming computers was a little lower.

:ootd:

[KiltedBrewer]

Sadly, I can't wear a kilt to work. It's a safety issue since I spend all my time around hot liquids and/or harsh chemicals.

It's also a modesty issue since I work on top of a 5 foot high platform (basically a metal grate) in front of a ground-level viewing window. Then again, maybe it would bring in more people if I were kilted...

[Mr. bone]

I talk to thousands and thousands of people each day and no one ever says one word...








Of course, I'm in radio, so that may be a part of it. But in house, it's no big deal. They usually chalk it up to me be being "The Crazy Morning Guy". That actually lets me get away with quite a bit!

[staticsan]

I think it says something not just about your workplace's culture, but also your social culture. From my reading experiences here on XMarks, as well as my own visit to the US, it seems that North Americans are noticeably more likely than Australians to comment about a kilt being worn. It's not that Aussies don't notice; but they are much less likely to say anything!

Wade.

[Marshal Moroni]

Well, for me teaching in an Alternative Ed. High School, with a 98% Latino population, wearing the kilt ha been good and eye opening for my students.

A few odd comments the first time, but since St. Patrick's Day, every Friday has been kilt day and its gone over quite well.

Some comments, but they are dropping off to a small number. I even have a couple of students that have asked about how they can get kilts.

Best of luck in your kilting efforts,

Marshal Moroni

[pauljsharp]

I have worn my kilt to work several times now and it is no longer a problem. I did get quite a few comments the first time I wore it however, but they were all supportive. Since then, little to no comments. In fact I have decided and recently implemented a policy for myself to wear one of my kilts at least once a month to work.

Now, I do have to be careful, as I go straight to school after work I have to make sure that I don't wear it on Thursdays... Thursdays are my Organic Chem Lab Class (until August that is,) and I have to have a lab coat and long pants for that day so it is out. Other than that, no problems.

[O'Callaghan]

I don't know about your job and workplace so this might not be relevant. I work as staff at a local Community College (roughly equivalent to the old UK polytechnic) and am kilted every day. From day one I have had very little attention and nobody seems distracted by my wearing a kilt. I think if I turned up in slacks now, that would cause more of a stir than the kilt does.

Brian

:ootd:

Just a heads up, but in the UK the polys all became universities eventually, whilst what used to be the technical colleges and colleges of further ed are now actually called community colleges, which I think is about right in terms of equivalence.

I have a friend who teaches law at the University of the South Bank, which used to be the South Bank Polytechnic, and another who graduated with a Bachelors' degree in Mech. Engineering from NE London Poly, which is now East London Uni.

Trivia note: Yes I knew there was already another East London University in S. Africa before the one in London, but the South African one is in a town called East London, as opposed to being in the 'East End' of London. For that matter, there are places called City University in both London and New York, and maybe other cities for all I know.