Problem at work
Discussion
The main issue for you (with regards to Colleague A) is that her alternative to your dress code is not smart enough?
(That's how it reads from your last post).
IE - don't wear what everyone else wears, but she wears a summer dress to hide the tyres. I take it you want her to, if she insits on bucking the trend, at least try and look smart whilst doing so?
Best of luck, hope you keep your job. Getting sacked is no laughing matter (got the tshirt!). Only positive for me was I didn't have a mortgage at the time.
(That's how it reads from your last post).
IE - don't wear what everyone else wears, but she wears a summer dress to hide the tyres. I take it you want her to, if she insits on bucking the trend, at least try and look smart whilst doing so?
Best of luck, hope you keep your job. Getting sacked is no laughing matter (got the tshirt!). Only positive for me was I didn't have a mortgage at the time.
Breadvan72 said:
You really have no insight into why your approach sucks, do you, OP?
That seems to be the problem.It only takes 1 out of the team's 29 to cost the company more than they pay the team leader a year in legal costs and damages. That's why companies go to so much trouble and expense creating company-wide policies. Workers should feel entitled to be protected by rules and regulations (statutory and internal) to specifically avoid incidents like those described here.
A summer dress is not the work dress code but she does wear these and looks smart so that is fine by me. I'm happy to flex work dress code provided people are smart. I do not like the idea of jumpers etc in the office.
I appreciate all the comments and will bow out now as I think I'm clear that I'm out of step. I would say that what's written and what's happening in real life (attitudes, experience, humour) does not come over. I am pretty confident that most if not all colleagues are happy with working for me including colleague A.
I appreciate that I am going to get the sack or at best be given an exit on mutual grounds.
Thanks all again. I respect your input.
I appreciate all the comments and will bow out now as I think I'm clear that I'm out of step. I would say that what's written and what's happening in real life (attitudes, experience, humour) does not come over. I am pretty confident that most if not all colleagues are happy with working for me including colleague A.
I appreciate that I am going to get the sack or at best be given an exit on mutual grounds.
Thanks all again. I respect your input.
OP, your idea of smart is related to a woman's sexual attributes. Why must a woman show her legs to be smart? why must she wear heels to be smart? You do not treat men and women alike, as for women you apply a measure of smartness that relates to a traditional idea of what is feminine and/or may look attractive to men.
BV72's last post sums it up, i think. However, if this was all advised orally, and not in writing, perhaps theres latitude for a get-out on the grounds of 'interpretation' and, of course, how much senior management want to keep the OP. When my new PA asked about dress code i said 'smart-ish' and left it at that. Advising on heels/no heels or length of skirt, to me, seems absolutely not to be my place.
CAH706 said:
On dress down Fridays the atmosphere and quality of work dips, so yes I think there is a link between dress standards and work output.
Policy for men is; jumpers, polo shirts, chinos, smart shoes or boots. My policy is shirt and tie and smart shoes.
Quality of work dips on a Friday? Must be the clothes Policy for men is; jumpers, polo shirts, chinos, smart shoes or boots. My policy is shirt and tie and smart shoes.
Wouldn't matter how funny you thought you were, I would also be complaining about someone making up their own dress code because they think its the best look.
Breadvan72 said:
OP, your idea of smart is related to a woman's sexual attributes. Why must a woman show her legs to be smart? why must she wear heels to be smart? You do not treat men and women alike, as for women you apply a measure of smartness that relates to a traditional idea of what is feminine and/or may look attractive to men.
I think this is exactly right.OP, Turning the policy around a bit might help. So rather than saying 'you must wear X Y and Z' you could try 'the following are not acceptable in the workplace...'.
Most women at my place of work will wear trousers and all look smart. If they were all told that only knee-length skirts were acceptable then all hell would ensue.
Are these employees client/customer facing? If I have a day of just sitting in my office (not open plan) with no meetings then I wear whatever I want- jeans and t-shirt normally. Mostly it's shirt and trousers though (no tie- I'm an academic).
hstewie said:Bloody hell, I can't see why people are delighting at the thought of OP losing his job. PH is harsh sometimes.
It is a very minor issue, no one has left, no one has lost a contract, no one has been sacked, no one has not been employed... and the original complainent has attempted to tone down her complaint to HR but HR will go through the process, it is their job afterall.
Seems a little education and a shift of attitudes is required from the OP yes. But for a guy with a mortgage to lose his job, no.
I understand he isn't even the Manager; so finger points at the Manager - no? If the whole place has an outdated attitude to women's dress, including it seems most of the women in his department who agreed and reinforced the silly "shexy girl yah" policy, then a general point of learning current acceptable standards of attire for his department, repeated to the company as whole, with updated clarification in the Staff Handbook is required.
You could always make the OP wear saucy Anne Summers type gear every Friday for a month as punishment. Might work.
It is a very minor issue, no one has left, no one has lost a contract, no one has been sacked, no one has not been employed... and the original complainent has attempted to tone down her complaint to HR but HR will go through the process, it is their job afterall.
Seems a little education and a shift of attitudes is required from the OP yes. But for a guy with a mortgage to lose his job, no.
I understand he isn't even the Manager; so finger points at the Manager - no? If the whole place has an outdated attitude to women's dress, including it seems most of the women in his department who agreed and reinforced the silly "shexy girl yah" policy, then a general point of learning current acceptable standards of attire for his department, repeated to the company as whole, with updated clarification in the Staff Handbook is required.
You could always make the OP wear saucy Anne Summers type gear every Friday for a month as punishment. Might work.
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