Problem at work

Author
Discussion

CAH706

Original Poster:

1,963 posts

164 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
So today I get the news that I have broken a HR rule and will be facing a disciplinary and possibly the sack!

As background, I work for a large company (for 20 years) and manage a small (sub 30) team of roughly 70/30 women to men. Of late we've hired a couple of attractive women (stunners) and I have therefore enforced the dress code more rigorously which is business casual.

Given the attractiveness I asked the ladies to wear skirts etc to brighten up the office which most were happy to go along with. For some reason colleague A ( let's say you will not be surprised to know she is a pig dog) refused and pointed out this wasn't the dress code. To be fair it isn't but is my version of.

Anyway things settle down but standards slipped so I've pushed the code more of late. Shortish skirts and no flat shoes.

All are ok with this new push on standards with the exception of pig dog who has reported me to HR and the Union!

Long story short HR had me in for a chat and have said I've broken various regulations. I couldn't deny it as I have 20 women who will say I've put the policy in place. 95% of them were happy with the policy and I've had comments from other departments on how smart we are looking. In hind site mainly from men.

So, given I can't deny what I've done, any tips on how to handle this. Surely this can't be a stackable offence? It's PC ,madness!


ikarl

3,730 posts

199 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Nothing I can add that will help, but surely you must've known that was wrong?

Pretty sure they have you over a barrel. Not sure if they'll go the whole hog and sack you though....are you currently suspended?

Blib

43,978 posts

197 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Antideluvian.

CAH706

Original Poster:

1,963 posts

164 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Yep....I'm not allowed in which is a shame as we had a night planned out for Friday.

People are so sensitive now and pretty sure it was just the larger pig dog who was jealous of the new young ladies in the team.


CAH706

Original Poster:

1,963 posts

164 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Blib - not really or I'd not let the women in the door. My standards were hardly over the top!

ikarl

3,730 posts

199 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
If you worked for me, I would sack you.

Your attitude 'larger pig dog' 'stunners' etc absolutely stinks. You might think its PC gone wrong but most of these rules are here for a reason. You seem to be completely unable to accept that.

CAH706

Original Poster:

1,963 posts

164 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Maybe I'm just explaining this badly, it's been a long day. I wouldn't have sacked them for non compliance.

It was a code that we aspired to and most were ok with this. If they were not happy they could say no and that would have been it. Reporting it to HR and the Union is not on.

I've had a number of calls from colleagues who can't believe whats happened.

Thanks for the input though and I guess the pig dog comment is a little off....I'm just slightly bitter

scottri

951 posts

182 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
You had a dress code which specifically said short skirts and heals for office work?

CAH706

Original Poster:

1,963 posts

164 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
No. Short skirts and no flats. Guess it's semantics though.

CAH706

Original Poster:

1,963 posts

164 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
And short as in knee length not short short!

Sharted

2,624 posts

143 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Do you work in Hooters?

Mojooo

12,707 posts

180 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
CAH706 said:
No. Short skirts and no flats. Guess it's semantics though.
Short skirts might kill you off.

Trousers were acceptable right?


Kiltie

7,504 posts

246 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
ikarl said:
If you worked for me, I would sack you.

Your attitude 'larger pig dog' 'stunners' etc absolutely stinks. You might think its PC gone wrong but most of these rules are here for a reason. You seem to be completely unable to accept that.
I agree.

Maybe the OP is exaggerating a bit for the sake of PH but I would not work alongside a man who thinks that terms like that are in any way acceptable.

Dan_1981

17,380 posts

199 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Is this a genuine thread?

You actually thought it was ok to specify short skirts?!

What industry do you work in?!

ReallyReallyGood

1,622 posts

130 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
CAH706: the 1950s called, it wants you back.

CAH706

Original Poster:

1,963 posts

164 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Trousers at a push. Like I said if they didn't want to adopt the dress code then that was ok.

If you worked somewhere and the uniform was provided would you get to specify the length of skirt? Maybe you get the choice of trousers but could you choose the skirt length?

All I was trying to do was bring in some standards and uniformity and admittedly giving the chance for the stunners to shine!

Sheets Tabuer

18,949 posts

215 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Are you Benny Hill?

ali_kat

31,988 posts

221 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
CAH706 said:
So today I get the news that I have broken a HR rule and will be facing a disciplinary and possibly the sack!

As background, I work for a large company (for 20 years) and manage a small (sub 30) team of roughly 70/30 women to men. Of late we've hired a couple of attractive women (stunners) and I have therefore enforced the dress code more rigorously which is business casual.

Given the attractiveness I asked the ladies to wear skirts etc to brighten up the office which most were happy to go along with. For some reason colleague A ( let's say you will not be surprised to know she is a pig dog) refused and pointed out this wasn't the dress code. To be fair it isn't but is my version of.

Anyway things settle down but standards slipped so I've pushed the code more of late. Shortish skirts and no flat shoes.

All are ok with this new push on standards with the exception of pig dog who has reported me to HR and the Union!

Long story short HR had me in for a chat and have said I've broken various regulations. I couldn't deny it as I have 20 women who will say I've put the policy in place. 95% of them were happy with the policy and I've had comments from other departments on how smart we are looking. In hind site mainly from men.

So, given I can't deny what I've done, any tips on how to handle this. Surely this can't be a stackable offence? It's PC ,madness!
Unbelievable!!

Dan_1981

17,380 posts

199 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Has GOT to be a wind up

essayer

9,058 posts

194 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
It's not even half term rofl