Inequalities in the workplace!

Irn-Bru-Kid

Not as serious as it sounds, just a little vent really.

I met my OH for lunch today. I stood outside his workplace in the lovely sunshine waiting, watching his colleagues leave the office.

My OH wears shirt, tie, dress trousers etc to work, the policy is 'smart casual' but they like the (few) men to wear ties. Its a call centre.

As the ladies were leaving the building for lunch, I saw summer dresses, tops with bits of string holding them up, t-shirts, clingy dresses down to their ankles, but no shoulders, flip flops, shades...basically all set for a day in the sunshine.

Then out comes my OH, sweating like the proverbial in his shirt and tie.

Why should my OH dress formally, when the girls look like they are set for a day at the beach? How can flip-flops and clingy floor length dresses be considered smart/casual in a business environment?

Unacceptable

McKneff

If they are allowed to why shouldnt they. If they werent they would be told to come in something more appropriate the next da.

Your husbabd dresses as he does presumably because he wants to.

Its not as if they are front of house meeting and greeting.

Your OH would look silly in one of those floor length floaty strappy dresses anyway.:D

I really cant see that it matters.

mttylad

It does matter, there has always been an inequality in the workplace where mens clothing is concerned.

We get forced to wear a tie restricting our breathing in weather like this while the women get away with the skimpiest of clothing.

We have to wear long trousers, shirt & tie while the women wear shorts, flip flops etc.

And its usually a womam in the HR department so any complaints fall on deaf ears.

Been there, done that got the T-shirt.

Wasn't allowed to wear it though.

System

you've raised a good point. Statistics may show that there are more men in management/director positions. Plus the average salary of a woman is less than a man. However men can't wear shorts and we have to wear a tie, so basically it all balances out in the end!

vikingaero

mttylad wrote: »

We get forced to wear a tie restricting our breathing in weather like this while the women get away with the skimpiest of clothing.

I have no problem with women wearing the skimpiest of clothing in or out of the workplace. :A:D

Derivative

I find it strange that people complain about wearing a suit and tie to be honest.

Yes, they can be warm if you wear polyester tat, but at the end of the day, you look like a boss.

Businesswear is the attire of winners. I wouldn't want to go to work in a t-shirt, honestly. T-shirts are for the beach, suits are for professionals.

vikingaero

Derivative wrote: »

I find it strange that people complain about wearing a suit and tie to be honest.

Yes, they can be warm if you wear polyester tat, but at the end of the day, you look like a boss.

Businesswear is the attire of winners. I wouldn't want to go to work in a t-shirt, honestly. T-shirts are for the beach, suits are for professionals.

Depends on the industry. The more creative the business then the more casual the attire. I would expect to meet my solicitor or accountant with them wearing formal attire.

jc808

goater78 wrote: »

you've raised a good point. Statistics may show that there are more men in management/director positions. Plus the average salary of a woman is less than a man. However men can't wear shorts and we have to wear a tie, so basically it all balances out in the end!

crypto-sarcasm alert!!!!

BlueAngelCV

I agree that it is unfair but the problem is that women can still look smart in a sleeveless top with a jacket/cardigan over the top but you can't really say the same amount a man in a sleeveless vest!

I do agree that if the clothes the OP is describing are ok for the women though that the men shouldn't have to wear shirt & tie. I'm surprised that in a call centre it's not a little less smart and a little more casual. I would have thought that a polo shirt or similar would be ok in that situation.

realised

I agree. My partner refuses to wear shirt/ties/trousers unless he really has to. He works in a pretty casual role (With young people) at a large charity, but in an office environment.

During the first few weeks of him starting work, he went in wearing jeans/t-shirts and got very funny looks from everyone. In the end his manager asked him to come in looking smarter, to which he refused.

Now everyone in the office dresses casually including the men :rotfl:

I can understand when people dress smart for client facing jobs etc. But if they are just sitting at a desk all day , who cares!

FATBALLZ

vikingaero wrote: »

Depends on the industry. The more creative the business then the more casual the attire. I would expect to meet my solicitor or accountant with them wearing formal attire.

Creative accountants can be quite handy...