Enforcement of Dress Code

thescouselander

Yes, I am aware that corporate policy is that there is no dress code. In other areas of the site the wearing of sports kit for a short while is allowed and the new ruling applies locally to around only 40 staff.

Really it is not my employer imposing this rule as such but a high ranking manager making rules to placate a single staff member. There is no business reason for the decision. Corporately the organisation is very sympathetic to cyclists and actively encourages people to get to work this way - we're supposed to make it easier, not harder.

martinsurrey

thescouselander wrote: »

Yes, I am aware that corporate policy is that there is no dress code. In other areas of the site the wearing of sports kit for a short while is allowed and the new ruling applies locally to around only 40 staff.

Really it is not my employer imposing this rule as such but a high ranking manager making rules to placate a single staff member. There is no business reason for the decision. Corporately the organisation is very sympathetic to cyclists and actively encourages people to get to work this way - we're supposed to make it easier, not harder.

Can you not
1) put a fresh t shirt on, suit on the top, then shower when its free.
2) use a hand towel to dry off, suit on, shower when its free
3) shower at home, cycle in, dry off, suit on (you wont smell if you've just washed)

all simple options that wont make it hard to comply.

flamin_galah

If it's only 10-15 minutes you wait at your desk while the shower becomes free, can't you just go and wait near the shower area, so you're not offending whichever staff member it is that's complained? You say getting in earlier won't make it easier to get a shower, but surely going in earlier means you get in before the person in timeslot that's in use when you usually get in, ifyswim? So you can still start work at the time you want to, you just need to get there a touch earlier to grab the shower.

Other than that, I second the idea of showering before you leave and flannel washing when you get in.

I do think your employer is being petty, if you really do shower asap when you get there but I think they're within reason to ask employees to adhere to minimum dress standards at work and usually in offices sportswear doesn't cut it.

thescouselander

martinsurrey wrote: »

Can you not
1) put a fresh t shirt on, suit on the top, then shower when its free.
2) use a hand towel to dry off, suit on, shower when its free
3) shower at home, cycle in, dry off, suit on (you wont smell if you've just washed)

all simple options that wont make it hard to comply.

Not especially. Corporate has provided a shower and storage on the office floor to enable changing. I'd therefor have to walk to the facilities via the office to get to my stuff in order to change but the new rules effective make these facilities useless. That's the absurdity of it all - corporate management giving one lot of direction and local management undermining it.

martinsurrey

thescouselander wrote: »

Not especially. Corporate has provided a shower and storage on the office floor to enable changing. I'd therefor have to walk to the facilities via the office to get to my stuff in order to change but the new rules effective make these facilities useless. That's the absurdity of it all - corporate management giving one lot of direction and local management undermining it.

so now its not the 15mins you're at your desk that's the problem, its being in the building at all, you're first post didn't sound like that, I sense moving goal posts as you didn't get the replies you wanted.

"Limited shower and changing facilities are provided so I therefore arrive at my desk in my cycling gear (no lycra - just baggy shorts and a T Shirt) until such time as the shower becomes free and I can change into normal office attire."

BoJangles_2

I would pick your battles wisely, there is a simple solution - allow for the time it takes for the shower to become available and as you work flexi-time, this shouldn't really be an issue.

Johno100

This is what the OP needs, 100% spandex/lycra



Or this one

https://www.eta.co.uk/2013/01/31/sartorial-cycling-the-lycra-evening-suit/

FBaby

There is no business reason for the decision.

Of course there is. You are a manager and need to show to be a good example and credible. Sitting at your desk in shorts and T-shirt doesn't give that message and I think the top manager is absolutely right.

What could be done though is to say that showers should last no longer than 5 minutes. It doesn't take longer to just freshen up. You could even introduce a slotting rota.

I think you are making a big deal for nothing and I suspect what happened is that you started to stay at your desk longer and longer before showering and that's what the complaint was about rather than the dress code.

getmore4less

What you need to do is use this new rule to get a new shower block with it's own entrance near the bike storage facilities

This should satisfy everyone.

MacMickster

It is your choice to cycle to work. It is up to you to be at your desk properly dressed at the correct time for the start of your shift. If you aren't able to think of a way to do this should you really be in a management seat?