Enforcement of Dress Code

Cycrow

MacMickster wrote: »

I am intrigued to know which large employer with several thousand people on a single site would find it acceptable for ANY employee to start work in a desk job wearing sports clothing. It sounds as if one senior manager is trying to introduce much-needed professional standards to that employer.

There certainly are some that dont have dress codes, most companies i've worked for dont, and i usually wear tshirts and shorts most of the time. These are mainly games/programming jobs.

MacMickster

Cycrow wrote: »

There certainly are some that dont have dress codes, most companies i've worked for dont, and i usually wear tshirts and shorts most of the time. These are mainly games/programming jobs.

I take it that they aren't large businesses with several thousand employees on a single site though.

That said, I'd imagine (hope) that you are talking about tailored shorts rather than sportswear being worn at work, but even then I'm not sure that I would be happy with this as workwear in an office.

FBaby

And to take things further - probably nobody would mind someone walking to the shower if they went straight in but if the shower is occupied then what happens?

Is the shower just off the office then? So close that you can see who goes in/out from where you sit at your desk?

In fact, at my level, I'm actually encouraged to challenge decisions if I think they are wrong

Indeed, but at the same time, if you have so many strangers telling you that they think you are wrong, then as a manager, you should be able to self-reflect and question whether you indeed are not looking at it fairly because you are taking the issue personally.

Posters have come up with many options/compromise to deal with it. A board by which people can put their name in 5 minutes slots would solve the issue of just waiting for them to be finished, or taking too long. If exceptionally you miss your slot, you could easily have another change of clothes to put on before you can go and shower.

I'm a manager and I wouldn't want any of my staff seating at their desk in cycling gear looking hot and sweaty. There is a difference between a relaxed dress code and looking like you should be elsewhere than at work.

However, you seem on a mission to have the last word no matter what compromises are suggested. In the end, it is up to you, but I would be surprised if sticking to your gun will go in your favour long term.

Cycrow

MacMickster wrote: »

I take it that they aren't large businesses with several thousand employees on a single site though.

That said, I'd imagine (hope) that you are talking about tailored shorts rather than sportswear being worn at work, but even then I'm not sure that I would be happy with this as workwear in an office.

not all offices are the same, some really dont care what you wear. And no, they are not tailored shorts.
I also wear trainers rather than shoes

And why should it matter what people where in an office, i dont see why other employees should be so offended by what people wear

xapprenticex

My place allows you to wear what you want within reason, nothing revealing or an issue for other members of staff. My last place was shirt and trousers with tie (though the tie (equivalent) rule was never enforced on women... not even going to start on that).

PERSONALLY, I wouldn't be impressed with having some guy in my office in shorts all hot and sweaty in the mornings when my stomach is at its weakest. If you were all covered up then I'd tolerate it possibly but shorts and t-shirt would be a bit much for me, not what I'd want to see.

MacMickster

Cycrow wrote: »

not all offices are the same, some really dont care what you wear. And no, they are not tailored shorts.
I also wear trainers rather than shoes

And why should it matter what people where in an office, i dont see why other employees should be so offended by what people wear

Why should it matter what clothes employees wear in the workplace?

Can I ask you whether you think it matters what clothes people wear to a job interview and the reasoning behind your answer.

Are there any types of clothing that you consider unsuitable for the workplace and, if so, why?

From my personal perspective I wouldn't have a problem with junior back office staff who don't have any contact with the clientele of a business from wearing smart casual clothing at work (but this wouldn't include sportswear or training shoes). Once anyone had contact with clients or reached a management position then I would expect them to dress for work as they would for the interview for that position.

Once you start relaxing dress requirements too far then you create all sorts of problems that may need to be addressed by management. Some sports clothing may be very loose and revealing or conversely immodest by being tight fitting. You may not see why this should cause offence to colleagues, but if it does then YOU and not the person who is offended are the problem.

ERICS_MUM

Personally I would not want to have a sweaty man with his hairy legs on show in the office.

Perhaps you should spend your energy on finding a mutually acceptable solution rather than piling up objections against it ?

Cycrow

MacMickster wrote: »

Why should it matter what clothes employees wear in the workplace?

Can I ask you whether you think it matters what clothes people wear to a job interview and the reasoning behind your answer.

Are there any types of clothing that you consider unsuitable for the workplace and, if so, why?

From my personal perspective I wouldn't have a problem with junior back office staff who don't have any contact with the clientele of a business from wearing smart casual clothing at work (but this wouldn't include sportswear or training shoes). Once anyone had contact with clients or reached a management position then I would expect them to dress for work as they would for the interview for that position.

Once you start relaxing dress requirements too far then you create all sorts of problems that may need to be addressed by management. Some sports clothing may be very loose and revealing or conversely immodest by being tight fitting. You may not see why this should cause offence to colleagues, but if it does then YOU and not the person who is offended are the problem.

And what problems does wearing trainers rather than shoes cause exactly ?
And if someone is offended by someone wearing trainers, then i think its them who have the problem.

im there to work and do my job, im not there to look good. So i wear what im most comfortable in.

Like i said, not all offices are the same.

And no, there are no clothes i would consider unsuitable in the my work place

MacMickster

Cycrow wrote: »

And no, there are no clothes i would consider unsuitable in the my work place

Oh dear! Really? So, to take this to extremes, if a woman working in or visiting your office felt that the sight of you wandering around in a mankini constituted sexual harassment then this would be her problem and not yours, nor a problem for management?

If you accept that a line must be drawn somewhere then your employer needs to begin to define that line. I quite like the definition given by FBaby that if you look like you are dressed to be somewhere other than work then you are unsuitably dressed for work.

Cycrow

MacMickster wrote: »

Oh dear! Really? So, to take this to extremes, if a woman working in or visiting your office felt that the sight of you wandering around in a mankini constituted sexual harassment then this would be her problem and not yours, nor a problem for management?

If you accept that a line must be drawn somewhere then your employer needs to begin to define that line. I quite like the definition given by FBaby that if you look like you are dressed to be somewhere other than work then you are unsuitably dressed for work.

So why not draw the line at no mankinis ?
besides, i dont wear a mankini, i wear a tshirt

You never answered what so offending about wearing trainers, what difference does it make ?
what makes them so unsuitable for work exactly ?

I know people who go on nights out in suits (ie the same they were for work) so are you suggesting those are also unsuitable for work?