T-shirt inappropriate for work?

Dakta

"I think it's generally unwise to wear any sort* of clothing at work that anyone there might find controversial"

Bingo.........................................

Not familiar with agencies but is it not the case that if you give them a reason to not want you they can just ring up and say 'the person you sent is causing us headache, send another?'

Thrugelmir

Dakta said:

Not familiar with agencies but is it not the case that if you give them a reason to not want you they can just ring up and say 'the person you sent is causing us headache, send another?'

Same principle normally applies to any outside contractors. The loss of potential business soon results in a swift change in personnel and often a request not to send them back ever again. 

Jillanddy

I am just annoyed that I can't wear my gay slogan t-shirt

That sounds very much like the T-shirt was worn to provoke a response. Would you be so annoyed if the company policy was that you cannot wear blue? 

Regardless of what the job or the "rules" I think it is inappropriate to be parading your personal opinions on a T-shirt at work. Whatever they are. 

Jack_bauer24

Jillanddy said:

I am just annoyed that I can't wear my gay slogan t-shirt

That sounds very much like the T-shirt was worn to provoke a response. Would you be so annoyed if the company policy was that you cannot wear blue? 

Regardless of what the job or the "rules" I think it is inappropriate to be parading your personal opinions on a T-shirt at work. Whatever they are. 

I am not provoking a response, I just want to wear it. I shouldn't get told what I can or can't wear when I am not employed by them, it's that simple.  

Scrounger

Why not just wear the T-shirt that was handed to you?

Look on the bright side: you gained a free T-shirt!

Scrounger

Dakta

Jack_bauer24 said:

Jillanddy said:

I am just annoyed that I can't wear my gay slogan t-shirt

That sounds very much like the T-shirt was worn to provoke a response. Would you be so annoyed if the company policy was that you cannot wear blue? 

Regardless of what the job or the "rules" I think it is inappropriate to be parading your personal opinions on a T-shirt at work. Whatever they are. 

I am not provoking a response, I just want to wear it. I shouldn't get told what I can or can't wear when I am not employed by them, it's that simple.  

It's even more simple than that - they're in charge.

They hire the services the company you work for provide, and they CAN set the rules, in fact I think you'd probably have more rights if they did employ you as right now they could just ring the agency and say they don't really like you for any reason they pick, or not give one at all and never to send you again.

You hold no cards here, and I suspect this was all about making a statement or getting a reaction. 

Let's face it, it does come across as a bit of a statement and as such not the sort of thing I suspect a professional would select to wear to the office and maybe the client wants to uphold a standard - as such giving you an alternate shirt was actually quite thoughtful.

TELLIT01

Back in the 80s when attitudes were far more relaxed than they are today, there were two instances where people were told their tops were unacceptable because of the text on them.  One read "In case of r*pe, this side up", the other "If you think s*x is a pain in the a**e, you are doing it wrong".  The two women involved were just told not to wear them again.  Neither were in public facing roles and t shirts in general were permitted.

Dakta

TELLIT01 said:

Back in the 80s when attitudes were far more relaxed than they are today, there were two instances where people were told their tops were unacceptable because of the text on them.  One read "In case of r*pe, this side up", the other "If you think s*x is a pain in the a**e, you are doing it wrong".  The two women involved were just told not to wear them again.  Neither were in public facing roles and t shirts in general were permitted.

Interesting, I wonder if back then they accepted the advice or created a stink on the tinterweb leading to companies making general policies over any kind of statement as ultimately regardless of the merits of the individual statement it wasn't worth the hassle?

(I do jest ... somewhat seriously)

TBagpuss

Jack_bauer24 said:

Jillanddy said:

I am just annoyed that I can't wear my gay slogan t-shirt

That sounds very much like the T-shirt was worn to provoke a response. Would you be so annoyed if the company policy was that you cannot wear blue? 

Regardless of what the job or the "rules" I think it is inappropriate to be parading your personal opinions on a T-shirt at work. Whatever they are. 

I am not provoking a response, I just want to wear it. I shouldn't get told what I can or can't wear when I am not employed by them, it's that simple.  

It's VERY common to have dress codes and restrictions in what you can wear while working. The fact that you are an agency worker rather than directly employed is not relevant. I suspect that if you were to ask your agency they would tell you that you have to comply with the policies and reasonable instructions of the client you are working for. 

In many, perhaps most, workplaces, shorts with slogans or big logos would be seen as inappropriate. 

Undervalued

Jack_bauer24 said:

Jillanddy said:

I am just annoyed that I can't wear my gay slogan t-shirt

That sounds very much like the T-shirt was worn to provoke a response. Would you be so annoyed if the company policy was that you cannot wear blue? 

Regardless of what the job or the "rules" I think it is inappropriate to be parading your personal opinions on a T-shirt at work. Whatever they are. 

I am not provoking a response, I just want to wear it. I shouldn't get told what I can or can't wear when I am not employed by them, it's that simple.  

But you are employed by them, albeit indirectly!

They are paying you, via an agency, to turn up and do certain work in exchange for an agreed payment.

Basically they can decided as they please (with a few legal exceptions) how you behave, look, act, speak, what qualifications are required etc etc to be deemed to be a suitable person to carry out work for them.

If you don't meet their criteria they can tell you to leave or tell your agency to send somebody else.

"It's that simple"!