WHY do I have to ask?

[BozemanboB]

Wondering aloud: why do I have to ASK if it's alright to wear kilts to work?

There's nothing in the dress code that says I can't and if there was I wouldn't even consider wearing one. Here's the cut right from the Employee Handbook. (FYI: we are a production machine shop but I am an Office Employee (gotta love the separation between the "floor people" and the "office people", eh?).)

All employees shall maintain personal cleanliness and grooming habits that reflect a professional image for both the employee and the company.

<Company Name> is proud of its public image and strives to maintain the high standards for which we are known. The public forms their image of our organization through their contacts with you. We hope you will share our pride in <Company Name>. Accordingly, the following policy has been established for our employees.

(skip section 1 for production floor employees)

2. Office Employees, including department managers: Office employees may wear appropriate shirts, shorts and slacks. Jeans or dress jeans are permitted; however, they must look neat, clean and respectable. No sweats, strapless and/or see-through tops will be allowed. Dresses or skirts should be of appropriate length. Mini skirts are not permitted. For employee safety, shoes or boots must be worn at all times. No open-toe shoes (thongs, sandals) are permitted in the production area. Employees may be required to wear additional PPE in specific areas.

In the interest of safety, loose clothing and jewelry, including ties, necklaces and bracelets are prohibited in the production and growth areas of the plant.

Before I start giving any justifications for why I should be able to wear it to work, I want to pose the question to all of you:
Why should I have to ask?

Thanks for your candid feedback...


BozemanboB

[Ayin McFye]

I agree completely.

You could always try what i'm going to try here soon... Make a pair of slacks out of your family's tartan and wear those work. Nothing in your dress code policy states anything about Black Slacks, or Khaki slacks. So wear your familys' tartan in a pair of slacks, and you'll be golden.

[ChromeScholar]

Playing Devil's advocate here, I'll tell you how i would see it, if I were a PITA manager...

The dress code specifically mentions shirts, shorts, slacks, jeans, dress jeans, skirts, and dresses. It does not mention kilts as being appropriate.

Of course it doesn't mention them as being inappropriate, either. So you can ask if they are acceptable, and risk getting a no. Or you can go ahead and wear a kilt, and see if they get banned.

Your choice.

[ardchoille]

I would just wear a kilt to work. If they say it isn't allowed, I'd find a new job. I won't work for an organisation which discriminates against my heritage. I realise this can be seen as drastic, but I have to ask myself "where are my loyalties?" and go from there. I have a friend who threatened to do this and the employer made an exception for him, since he was a "valuable" employee. I would think that any employer with an ounce of common sense would make an exception as long as it wasn't a danger. But, that's just my opinion.

[mudd]

I never asked. I just wore it. Everyone was surprised, but the dress code issue never came up because I didn't present it that way. I just skirted the issue, so to speak.

[emolas]

I would just wear a kilt to work. If they say it isn't allowed, I'd find a new job. I won't work for an organisation which discriminates against my heritage. I realise this can be seen as drastic, but I have to ask myself "where are my loyalties?" and go from there. I have a friend who threatened to do this and the employer made an exception for him, since he was a "valuable" employee. I would think that any employer with an ounce of common sense would make an exception as long as it wasn't a danger. But, that's just my opinion.

That might work in a smaller company but when you are one of 350000 US employees and in a competetive field like IT, you are a bit more expendable.
I also agree that common sense says it shouldn't even have to be an issue but, when dealing with corporations: "common sense is an uncommon virtue" . Nobody wants to say it's OK and then have someone above them question their decision so it's easier to just say no.

[Archangel]

I would just wear a kilt to work. If they say it isn't allowed, I'd find a new job. I won't work for an organisation which discriminates against my heritage. I realise this can be seen as drastic, but I have to ask myself "where are my loyalties?" and go from there. I have a friend who threatened to do this and the employer made an exception for him, since he was a "valuable" employee. I would think that any employer with an ounce of common sense would make an exception as long as it wasn't a danger. But, that's just my opinion.

The reason you have to ask is a result of the basic equation: workers work, managers manage. You also have to look at the old Scottish saying: s/he who pays the piper calls the tune.

It's not much more complicated than that. The thread was started by someone in a clerk position. Safety is not an issue, it would be in my workplace, for example. If that person senses it is okay, that's great: go for it. If not, you just have to weigh your salary against your sense of injustice.

Common sense, ha, you don't see it driving home, why would you expect it at work.

Lastly, don't try the Scottish heritage thing, it's not a discrimination issue when it comes to kilts at work. Only when every man in Scotland has an obligation to wear a kilt does that become an argument.

[Clockwork John]

I say go for it. But then again, I work in education, in a classroom, and I am represented by a fairly good union, and there *technically* is no dress code in my contract... So they really can't tell me no.

It sounds like it would be within the guidelines they've given to you... The dress code does not specify that men must wear pants or that only women can wear skirts (I hate calling a kilt a skirt, but sometimes you have to...).

Worst case scenario, they tell you not to wear it again.

[McMurdo]

You should not have to ask, I never did ask myself and I wear my kilt everyday. Sometimes it is better to ask forgiveness rather than permission. It says right in your employee handbook re dress code:
"Dresses or skirts should be of appropriate length."
There is nothing inappropriate in the length of a kilt, my only concern would be the tolerance of your workplace, I am lucky in that everyone has accepted my kilt wearing and they have even come to enjoy and look forward to it, however you know your workplace and the people that inhabit it will they accept you dressed as you wish? That is the question you should ask yourself before striding into the office kilted.
One other thing that I should say, if you are going to do it then make sure that your outfit is well put together, and looks as professional as it can be. I would also caution you as well do not go regimental as this could be a problem, also I would be wary of carrying a sgian dubh at work, I have done it, but again you have to gage these concerns yourself.

[James MacMillan]

Sometimes it is better to ask forgiveness rather than permission.

I think that's in the Marine Corps Manual somewhere? Anyway - That's what I would do!