Air Traffic Control Manager Prohibits Kilt

[turpin]

I must second that thought. You're dealing with the federal govt. There's no such thing as "compromise" there! Bummer. Don't feel too bad. I can't wear mine to work due to OSHA.

I work for the feds, and my agency would allow me to wear it - haven't done so yet because i'm waiting for an "occasion" to give me a pretext, to start this phase of kilted life. i don't see going full-time at work, but i am certainly much more aware of the discomfort of bifurcation in a chair all day at work since experiencing the other side of the farce.

[Andrew Green]

You know, now that I wear a kilt from time to time at work, I AM more aware of how uncomfortable pants are. Just can't beat the kilt. My SWK heavy is warmer than most of my pants as well. I may cheat on my weekend dress code for security in the cold months (I work in a shack, with no insulation and a crummy little wall heater that DOESN'T keep the shack warm, on top of not being issued new cold weather gear... my weekend job is full of BS circumstances, but not bad aside from that), and wear a kilt when there is no one around (which is over half the time). It IS very tempting!

8 and 9 are right next to each other, on the row, and the 10-key, it would very easily be a typo.

[Wompet]

As a uniformed government employee, I do have to say that if a dress code is in place, you have to abide by it.
BUT looking at some of my fellow employees, whose dress code is "business casual," a kilt would be a definite improvement.

If you're determined to address this issue, there are a few threads here you can check - search for "kilted" and "work." Confirm, if you can, that the no-kilt rule is a local policy (if it's national, you're sol). Find out which airports allow kilt-wearing, and what those ATCs did to get it allowed. Once you have all your facts together, present your case to your supervisor. After that ... well, I don't know how things work at the FAA, so you're on your own.

Just a thought - it occurred to me, after re-reading your post (you "decided" to wear your kilt to work) - did you ever wear your kilt to work prior to the new dress code, or was the first time after the dress code went into effect? If it was the latter, your supervisor may have seen your kilt not as acceptable business casual, but instead as you mocking the new guidelines. Something to consider.

[Eujeankilt]

Hmmm ... let's hope memory doesn't serve or that there is some other explanation. To my knowledge, in 1988 e-mail as we know it now simply didn't exist. <Snip>


Regards,
Scott Gilmore

Not to mention there was no Utilikilt in 1988. In fact, I didn't think they were around until 2000. Hmmmm.

Dale

[Big Paul]

First off, welcome to the forum! Secondly, it a bummer about the no kilts at work.. Maybe one day..

[KiltedHuntsman]

I work for the Department of Defense, and I've worn my Kilt (with jacket and tie) to the office numerous times. I've never had any problems. Being one of the office eccentrics, they just don't try to stop me anymore. I usually wear western wear, so they're used to putting up with me.

We are a bit more casual than the Washington types, and being in a field office, we're not as concerned with "professional appearances" as the beltway types. Since we don't deal with the public directly, my immediate management isn't really concerned what we look like, as long as we get the job done. We're an engineering outfit with a distinct blue collar edge.

When dealing with the vast bureaucratic beast, the key is to be like a parasite. Latch on, get your sustanance, but don't cause too much irritation, lest the beast be annoyed and roll over and squish you like a bug.

The *only* way you'll win is to

a) find some support higher up in the management chain, and get them to OK the kilt (but this will also make you the instant enemy of the immediate management, so if you need immediate management support to get a merit promotion, kiss promotion goodbye..

or

b) the nuclear option, i.e., take it to the world and media, and make a huge stink, which is really HIGH stakes, since you will either win big, get to wear your kilt, and management won't touch you, or you get squashed like a bug, and the bureaucratic leviathon rolls on, uncaring and unconcerned with the wreckage it made of your life.

Working for large bureaucracies can be very rewarding if you skillfully extract maximum money/resources/fun from them without irritating the beast enough to squash you. There are many success stories along this line. But the beast is dangerous when aroused. Principles, and "big picture" justice means nothing to the beast. Being "right" is scant protection.

[michael steinrok]

This bothers me. The US gov't has been ramming diversity down our throats for 20 years or so. Media telling us to be more accepting and tolerant. And then you get this sort of garbage! Dress codes for any other reason than saftey is BS MS and PHD. You guys should get a wiff. The plane doesn't land because an ATC does or doesn't do their job. Nor does it not land because a woman is wearing a mini skirt and a tight cashmere sweater. The plane lands because the flight crew makes it land and they can't see into the tower.The government is wrong on this as well as many issues.

I am accepting and tolerant when it comes to culture and orientation and just about anything else so long as it doesn't affect me. A direct result of the ramming and my ability to sense right from wrong.

Dress codes? You guys simply amaze me once in a while........
I expected better from you

Hypocracy :rolleyes:

[bubba]

Let's be honest here. This wasn't "the Government", it was the dictate of one minor bureacrat. These idiots come and go.

[michael steinrok]

Was it a bureacrat? You're right there Bubba. I stand on the rest though.

[Sciuropterus]

It's obvious you're not, nor ever have been, a government employee.

I take the same pride in the NPS uniform as I do my kilt. The NPS uniform is a public symbol, and in someways, an institution. The "Smokey Bear" hat is the first thing that comes to mind whenever the public thinks of park rangers. Just as powerful symbolism as the kilt is for Scottish heritage, really.

So please don't call me a hypocrite until you've worked for Uncle Sam, okay? No offence meant or intended.

Regards,

Todd

The NPS uniform analogy is not applicable here.

ATC is not being told to wear a specific uniform, they are being told to wear "business casual", which obviously allows some room for interpretation regarding the definition. Some think kilts fall in that category (I do), some people don't.

The controllers are represented by a union, which can hopefully have some influence. To further complicate things, some controllers are not govt. employees, they can also be state or municipal employees. In all the years I have been a pilot, I have never been able to tell what controller was wearing, as I only interacted with them on the radio.