Kilts in the office

[Eujeankilt]

WHAT IS SO WEIRD FOR ME is that even after over a year of wearing kilts full time on my own time and to work daily for the last six weeks, those lingering fears of being humiliated for being "different" still rumble around in my brain and leak out at weird times.
Ron

Ron,

It's interesting you mention that. I've only been wearing kilts full time to work for six weeks or so with absolutely no concern, except for stray winds. I've worn kilts with golf shirts or short sleeve dress/casual shirts and sandals or hiking boots. Today I wore kilt hose and nice casual shoes and I felt naked.

Logically, I know it's no different, but I guess that I had gotten used to how I looked and the change made feel like I was wearing kilts at work for the first time.

To be honest, in the past I have worried about what others think of me and wearing kilts was a way to force myself into the limelight, to expose myself to my fears (no pun intended).

We are indeed odd critters.....

Thanks for your post.


Dale

[elijah]

I've worn kilts to work for 2 years today and still am nervous about policy changing or repercussions. Generally, though its gone smoothly. It hasn't hurt that I'm very successful at my job, its phone work, and little physical contact with the public.

I reccomend starting out with something tartan and wearing a nice shirt, the first few days. You can branch out over time. I've worn Amerikilts, plain King Kilts, etc. Honestly, since the first few months, I've had little taunting and a few curious questions from the new people.

Yes, there are some sacrifices. I work in the call center and am uncertain about moving beyond that, but I'm okay with that as there are other positions in the call center and the pay is generally good for this area.

The question you have to ask yourself is what kind of work can you do in a kilt and it is worth it for you to do it? The answer may honestly be starting your own business or working from home.

I did venture outside of work to represent the company at the career fair and had one job seeker, an engineer come up to our table laughing at me (we don't hire engineers), but also had a couple compliments too. The company let me go in the kilt, because while they had prohibited jeans, a kilt hardly could be viewed that way. I made sure to look extra nice with a white dress shirt and tie for the public appearance on behalf of the company.

[Archangel]

I did venture outside of work to represent the company at the career fair and had one job seeker, an engineer come up to our table laughing at me (we don't hire engineers), but also had a couple compliments too.

You got an engineer to laugh, wow. Wonder how that formula was worked out. Not a good job search strategy on his behalf, you get the last laugh, he's still unemployed.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Talked to my manager yesterday evening and let him know that I am going to "push" the dress code rules and be allowed to wear a kilt. He was positive about it and suggested who I should contact in HR to determine what (if any) impact there would be when I wear it. He did think that some of my coworkers might be a little surprised, but he was not worried about it. He thought that most likely there would be no problem as it would fall into promoting cultural diversity and wearing traditional culture clothes.

Now, I plan on presenting HR with the following 3 reasons for wearing a kilt:

1. Part of my cultural heritage
2. More comfortable than trousers
3. Expands my wardrobe choices

What are everybody's thoughts? Are these the "right" reasons/arguments? Any others?

Thanks!
RJI

[John M.]

Those reasons are just fine.
Good solid arguments.

[davedove]

Sounds reasonable. It looks like you're trying to work with management and that's always good. Much better than just throwing it in their face, "I'm going to wear kilts! What are you going to do about it?"

[Alan H]

Talked to my manager yesterday evening and let him know that I am going to "push" the dress code rules and be allowed to wear a kilt. He was positive about it and suggested who I should contact in HR to determine what (if any) impact there would be when I wear it. He did think that some of my coworkers might be a little surprised, but he was not worried about it. He thought that most likely there would be no problem as it would fall into promoting cultural diversity and wearing traditional culture clothes.

Now, I plan on presenting HR with the following 3 reasons for wearing a kilt:

1. Part of my cultural heritage
2. More comfortable than trousers
3. Expands my wardrobe choices

What are everybody's thoughts? Are these the "right" reasons/arguments? Any others?

Thanks!
RJI

you're going about it a good way. You're not showing up with your middle finger pointing at the sky saying...... "I'm wearing a kilt and if you don't like it then I've got a Smith & Wesson that would love to have a conversation with you, your ignorant troglodyte!".

I like that word..."troglodyte".

You're being reasonable. You're letting the people you work with see you in a kilt in a non-pressure situation, first. You're talking to management sanely and courtesously about it before charging in. Honestly, I can't imagine that you're going to have a problem here.

Carry on, mate.

[Archangel]

Talked to my manager yesterday evening and let him know that I am going to "push" the dress code rules and be allowed to wear a kilt. He was positive about it and suggested who I should contact in HR to determine what (if any) impact there would be when I wear it. He did think that some of my coworkers might be a little surprised, but he was not worried about it. He thought that most likely there would be no problem as it would fall into promoting cultural diversity and wearing traditional culture clothes.

Now, I plan on presenting HR with the following 3 reasons for wearing a kilt:

1. Part of my cultural heritage
2. More comfortable than trousers
3. Expands my wardrobe choices

What are everybody's thoughts? Are these the "right" reasons/arguments? Any others?

Thanks!
RJI

I fight dirty. It sounds like your manager gave you permission, is that right? He gave a qualifier to cover himself, was that a directive to follow prior to wearing the kilt?

If that is what you heard then wear it and let HR chase you. Let them come up with the violation, we can help with the response.

If that is not the case, don't take your statements to HR, your statements don't hold water (sorry, I can go over them with you later.) Send HR a memo saying two sentences: you intend to wear a kilt; you wisht to have their okay. Again, make them come up with the violation/problem, on paper. It's more fun this way.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I fight dirty. It sounds like your manager gave you permission, is that right? He gave a qualifier to cover himself, was that a directive to follow prior to wearing the kilt?

If that is what you heard then wear it and let HR chase you. Let them come up with the violation, we can help with the response.

If that is not the case, don't take your statements to HR, your statements don't hold water (sorry, I can go over them with you later.) Send HR a memo saying two sentences: you intend to wear a kilt; you wisht to have their okay. Again, make them come up with the violation/problem, on paper. It's more fun this way.

Archangel, my manager gave me his support. He did not give a directive, I mentioned to him that I would be talking to HR and he mentioned someone else who handles the HR issues for our area that I had not had a chance to meet. No directive, just information.

While I agree that given his support, I could decide to just wear one in tomorrow. However, my personality is that I would rather have all of the issues settled before wearing the kilt for the first day. As I have stated previously in this thread, if I were at a different point in my career and family life, I might take that approach. However, I actually am very happy with my current job and really don't want to turn it into a hostile workplace for me and my colleagues.

I am actually not going to present my 3 reasons to HR, I was actually going to do exactly what you proposed, which is communicate my intent to wear a kilt and request HR acceptance of the matter. The reasons are more in response to being questioned on why I want to wear a kilt, and I would be interested in why you feel that they do not hold water.

RJI, trying to bring the kilt out of the cave and stop living the life of a troglodyte! (Sorry Alan, had to use it, its a fun word and even more fun to say out loud!)

RJI

[Riverkilt]

Warrior,

You would also be on solid ground to point out that there is, in fact, a kilt fashion boom on for men. Much evidence abounds on line, on the kilts in the media forum, et.al. Point being that you're not some sort of a looney, just on the cutting edge of a new fashion movement as well.

You'll do well. With your appropriate approach and a good HR dept, you'll be fine.

Must warn you though that after you're accepted and enjoying it you'll come to a point where you won't wear pants for fear of the teasing...the world gets turned upside down.

Tally Ho!

Ron