Quote Originally Posted by Moosehead
#1 question to ask: are the women allowed to wear pants? If the answer is yes, then they cannot forbid you from wearing a kilt. What is good for the goose, is good for the gander.
Yes, they can. I'm a supervisor and responsible for hiring and firing and I sit on one of those committees. Dress codes promote the company's image, not yours. They often demand a measure of uniformity, hence the word uniform for those who wear them. And commitees like that are most often to act as conflict resolution mediators.... getting both sides to productively tell their side of an issue. Most often the actual decision is left in the hands of the supervisor or manager, but if the committee makes a decision, be prepared to live with it unless you decide to put your job on the table as a bargaining chip.

On the other hand, if you work in an environment where wearing a kilt poses no health / accident risks and won't project an unwanted image of the company, you have every right to ask for accomodation. The issue of women being able to wear trousers may or may not carry weight depending on how your job interfaces with the public since it is the perception of the company which you create as their representative which is paramount, not a woman's nor your right to wear a particular item. The possible exception to this would be attire required by a religious belief, something which touches a matter of conscience.

Like any ruling of law or policy, it is less about justice or fairness and more about the group's or society's approach to resolving conflict. There is an understood social contract that individuals will abide the group's decisions (be they made by judge, jury, committee, or manager).

Pick your battle well. And remember, that if they say no, and it's really important to you, there really are other jobs out there. Find one with boundaries where you will be happy. Companies losing good people is actually one of the things which affects longterm change.... just not in time for those who are its spearhead.

Best wishes and good luck.