Kilts at work

[emolas]

I went to a company function this weekend and my son and I were both kilted (they can keep me from wearing it while I am on the clock but while they aren't paying me they have no say). It went over real well and everyone seemed to like it. I just found out today that the regional HR manager (the boss of the guy who told me "no") saw me in my kilt and remarked to another employee how great it was to see someone so proud of his heritage and wearing a kilt. This has caused me to renew my efforts in getting them to allow me to wear kilts at work. I drafted up an email stating my reasons and sent it off to him. Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope he sees things my way. Here's some of the email I sent:

I have been wearing kilts on a daily basis for a quite a while now due to health and comfort reasons in addition to paying homage to my Scottish forebears. I searched the dress codes for my position and found that trousers were required for men but women had a choice between trousers or skirts. I asked around about wearing my kilts to work since they were at just as 'dressy' as a good pair of wool slacks and equivalent to a women's skirt but still male garments. The only answers I got were to the effect of "try it and see if anyone complains" and "as long as you meet the dress requirements for women's skirts I don't see a problem". So I wore one to work a few times until a center manager mentioned that they weren't allowed and told me to ask HR to make sure. I emailed them and was told that a kilt is not allowed because it is the same thing as a skirt and skirts are not allowed either. I replied to inform him he may have been mistaken as to the nature of my work and that a skirt was indeed allowed for my position according to the dress code.

I do understand the need for a standard of dress because a company likes to be seen as professional and well-dressed employees certainly add to that image. A kilt is considered by most to be a "formal" or "dress" garment equivalent to a suit or tuxedo and it can't be considered a blemish on the "corporate image" for an employee to wear a neat, well-dressed kilt outfit complete with matching hose, collared shirt, and tie when the most visible and recognized employees of our company are frequently seen in stained shorts and rumpled shirts. Additionally, a kilt worn properly presents a neater and more polished appearance than the standard "polo shirt and khakis" frequently worn by administrative employees.

In closing I would like to stress the fact that I am not trying to wear a kilt as a protest because I can't wear shorts (a wool kilt can be just as hot as any pants); I am not doing it to try and fight the system or rebel against "The Man"; nor am I doing it to try and cause a scene or draw attention to myself. I am doing it because I wear kilts almost exclusively when not at work for health and comfort reasons and as a cultural statement. The company charter makes many references to cultural differences and diversity and I would like to express my diversity in an acceptable manner in the workplace by dressing in clothing in keeping with both the company policies and my cultural heritage.

I beleive I stated my case clearly and now I wait... This is even worse than jonesing for a new kilt

[Riverkilt]

Good for you! Well said.

I'm in a very similar place as you, waiting for a response from my CEO. My immediate boss said go back to pants or be fired. His boss, the CEO said he was only concerned that my being kilted might affect my ability to establish rapport/bond with my counseling clients and he asked me to look at that. I did and submitted a response to him last week. Nothing yet, but took similar lines.

So, we wait.

Ron

[David Dalglish]

Good luck with your Quest

[Abax]

Here's some of the email I sent. . .

Well written! Good luck with your efforts.

Abax

[Robin]

Very good email!

Very reasonable, well motivated.

[Kid Cossack]

Well written, not confrontational---do keep us advised! Best luck.

[GMan]

Good luck!

[Splash_4]

Nicely put! The only thing they can do is say no. But, you have stated your case well and that will serve for them to remember it in the future.

[GTRMAN]

I wear my kilts to work every day (as long as the temp exceeds 30 degrees F..

Management says not a word and I work for a very large corporation..

[ncof300d]

I beleive I stated my case clearly and now I wait...

Emolas,
I want to talk to our HR manager about wearing a kilt to the office. I am sure that the answer will be no, but I want to 'shake the tree'. I have been thinking about what to say. Do you have any words of wisdom on the first time discussion with HR?

I wear my kilts to work every day (as long as the temp exceeds 30 degrees F..

Management says not a word and I work for a very large corporation..

GTRMAN,
May I ask what corporation you work for?