This may be interesting

**SteveB** · 21st October 08, 08:10 PM

Good luck. The only time I am not wearing the kilt is at work, OSHA requires the bifurcated leg protection garment.

**Riverkilt** · 21st October 08, 10:30 PM

Each business has a different captain. My process was weird - a couple years of no problem, kilted nearly full time...then the ban...then the repreive...then another ban...then I filed a grievance and the boss gave up. Now I have the right to wear the kilt when I want to...find I chose my days. Probably less in the summer since its "hose down" weather. With the cooler weather I'll have "hose up" and a dressier look.

Sounds like you're putting a lot of thought into it. I work at a non-profit, mostly government funded, counseling agency. Pointed out all the diversity we stand by and encourage acceptance of.

Sounds like you've also checked company policy thoroughly. Many companies strive for examples of their diversity. Kilts sure help with that.

Also sounds like you're avoiding a power struggle with your boss, a key issue.

Enough, know that some here are adverse to this topic. Never figured out why since kilt acceptance at work is probably the biggest barrier to overall kilt acceptance - just like pant suits and women back when.

Ron

**turpin** · 22nd October 08, 03:16 PM

Good luck. I just have one point to raise. You mentioned that your letter invoked you "right" to wear the kilt to work. If you have such a right you should not have to ask permission. However, if you don't have such a right then it might have been better to use a different approach.

Again, I hope the answer is yes. I haven't worn pants to the office since December 20 2006.

**crboltz** · 23rd October 08, 07:00 AM

I've been wearing my kilts a couple of times a week all semester (I didn't ask for permission, figuring that forgiveness was easier). Anyway, I had a meeting which also included our Senior VP of instruction, who was looking at my kilt (actually one of my UKs as I had some construction work to do), and said he admired it. One of the other attendees said he should get one, and the VP said "I think I just might."

SCORE!!!! (as my students would say)

Cheers
Chris

**Kerr the Walker** · 23rd October 08, 09:28 AM

I work at a gov't site in the District. Wearing a kilt to work every once in a while hasn't stirred the pot too much yet. In fact the only comment I got from any of the program execs was after he saw my sgian brew (knives and gov't facilities don't mix too well): "We should go out later on, buy some beers and put that thing to use."

Good luck. Hope it works out for you.

**hospitaller** · 23rd October 08, 09:55 AM

Good luck on this, as it can be a thorny issue at some narrow minded places of employment.

As for me, I neither ask for permission nor simply showed up unanounced.

For a couple of weeks prior to me starting to wear my kilts to work, I made sure to let everyone know I had bought a couple and they were comfortable, explaining about my scottish heritage, etc., etc.

So one day half jokingly and half replying to a dare, I told everyone that I might just show up to work wearing my kilt for casual friday.....so I did.

And then monday kilted...and then tuesday kilted...and everyday until now, it's been what...3 months or so now?

My first Friday kilted I was taken to see the boss, actually...I was taken so the boss can see me, and he really liked the look, asked about every piece of kit and that was that.

I guess you can call it tacit approval.

It 'just happened'

**davedove** · 23rd October 08, 10:06 AM

I'm going to try to inject a little understanding here.

How many of us were concerned about what people would think when we first donned a kilt?

A company would naturally have the same concerns. However, instead of just the possibility of personal ridicule, they see the possibility of losing customers, their life blood.

Now, we have all worn the kilt a bit and know that the concerns are largely unfounded. But the company is coming into the situation new, and they don't have the advice of this forum.

I'm not taking their side, but I do cut them some slack.

**Jordan** · 23rd October 08, 03:04 PM

Does anyone one here actualy have a set uniform they have to wear to work.
Ive been considering turning up kilted but being security and having a uniform i dont think it will go down well,If anyone has any thoughts.

Sorry to hijack this thread

Jordan

**TheKiltedCoder** · 23rd October 08, 03:10 PM

Kilts, and

Originally Posted by auld argonian

and we had plenty of bad toupee's going around the office...

Did anyone else look at the bad toupee quote and think, "Hmm.. Forget the skunk and badger: here's your new sporran right here!"

End a fashion disaster: find a bad toupee and make a sporran of it TODAY!

Brian

**Standard** · 23rd October 08, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by davedove

I'm going to try to inject a little understanding here.

How many of us were concerned about what people would think when we first donned a kilt?

A company would naturally have the same concerns. However, instead of just the possibility of personal ridicule, they see the possibility of losing customers, their life blood.

Now, we have all worn the kilt a bit and know that the concerns are largely unfounded. But the company is coming into the situation new, and they don't have the advice of this forum.

I'm not taking their side, but I do cut them some slack.

Good points Dave, we tend to forget the troubles we may or may-not have went through when we were first kilted. Especially in these stressed times companies are very aware of the image they put forth to the general public. I know for example that in my company we are not allowed to wear shorts either to the office, or out on a survey crew, or on construction inspection because our company does not feel that shorts put forth a very professional image. While the kilt is definately a very respectable article of clothing it is definately out of the ordinary for most people. Anyhoo, just my 2 cents worth.