A Foot In the Door?

[RockyR]

Congrats on being able to wear it at work! Good on ya!

I agree that you should stick to the 4 or 5 days you pick (pick 5 and try to space them out). Don't abuse the priveledge (yet).

Burns Day... January 25
St Pat's Day... March 17
Tartan Day... April 6
Christmas (last day of work before)
Company Parties
"Sinco de mayo"... May 5
All through Octoberfest... (I'll loan you the German National Tartan Kilt)

Ok... I'm getting a bit silly, but you get the idea and a few dates.

[Frank]

I hate to be the one with the negative comments, but I'm a little saddened by Reggie's tale. It's 2006 and even though he's living in 'the land of the free' it's puzzling that such a contrite and humble approach was felt appropriate or perhaps necessary by Reggie - and that "I started out apologizing if I had offended anyone by wearing my kilt on St Patricks Day" was viewed as an opening gambit. I'm in no way making criticism of Reggie - he sounds like a thouroughly decent and considerate person (and a fine kilt ambassador) - and if his behaviour in this matter is reflective of his general demeanour then his management should consider themselves damned lucky to have him.

However, unless coprorate or safety wear is a condition of employment, it's really no-ones business what is worn around the legs so long as it's smart and doesn't frighten the horses. I wonder if the women in Reggies place of work feel the need to ask permission in advance of wearing a skirt on the basis that the long range weather forcast is good for three weeks on Tuesday and please is it ok thank you very much.

From what Reggie says here, the decision on wether or not and when is down to the whim of a supervisor. I'd love to know what this individual imagines qualifies him to decree what another grown man may or not wear to work. As to the idea of an 'approved' rota of appropriate kilt wearing days, I wonder how many US employers would be happy to take on the ladies with a similar peice of intrusion into the privacy of their clothes wearing motives. I think the womens movement would have a stance on such a practice.

Sorry to rant on, but the idea of the need for such corporate approval is anachronistic and unbalanced. I'm not sure I'd be as gentlemanly as Reggie (I'm a self employed musician) in a similar situation.

It seems that in the U.S. some are more free than others.

[starbkjrus]

Excellent!

Making a list that sticks to your word will be key. You told them only four or five days a year, so now you are somewhat stuck with that. I am sure you will get enough suggestions on valid Scottish/Irish holidays to wear it at least once a month if not more. Hit them up with that list though, and they might wonder what other details you underplayed or tried to sneak with.

St. Patricks Day, St. Andrews Day, Tartan Day for sure. Hogmanay gets you the work day closest before New Years too.

To this I would add St. David's Day (March 1st.) and Robert Burns' Birthday (January 25th.) These would all be cultural / heritage and / or religious. I don't think they'd dare deny those.

[Robin]

Congrats...this is good news, but...I also agree with Frank.

A battle won, but the war isn't over...and that's a pitty.

[Panache]

Well Done Reggie!

You handled things in a business like and respectful way. It seems the HR executives did the same.

Dress codes seem to be a very simple thing, but from a corporate standpoint then can be tricky. When you allow someone to do something different it can set precedents that can then be abused. By approaching this in a reasonanble way you let your superiors have a justification to why and when a kilt is appropriate.

Cheers

[ronstew]

If you are trying to keep the numbers down, I would stick with your original list plus Burns day. I don't think you want to have to educate your boss on every saint and celebration and historical event of every Celtic nation, because then he's going to lose interest in your cause. Dig too deep, and your boss will decide that you're just looking for excuses to wear the kilt, and deny you.

Frank, a private company has a right to present a public image. It has a right to enforce its dress code, and Reggie's allowed him has the opportunity to challenge it. I think the system is working here.

[Riverkilt]

Reggie, I'm with Frank,

A sad commentary on "freedom"....your outfit runs a tight ship. Imagine the COST to the company to have all those bigwigs sitting around harrumping over a kilt. Control, control, control...

But, as I've tell my bosses, I work where I choose to work. And you, for many reasons have chosen to work there.

I haven't seen St. David's day mentioned yet...for the Welsh blood you no doubt harbor somewhere.

And perhaps the day before your nearest Highland Games...

If your state has a proclamation about Tartan Day it'd be cool to get a copy framed up for your office - if you have an office. I'd also suggest decorating your office with a few cultural things...whatever fits.

You can put your tartan on your computer as a screensaver by finding the tartan you want and using the tiles feature.

You can also find and wear tartan shirts. L.L. Bean has the Maine tartan and all the armed forces tartans. Royal Stewart tartan shirts abound. The thought is, if your bosses get used to seeing you in tartans on the days you don't get to wear a kilt they'll get used to that look about you and maybe relent for more days.

But bottom line for me is that its still a sad commentary on "freedom" in the U.S.of A.

But you've helped me. I've vowed to myself that should I ever change jobs I will interview kilted and not work for any agency that has an issue with my cultural heritage.

Ron
Kilted every day, including at work, for eight months now.

[RockyR]

Sorry to rant on, but the idea of the need for such corporate approval is anachronistic and unbalanced. I'm not sure I'd be as gentlemanly as Reggie (I'm a self employed musician) in a similar situation.

It seems that in the U.S. some are more free than others.

While I agree, I completely understand why he approached it the way he did. Is the "freedom of wearing a kilt" worth your job?

Think about that question SERIOUSLY for a minute. If you have a house and a wife and kids and need to bring in $$$, is it worth risking it to wear a piece of clothing that you SHOULD be able to wear on principle?

For some of us, Yes, the principle IS worth risking your job. For others with greater responsibilities, I understand why it's not. LUCKILY, I'm self employed as well and kiltwearing is ENCOURAGED!

[pdcorlis]

kiltwearing is ENCOURAGED!

Lucky man - you have such an understanding boss! :rolleyes:

[Rigged]

It's good that Reggie gets to wear his kilts to work on some occassions. This solution however points out the problem of couching kilt-wearing as a cultural rather than a rights issue.

If a kilt is only an expression of culture, then it's appropriate to limit it's wearing to cultural events. If a kilt is just any other form of men's clothing, then there cannot be any restrictions on wearing them other than safety.

We already have the legal right to wear our kilts to work. Women won that war for themselves and the laws of our land dictate equal treatment of both genders.

And yet there's risk involved in excersizing that right since employment is "at will" and employers can release any employee with or without cause.

Reggie stuck his neck out as far as he felt it was safe for him and his family.

It took considerable guts for him to take things as far as he did.

So, who's next?