Kilts in the office

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Thanks god the forums are back! Trying to change a culture here and lost my advice forum!!!!

Anyway, we have an update and I need advice from others on the approach. Here is where I am. I sent this note to HR:

HR,

I want to wear my kilt into the office. I talked with my manager and he is fine with it, but I wanted to let you know in case anybody had any questions.

I am planning on this Friday as the first time.

Thanks!
RJI

I received a voicemail back saying that the company supports the wearing of traditional/religious clothing to observe special occasions or holidays. The person seemed flustered in responding and repeated that comment about 4-5 times! Kind of funny really. Anyway, they wanted to know if Friday had a special religious or cultural significance, and asked me to contact me them before Friday, and not to wear the kilt until I had.

So here are my thoughts. I don't think that I really want to tie the wearing of the kilt to a special day (although I will take it if ti is the only thing and then research every reason to celebrate the kilt in the world!). Seems like that just categorizes the kilt and my wearing of it for special days (I know every day is special!). I want to reply back, via e-mail, that Friday is not a special cultural or religious day, but our United Way campaign final day and since it is a casual day, a good time for me to wear the kilt for the first time when everybody else will be wearing something other than standard business casual.

I have also found the only posted statements about dress code on our internal website. For the overall international holding company, the policy says:

Whether or not your job involves contact with the public, you are required to dress in a way the company considers appropriate to the business situation. Account will be taken of religious and cultural norms. Styles that could offend normally accepted standards will not be permitted.

Not very specific and nothing that prohibits ANY clothing from my POV. The policy for the North American holding company has this to say:

What is OK to wear: dress pants or slacks, collared shirts, tailored clothing
What is not OK to wear: clothes or accessories that are not commonly accepted a professional work setting and are more accepted in outdoor or social settings. Clothes that are torn or soiled, contain sayings inappropriate for the workplace and are ill-fitting or too revealing

Again, not very specific and neither one includes any differentiation based on gender. I am thinking that my reply back should mention wearing the kilt Friday as a means of introducing the kilt into the office environment, and that the dress code policy does not prohibit it. I think that a kilt definitely falls under the category of tailored clothing! That's the reason they cost so bleeping much. However, I also believe that most women's skirts, etc. are NOT tailored garments, if tailored means specifically made to fit the wearer.

Let's have some feedback, and quick!

RJI

[Southern Breeze]

Go For It!!!!!

[Ruanaidh]

My guess is it depends on the people involved. Last Friday I showed up for dinner with my boss at a high end resturant in my kilt. My boss loved it! I really feel she enjoyed all the attention we were getting. Afterwards the young girl at the pharmacy I stopped in at was so flusstered she kept dropping the change on the floor.
Good luck.

[Southern Breeze]

Heres a few thoughts on the subject.First, it seems you caught HR off guard and they are making sure their rear is coverd.Second,it appears that there is nothing in the company policy to exclude kilts.Finally,I think your planned approach is the best considering the situation.

[Prester John]

KCW

If you need a special religious celebration, this Friday is the feast day of St. Gregory of Armenia on our calendar, among others.

There is an entire slew of saints and celebrations in the feasts and saints section of oca.org.

Just in case you need a good excuse - there are celtic saints there, too. Not all of them are up there yet. There are alot after all!

[Alan H]

Tell them, no, Friday is just Friday and it's going to be a more laid-back day because of the United Way campaign. Tell them that you will wear it with professional attire...button-down shirt, tie, nice shoes, and that you are keeping the company image and dress code in mind.

...And then just wear the thing. If anybody has a cow over it, you'll hear about it. Odds are twenty to one that nobody will care and that the overwhelming majority of people will like it.

I'll say this. If you're concerned about wearing a kilt to work and presenting a professional appearrance, then spend a few more bucks and get one or two higher-quality kilts. They'll look better.

But, now you've done it. You've given a wonk in HR a reason to flip out and say "no". This is called "covering your butt". This wonk can't get in trouble for saying "no" to you wearing a kilt....but it's possibly, wildly, vaguely conceivable that they might catch some flak for saying "yes". Therefore, you got the default answer..."no". At least you go "no, unless...." with an out. Be careful. I'd ask FEWER questions, if I were you. Give the wonks an easy out (saying "no") and they'll take it and that means no kilts for you at work unless you want to make a huge old, stinking issue of it, and it's not worth it.

So hang in there, forge ahead, be nice to people and just WEAR the thing on Friday. If someone blows their top (which they won't), then do the required dejected grovel, hang your head, apologise and jjust don't wear it again.

[Prester John]

After all, it's Kilt day!

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Thanks everyone, still waiting for Archangel, as he seems to have spent some time in the HR area!

Anyway, Southern Breeze, I think that you are right that I caught somebody off guard, specifically the HR lady that hired me! I wish that I could share her voicemail to me, she was pretty much deer in the headlights. Absolutely no idea of how to respond, and desperately hoping that I would come back and say that Firday was national kilt day (yes I know it is!). And I agree that there is nothing specific in the policy. That is actually the argument that I am going to present, that the policy allows a tailored garment, and that the kilt is definitely a tailored garment!

John (Prester), that is actually what I will do if I really get some push back in the kilt as "tailored" clothing. I am pretty sure that I can find enough "special" cultural/religious days to allow me to wear the kilt pretty much any time I want. Being in management already, I have a different perspective on this that colors my perceptions. Many of the decisions and policies that are handed down are based on the employee not questioning the company's position. In most cases, the employees have more rights than they realize. The converse unfortunately holds true when firing an employee. While the common conception is that it must be for cause, cause is a very gray area in practice, at least in the US.

Alan (I should have made these separate responses so I could get to Kilted Gentry faster!), I plan on wearing it Friday, regardless of HR's opinion. I agree that the more people I ask, the more likely that I will be denied (see Archangel's comments). However, I also have to do this in a way that satisfies me that I have taken the professional approach and provided HR one chance to provide a reason not to do this. Remember, that while it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission, it is less stressful to the organization to get permission first, and not much more work! I don't think that they have a leg to stand on and will point that out tomorrow when I reply to HR.

Thanks for all the feedback so far, and thanks for being interested in this endeavor.

RJI

[binx]

Started wearing a kilt to work on St Pat's day, then suddenly it's Tartan day. Then I just kept it up once a week, usually on Fridays as "casual day". Been black AKs or UKs with socks and Nikes. Even wore my Bear and Sport kilts once. Now that it's getting cooler, I'll get back to kilt hose and flashes.
Two more "special days" are the Highland Dress Proscription Act of 1746, and its repeal.

binx

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Started wearing a kilt to work on St Pat's day, then suddenly it's Tartan day. Then I just kept it up once a week, usually on Fridays as "casual day". Been black AKs or UKs with socks and Nikes. Even wore my Bear and Sport kilts once. Now that it's getting cooler, I'll get back to kilt hose and flashes.
Two more "special days" are the Highland Dress Proscription Act of 1746, and its repeal.

binx

Binx, what are the dates for those "special days"?

RJI