Air Traffic Control Manager Prohibits Kilt

[rbuxton]

I am an air traffic controller working for the FAA near Washington DC. On September 3rd the FAA implemented a new dress code for air traffic controllers that calls for dress to be "business casual." The intent is to stop air traffic controllers from wearing jeans, shorts, tennis shoes, and other comfortable type clothing.

I decided to wear my kilt to work. Was immediately sent home to change because I was told that the wearing of a kilt did not present a professional image to the public (even though there is no public that sees us at work) and that wearing the kilt was causing a distraction (which did not happen.)

I was wondering if anyone knows what avenues I might be able to take to educate the FAA managers that a kilt is acceptable wear in the workplace (at least I think it is.)

I''ve heard of lawsuits and massive letter writing campaigns when these types of things have happenned. I think something needs to happen. There are other co-workers of mine around the nation that are being told not to wear their kilts. While at the same time at some workplaces they are permitted.

Thanks.

[Southern Breeze]

First off, welcome. IMHO getting permission and the dress code changed is not likely to happen. You're dealing with the Feds and the bureaucracy therein.

[Tattoo Bradley]

I must second that thought. You're dealing with the federal govt. There's no such thing as "compromise" there! Bummer. Don't feel too bad. I can't wear mine to work due to OSHA.

[Bob C]

No offense, but I'm WAY more worried about guys in your job getting the planes up and down safely.

[beerbecue]

What were you wearing on your upper body?

Are women allowed to wear business skirts or skirts in general?

Did you wear a tie?

[Blu (Ontario)]

IMHO I believe there sould be standardized or restricted attire for ATC personnel, pilots, security, agents, and anyone else that falls under FAA jurisdiction. I wonder if you've realistically evaluated your motives and the relative importance of a kilt in your particular workplace.

I can tell you right now... if I'm on an inbound flight to a busy airport, I would prefer that the tower personnel was concentrating singularly on air traffic and not on kilts or fashion freedom issues.

Sorry... I agree with the FAA management on this one!
..

[macwilkin]

As a fellow Federal employee (US National Park Service Ranger GS-5), I have to agree with Blu and Bob C. on this one. No offence, but when you work for Uncle Sam, you have to play by his rules. As much as I would have loved to have seen a USNPS tartan to wear with the "grey and greens", I knew that it's not going to happen, and besides, the NPS uniform is just that -- a uniform, and as a ranger, I have to follow the regs.

Besides, as you said -- no one is going to see it anyway -- so save it for off-duty when someone will!

Regards,

Todd

[Southern Breeze]

I've worked as a welder many years ago on DOE sites. I was told there's a right way, a wrong way and the Governments way.

[Riverkilt]

Geez R,

Kilts is the most comfy thing for a man to wear while seated...you'd think it would improve performance and maybe save lives. Don't you just hate the anal rule bound folks?

Anyhow, here's a good idea from the Utilikilts Newsletter back in November of 2004.

http://www.utilikilts.com/news/archi...4-11/index.htm


Utilikilts serve a special niche for me: in 1988 (if memory serves) for our first Tartan Day, I wore my regular kilt to work as an Admissions Counselor at the University of California, Davis. Not only was it our first Congressionally chartered Tartan Day, but it was also the start of UC Davis' "Diversity Week", along with a function we call Welcome Week, where prospective students and their parents can tour the campus, and get a feel for the University.
I had an 8am presentation to high school students at our law school, and when I returned to my office, our assistant director stopped in and told me that wearing a kilt to work was "inappropriate", and that I needed to remove it or be sent home. I told him to put it in writing, which he did, via e-mail. I sent his e-mail to our national membership chairperson (I'm a regional commissioner for the MacDonalds), and within 24 hours, I was getting a ton of supportive e-mails from all over the world.
It strikes me as odd that a university which claims it supports diversity and abhors discrimination of all types would take this stance. Perhaps I wasn't "PC" enough for them. This stupidity ended about a week and a half later when Stuart Morrison, a retired appelate court justice and former High Commissioner for the Clan Morrison, offered to represent me in a lawsuit where the university would be called to task for three separate civil rights violations. They caved immediately, and within an hour of receiving my copy of the e-mail from Stuart (another went to our chancellor's office and the University President's office in Berkeley, I had a hand delivered letter of apology. Now, I wear my kilts any time I feel like it!
Thanks for making such a wonderful product. I can't imagine life without my Utilikilt-Scottish Levi's!!
Yours,
Jerry Griffin


Don't know if it'd work for the Feds though...

Ron

[Scott Gilmore]

... in 1988 (if memory serves) for our first Tartan Day, I wore my regular kilt to work as ... told me that wearing a kilt to work was "inappropriate", and that I needed to remove it or be sent home. I told him to put it in writing, which he did, via e-mail. I sent his e-mail to our national membership chairperson (I'm a regional commissioner for the MacDonalds), and within 24 hours, I was getting a ton of supportive e-mails from all over the world.

Hmmm ... let's hope memory doesn't serve or that there is some other explanation. To my knowledge, in 1988 e-mail as we know it now simply didn't exist. While it's true that e-mail actually predates the Internet (rudimentary versions of this type of communication existed as far back as the early sixties, but outside of the military and closed academic environments, e-mail was rare at best), it certainly wasn't in common use until the early nineties.

"... and within 24 hours, I was getting a ton of supportive e-mails from all over the world."

In 1988, vastly different and incompatible systems were in place. The development of protocols and standards that made e-mail feasible for broad based use took place in the nineties, not in the eighties.

The story above suggests that an international e-mail campaign served to pressure the narrow-minded administrators to change their tune. I hope that it is true that pressure was brought to bear and that the author simply confused his dates, OR that there is some other simple explanation. I'd very much like to believe that story.

Regards,
Scott Gilmore