Got in trouble for being kilted at work

**Failed God** · 6th April 11, 01:37 PM

So since today is national tartan day I went to work kilted. I work at a large home improvement store. Yesterday i checked the dress code at work. Predictably it says nothing about kilts it says skirts and dresses may be worn as long as they are no shorter then 2 inches above the knee. So I asked the closest thing we have to an HR person and she said its aloud and she knows of another store who had someone work kilted before.

So I figured I was safe I wore the kilt and From 5am until 1 pm i got no negative comments. Not a single bad comment from coworkers, customers or assistant managers. At around 1pm the store manager sees me for the first time today his eyes widened and he said "come with me". Then he preceded to tell me I was unprofessional for wearing a kilt. And said " You decided to wear this on the day the district manager is here" I told him it was national tartan day and from what i see it isn't against dress code. he told me he thinks it is and he went to check. few minutes later i get paged and he tells me he will let it slide if i don't wear it again. I declined and told him i want to know for sure if i can wear it . few minutes later i get called into his office. He calls me unprofessional again says they are gonna let it slide today cause " he believes I'm right that its some sort of holiday even though it isn't on his calendar". And tells me if I wear it again he will have to go up the HR ladder to check whether i can wear it or not.

I asked why is a female allowed to wear a skirt but i cant wear a kilt and i was told " women are aloud to wear things men aren't". So being away i move a lot at work have to sit on forklifts and climb ladders i also had shorts on under the kilt just in case. I am just not sure how it is unprofessional.
Sorry just had to rant a little bit.

**glenlivet** · 6th April 11, 01:44 PM

Wonder what his response would have been if you had instead pointed out that women are allowed to wear slacks/pants/jeans/whatever. That at least frames the argument a little more pointedly egalitarian, i.e. women already wear what was once considered a traditionally male garment. Albeit some years ago...

Anyway, good luck with this. At least it sounds like it's not as if you're seeking to wear it every day.

**Lallans** · 6th April 11, 01:50 PM

You gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold them and put them in the closet- and retail is extra demanding for sure. Better to have a job in trousers than walk around unemployed in a kilt.

**Spartan Tartan** · 6th April 11, 01:58 PM

I have some serious professional opinions on this matter as a guy that does HR stuff for a living...but I digress.

I'm sorry to hear that you boss was not very understanding. Bummer...like Canuck of NI said, choose your battles.

**Manitoban Keith** · 6th April 11, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Canuck of NI

You gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold them and put them in the closet- and retail is extra demanding for sure. Better to have a job in trousers than walk around unemployed in a kilt.

***

GG · 8th April 11, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Canuck of NI

You gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold them and put them in the closet- and retail is extra demanding for sure. Better to have a job in trousers than walk around unemployed in a kilt.

I so much agree - even if I don't understand the policy of that company.

**tulloch** · 6th April 11, 02:00 PM

How badly do you want to keep the job? If you could afford to lose it then you could press the issue. He sounds insecure in his 'manhood' and threatens to check the rules if you wear it again. Sounds like a challenge to me!

**SoSelkirk** · 6th April 11, 02:13 PM

Sounds like you may be better off wearing a utililty kilt on all of the other days. That way you can use the hammer loops and nail bags. You will blend in with all of the other carpenters.

**Failed God** · 6th April 11, 02:16 PM

Checking the rules is not really a threat any more because i called hr and was told I was not against the dress code.

**Nighthawk** · 6th April 11, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by tulloch

How badly do you want to keep the job? If you could afford to lose it then you could press the issue. He sounds insecure in his 'manhood' and threatens to check the rules if you wear it again. Sounds like a challenge to me!

That's what I thought. Show me where in the dress code it says that the dress of my culture is inapropriate- especially when I already talked to HR about it.

Originally Posted by Stilletto_Rebel

My advice would be to send a letter to HR explicitly asking if wearing a kilt contravenes the company's dress code. You should receive a reply in writing on letterheaded paper. Dependant upon what their reply is, you will know if you can wear your kilt in work.

And if you do, have the letter with you to wave at the boss!

When sending said letter, make sure to pointed ask about wearing the kilt on specific cultural holidays, and point out those holidays. That way, you don't like an *** trying to get around rules or bosses, and just like someone who takes reasonable pride in his culture and simply wishes to express it in a respectful manner.