Tightening up the dress code at work

Post Reply New Topic

Yesterday I was told that my workplace is "tightening up the dress code".
This was directed solely at me so I guess my manner of dress is unacceptable.

Specifically, I was told I must wear closed in shoes, I cannot wear any jewellery on my wrists or hands and I should be wearing the official staff uniform.

Which is all very well, but -

Closed in shoes make me feel hot, restricted and uncomfortable. This ends up in me being less communicative and less able to do my job effectively.

The bands I wear on my wrists are non-removable and have been there for years. They're a combination of covering my wrists from view (I hate looking at my wrists because I spent many years self-harming) and a socially acceptable form of stimming. I would have to cut them off and destroy them to remove them and the thought of doing that upsets me.

The official staff uniform is made out of a man-made, unbreathable material that I know would react with my skin and drive me mental within minutes.

How can I do these things and still be expected to work well?
To look "professional", I need to be tortured?

I'm just basically having a weeping rant here.
I know I can't really get away without following the rules and expect to keep my job, but it all seems so unfair.

Perhaps you could see if a jeweler or some other professional can remove them and convert them into something you can take on and off?

Uniforms arent supposed to be comfortable.
Have you voiced these concerns to management? If your job involves little to no (fafe to face) contact outside of your coworkers (like in magazines or on administration), it is not unreasonable to ask for dispensation.

Was in a similar situation a few years ago. Look at the health and safety legislation for workplaces in your country.
My doctor wrote a letter explaining that the fabric in the uniform was an irritant for a pre existing skin condition, the boots too. I bought a cotton "version" of the uniform and breathable closed toe shoes as a prevention measure.

Key words/phrases to use:
Hazard -potential to do harm
Risk -likely to cause injury/disease under xyz conditions
-predisposition for xyz skin disease/condition
-physical agent such as friction will cause xyz
-sweat retained beneath the uniform will result in skin irritation and enhance the development of xyz
-Irritant contact
-Allergic contact
And of course a nice detailed description of the skin condition at its worst.

It worked for me.

Is the uniform available online? When I changed job roles I was supplied with a horrible synthetic scratchy version of the uniform but search online for the supplier and got a cotton version that looks exactly the same, no one has guessed it's different. Was expensive to do but very worth it. I also keep a small stim toy in my pocket as have to be bare below the elbows. It wouldn't be the same as your wrist bands and wouldn't hide your scars but maybe it's an option.

Open-toed shoes are a safety hazard, especially in warehousing and machine-shop environments. Same for jewelry - even wedding bands. The uniform may be negotiable, for the reasons stated above.

If conforming with safety regulations is not your thing, then you could always quit and apply for work elsewhere; but if earning a paycheck is more important, then conformity is a must.

Many of the jobs I have worked in have insisted on safety footwear (steel/composite tow cap)- however most aspects of clothing, including which safety shoes I ware, are up to me (as long as it was black).

If you just need closed in shoes then you should be able to find something that suites you (consider absorbent insoles).

Are you able to wear something underneath the uniform? - this may make it feel better.

Your avatar has tattoos. Perhaps you could get tattoos to hide the scars on your wrists? Perhaps you could discuss this matter with HR and get a written opinion that they would prefer tattoos to the scars on your wrists?

^ That's funny.
I just wrote in another thread about getting my wrists tattooed.
I've noticed several other staff members have them.
Some have them on their wrists.

As an update, I've removed the bands and my wrists are now bare.
The weather's been colder, so I've been wearing long sleeves.
Long sleeves and buttoned cuffs on your wrists are ok, but tight-fitting jewellery isn't (I don't see the sense in that at all).

I've been excused from wearing the 'official' uniform because of my skin problems.
I can wear a cotton shirt of similar colour and style.

As for the shoes: I am dying.
I've come home to bloody socks every day since I've been wearing the foot prisons.
My toes have more band-aid than skin showing atm.
I expect my feet will adapt to the confines of the shoes and develop callouses in the right places presently.
It can't happen soon enough.

I can't imagine what they think is going to happen to my feet.
Get run over by a wheelchair, perhaps?
I don't see how that could be any worse than what I'm going through now.

Thanks for your replies.
I'm trying to be less of a rebel

This may not be any better, but perhaps some breathable closed toed shoes (such as beach shoes) would help? Although, if there aren't any hazards that are the reason for this regulation, you'd probably be okay asking for special considerations. Hot feet suck.

I'm back in my sandals.
They can sack me if they like.
I wish them luck in finding someone else who can do what I do.

^

Once they sack you, whether or not they can find a replacement shouldn't concern you - whether or not you can find another job should.

Trust me; if you're working in a warehouse or assembly-line environment, there are dozens of people who could step in and do learn your job in a week. No one is indispensable.

I hope they realize how valuable Raleigh is--and let her work in her sandals.

^

I wore the sandals.
No one said anything.
Maybe they're silently putting a black mark against my name somewhere.
Maybe it's three strikes and I'm out.

Oh well.

I would really like to see someone learn to do my job in a week
I doubt they'd let me watch, however.
Pity.
That would be hilarious.

Just keep yourself indispensable, and they'll forget the dress code.

My feeling: The boss was in a bad mood, and decided to take it out on his/her underlings.