It's probably not something one would hear, or say, often in a workplace although there's certainly use-cases: Doctors, prostitutes, tailors and so on. In most workplaces there's rules around this sort of talk though as it can be perceived as inappropriate behaviour - there's implications for those who contravene those rules.
I work in a place where taking one's pants off in the workplace isn't legit, but last week someone at work got told to take off their pants.
Ok, not in so many words, but they certainly got told to leave the office, go home and change.
For most of my professional life I've worked in situations in which the appropriate clothing is a requirement for one reason or another. Sometimes it's been a full suit and tie to present in a professional manner, equipment for protection and safety purposes, clothing to convey a particular tone and impression and sometimes just for the sake of comfort and in each of those situations there's been valid and reasonable reasons; in some of them the ability to sway slightly from established and acceptable attire was possible and some not.
That's just how it goes right? We're there to provide a service to the employer and they pay for it so the obligation to act appropriately exists, at least in my opinion. Last week the person I mention above, who has been walking a thin line between barely appropriate and incredibly inappropriate, crossed the line and was sent home.
I'll be honest, I loved what she was wearing and she made it look good, seriously good. She always looks good, even on her worst day, and has great taste in clothing even if she does lean on the barely there style ethos rather heavily. So, she looks great and the outfit she was sent home for did too...but it wasn't workplace appropriate, not even close.
The organisation I work for are a serious outfit and while being incredibly generous and accommodating of those who do the hard work (that's everyone) there's a line that can't be crossed and she'd crossed it and was sent home. It wasn't done aggressively or with malice, but there was no doubt that a repeat episode would not be tolerated.
I agreed with the decision, even though this person sits right outside my glass-walled office (and I appreciate that greatly), as it sends the wrong message to everyone else and despite not hearing any complaints the workplace needs to find an equilibrium for everyone - difficult to do with so many differing personalities of course - and there was no option but to send her home to change. For the record, she came back beautifully, and appropriately, dressed and looks every bit as good as before...I think she'll be more well-received by others also.
We spoke briefly and she admitted to being embarrassed and I suggested she not feel that way as she's not the first person it's happened to. A chap was told he was dressing too casually when client-facing only a month ago and I even heard one was told to dress down a little as he was looking too formal back a while. She felt better and soon it'll all be forgotten about I think...although that outfit she got sent home for wearing...fucken smokin' and I'm unlikely to forget it anytime soon.
Have you ever worked in an environment where a particular type of clothing was required? Was it formal, casual, for safety or professional reasons? Did you like it or loathe it and did anyone ever push the limits on the rules and dress inappropriately? Have you worked in an environment where you were made to feel uncomfortable by the way someone else dressed or how someone reacted to how you dressed?
Feel free to comment below if you'd like to.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
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Image(s) in this post are my own