Forced Pride
Feb. 25th, 2005 08:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eggwardsToday's another Jeans Day at work, but I'm boycotting it because the company is starting to put some weird restrictions on it.
Our last jeans day they decided to turn it into "(name of company) Day!". Apparently they thought people didn't understand that jeans day was supposed to be given as a reward for the company doing well, and that we, the humble employees should have realized that there was a big drought of these days over the last few years. We need to plaster the company's name on this to make sure we're emphasizing the whole positivity of this day, right?
Of course, this meant to wear jeans you needed to wear a shirt or a pin with the corporate logo on it. Otherwise, no jeans. I'm not sure who would be coming around to enforce this rule, nor did I ever see anyone looking around, taking names like Roz from 9 to 5, but anythings possible.
Now after this last jeans day, we got a message that tennis shoes would no longer be permissible on "(name of company) Days". Apparently someone thought that the look was too sloppy to have the company logo associated with it, so the reward of jeans is fine, but sneakers were way over the line.
Today isn't really a "(name of company) Day", it's Go Texan Day, the city-wide day that kicks off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Today all of the trailriders come in to Memorial Park (It's always odd to have horses and wagons on the freeways) in anticipation of tomorrow's parade. Many employers allow their people to wear western duds in spirit of the Rodeo.
The thing is, the email went out saying that we could wear western clothing and jeans, but was really unclear about what else we could and couldn't wear. I'm a Texan that doesn't have a hat, or boots, so I can't go western (though after going out to the Round Up in Dallas, I'm starting to re-consider buying some western wear - I've kind of boycotted it for being to stereotypical of a Texan).
Still, I don't want to get in trouble. I'd want to wear sneakers with my jeans, and now it doesn't seem like that's permissible, and lately, I just don't feel like wearing anything with my company's logo on it. They just don't inspire me to want to be much of a team player these days. A company shouldn't make you wear their logo in order to get a reward.
Our last jeans day they decided to turn it into "(name of company) Day!". Apparently they thought people didn't understand that jeans day was supposed to be given as a reward for the company doing well, and that we, the humble employees should have realized that there was a big drought of these days over the last few years. We need to plaster the company's name on this to make sure we're emphasizing the whole positivity of this day, right?
Of course, this meant to wear jeans you needed to wear a shirt or a pin with the corporate logo on it. Otherwise, no jeans. I'm not sure who would be coming around to enforce this rule, nor did I ever see anyone looking around, taking names like Roz from 9 to 5, but anythings possible.
Now after this last jeans day, we got a message that tennis shoes would no longer be permissible on "(name of company) Days". Apparently someone thought that the look was too sloppy to have the company logo associated with it, so the reward of jeans is fine, but sneakers were way over the line.
Today isn't really a "(name of company) Day", it's Go Texan Day, the city-wide day that kicks off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Today all of the trailriders come in to Memorial Park (It's always odd to have horses and wagons on the freeways) in anticipation of tomorrow's parade. Many employers allow their people to wear western duds in spirit of the Rodeo.
The thing is, the email went out saying that we could wear western clothing and jeans, but was really unclear about what else we could and couldn't wear. I'm a Texan that doesn't have a hat, or boots, so I can't go western (though after going out to the Round Up in Dallas, I'm starting to re-consider buying some western wear - I've kind of boycotted it for being to stereotypical of a Texan).
Still, I don't want to get in trouble. I'd want to wear sneakers with my jeans, and now it doesn't seem like that's permissible, and lately, I just don't feel like wearing anything with my company's logo on it. They just don't inspire me to want to be much of a team player these days. A company shouldn't make you wear their logo in order to get a reward.
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no subject
Date: 2005-02-25 02:12 pm (UTC)I thought that was required? Certainly, you must at least have a huge belt buckle, right?
no subject
Date: 2005-02-25 02:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-25 02:40 pm (UTC)Sure I'm management, but Monday through Thursday I'm required to wear at least a button down shirt, nice shoes, nice pants (no jeans) etc. I almost NEVER see clients, we almost never have clients here. I don't feel it's necessary to dress up for salesmen, because that is their job to look good to us. It's all so useless.
I understand some of the dress codes because it appears that many adults have no idea that half shirts or boxers showing, isn't appropriate attire for the office, but still.
Everyone acts like wearing jeans instantly makes you goof off or hang out by the proverbial water cooler, but for me, it just makes me more comfortable so I'm not fussing around with my clothes all day.
Anyway - preaching to the choir I think. :-)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-25 03:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-25 06:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-25 02:45 pm (UTC)Way to stick it to the man.
Maybe next, instead of taking the "break" they give you for lunch, as an act of disobedience, you could just work right through it.
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Date: 2005-02-25 03:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-25 04:04 pm (UTC)Well, I do, but I don't like it.
When there are no layoffs going on or other ways to meddle in your lives, the HR department feel that they need to do SOMETHING to justify their miserable existence. So, they come up with these minor 'rewards' that cost the company no money, but sounded good in a book. The trouble is, the executives don't have much to do either, so they get in on the 'fun' and begin to slap restrictions on the reward and make it no longer 'fun' and actually MORE of a hassle than the normal time.
Scott Adams was very correct in casting a cat as the evil HR director. They like to play with you a bit before they swoop in for the kill.
Examples of this from some companies that I've worked for:
1. Strict dress code Monday - Thursday but Fridays (for a time) were 'theme' days. There was 50's day (I was tempted to wear a poodle skirt), funny hat day, etc.
OK - If the executives want us to look 'professional' (which is sujective to begin with - to me, 'professional' is people at their desks doing work with all their naughty bits covered), then why is it ok to create this once-weekly farce?
I boycotted this pretty much from the beginning and I got lectured at one point for not having any 'company spirit'.
2. Jeans are allowed, but no tennis shoes. Don't they REALLY go together? I made sure to eithe wear 1. my rattiest, oldest pair of 'dress shoes' or my best dress shoes, shined to a mirror finish, which looked really out of place with jeans. ANd you had to wear button shirts unless they were the 90 poly 10 who the hell knows shirts that you had to buy from the company store.
3. Business dress, unless it snowed.. and then you could wear jeans.. but only 'dress jeans' ..
I currently work for a company that allows casual dress, including jeans and tennis shoes as long as you look neat and decent. They do ask us to wear busisness casual (no tie)when clients visit, but we are given several days notice for this. I almost hugged the HR person when I found this out; however I don't know how long she'll last in this profession ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-25 05:22 pm (UTC)As for a hat.... I have a hat. Its an Alberta thing. Little Texas of the North.
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Date: 2005-02-25 06:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-25 11:46 pm (UTC)I believe the pin is what they called in the movie Office Space 'flair'.
I wear black tennis shoes to work all the time, even on regular days. No ones ever said a word
no subject
Date: 2005-02-26 04:03 am (UTC)You should wear as many stickers of the company's as possible. Tell them it's your flair. Point out that you have corporate spirit. And give a grin and a thumps up motion.
And actually, cover your whole body. Butt, crotch, armpits. Go wild. Get your co-workers to help.