New Dress Code Order *ranty/whiny*

[tropicsgoddess]

I started my new job a week ago as an Appointment Setter for a major Ford dealership in my area. So far so good. What's bugged me is the recent change in dress code. My MIL spent quite a bit of money to get me nice suits for work that I've been wearing since day one. The GM changed the dress code to where we all on the first floor (the second story houses HR & Accounting) with the exception of the service and parts guys . The required uniform we have to wear is a shirt with the dealership's logo on it with a name badge and slacks (black/blue/khaki). From what I was told he got the idea from looking at one of the staff members from a major Honda dealership in the area whose employers have uniforms similar to that...hell even the owners wear their uniforms on the commercials. It's bad enough that my MIL spent all that money to get me nice suits and now I have to put those away and spend money to buy the company shirts?!! Ain't that a bitch!

[It's me]

I have to put those away and spend money to buy the company shirts?!! Ain't that a bitch!

*Buy* company shirts? What the hell is that? If they want you to wear their logo they should pay for it!

[bainsidhe]

Maybe "buying" company shirts is covered under state labor law. My store enforces a dress code of navy shirts and khakis. This isn't the same as uniforms. A dress code can be any number of shirt or pants styles and serve as a guidline of required dress. Thus the company doesn't have to pay a nickel towards what employees wear. If, however, our store chose to enforce company-labeled shirts (aka: Uniform), they'd be footing the bill themselves.

If in doubt, check with your labour board. This doesn't sound on the up and up to me, but I'm sure it varies by state. Seems pretty silly if you're already professionally dressed, too.

[icmedia]

I had dress code changes at my last job, and I can feel your pain.

I started as a cook, so my "uniform" consisted of a T-shirt bearing the restaurant's logo and any pants or shorts I chose to wear. Later, shorts were banned. Not too big a deal, but unfortunate timing, as they were banned right at the strart of a month-long heat wave.

Shortly thereafter, I was promoted to management. I was allowed to wear any shirt with a collar, and either dress pants or khakis. If the shirt was specifically designed to be untucked (as some styles are) I could leave it out. I went out and bought a ton of snazzy outfits, all professional-looking and all fairly pricey.

In comes new upper management... EVERY shirt had to be tucked in, meaning that the sweater-style shirts I owned featuring hems at just below the waist were out. Basically, half of the shirts I bought. More importantly, NO KHAKIS ALLOWED. Awesome, considering that out of the 5 pairs of pants I bought 3 were khakis.

Then the new manager had the audacity to ask me why I always wore the same 3 outfits.

[myswtghst]

Yeah, I'm not looking forward to that aspect of moving to my new job. In the call center, we can get away with pretty much anything. During the weekdays (M-Th) that I work, I try to wear cute tops with my jeans, and stick to the jeans that are in good shape, but I still wear jeans and flip flops. On Sundays, I wear sweats.

When I move into my new job, as a trainer, I have to dress all professional-like again, with dress pants, no flip flops and all that stuff. It'll be worth it, but I'll miss getting to do casual Friday every day.

[Sylvia727]

I don't own a lot of "nice" clothing. My mom took me shopping once when I was job hunting and bought three polos, a pair of khakis and a nice pair of slacks. Other than that I own some modest cotton shirts (not t-shirts) and what they call cotton jeans. They're basically sweat pants that have sewn like jeans. They look like slacks. Also, my black jeans look enough like slacks that I can get away with it.

So far I've been called out about once a month for not meeting the dress code. Each time I tell them that this is all I own. Once a manager asked why I didn't buy more clothing. I told her the company didn't pay me enough for a clothing budget. She shut up.

[Boochan]

*Buy* company shirts? What the hell is that? If they want you to wear their logo they should pay for it!

+1 My Company is one that charges for its company tees/jackets. I refuse, personally because I think they look unprofessional, and secondly I much prefer the optional dress code (White Shirt, Tie, Black Pants & Shoes with Company Lanyard). Looks WAY more professional, and it was 5 out of 6 of our employees do.

[tropicsgoddess]

They do this thing with the company shirts that's buy one get one free, but it still bugs me that I have to put aside the nice suits I have for what a uniform?? The crazy part is I don't deal with customers face to face! But I guess the whole imagery thing is why the GM changed the dress code.

[Fenrus]

We have to pay all out of pocket for our uniforms at the Police Station. They give us a 30 dollar uniform budget, but when a single shirt is 60 bucks, and the special pants are 75, it takes a lot out of us... Luckily, I can get my pants cheaper cuz people don't realize it's not the Agency's specific pants... it's a Retail Store brand. ^_^

And people wonder why I only have 2 work shirts...

[Emrld]

In a job like Police or Fire you go into the job knowing that there is a specific uniform and you will have to pay for it yourself.

The retail store I work in at the holiday's issues you 2 shirts upon your start date . . . any additional colors and or styles you have to purchase yourself. They figure that allows for one to be hanging dry (as in worst case don't have laundry machines) and you wearing one at the store. Sadly when I started they gave me two in the same color . . .I would have prefered two different colors . . .but oh well.

I guess I see it from the other side. If a company is going to require you to wear specific items of clothing as in casual slacks, and a tucked in shirt . . .you have to have work clothes anyway . . .why not get what is required.

If they want their logo on it they should supply you with at least one (if not two) at their expense to start with.

If the hire you into a position and within a short amount of time they change the dress code . . .depends on if you own things that would work or not. For the Managment/ Resturant job. I would have taken in the "questionable" items of clothing and the rcpts showing date of purchase and amount spent. Then see if a compromise could be made . . . would any of them actually be acceptable . . .how long do you have to save up and buy more clothing. Sometimes if you put it back into their face of the cost you are out vs what they pay you plus what you just spent on good faith of making the right impression . . .it can suprise you.

[Sparky]

If you have to buy uniforms, they're deductible on your taxes.

Small comfort, but something.

[Andara Bledin]

The laws on this vary from state to state, and moreso by country, but one of the more common laws is that either the company pays for the uniform, or the company buys the uniform back once the employee is no longer employed.

Check with your local labor board to learn what your options and your employer's obligations are.

^-.-^

[Becks]

Once a manager asked why I didn't buy more clothing. I told her the company didn't pay me enough for a clothing budget. She shut up.

Too bad in didn't result in a raise, though.

[Sableonblonde]

At the last place I worked, we had to buy our uniforms. And we also had to buy a certain amount of tops and bottoms, three each. It came out to about 50 or so dollars. Considering that I was getting $6.00 and hour - owch. That's a big chunk coming out of your first check. Even better than that? You had to buy a brand new set of uniforms each summer you came back (this was an amusement park) even if the uniform didn't change in any way. It really sucks starting a new job and already being in the hole.

Ha, I remember the first office job I got, when I was 21 - it was the first job I had where there wasn't a uniform. The dress code was pretty lax, you could wear jeans and T-shirts and stuff, but nothing too sexy was allowed - no short skirts or sleeveless shirts or mid-riff tops. It was really funny to me, going through my closets looking for things I could wear to work, and realizing that almost nothing I owned was suitable. I felt like a hooker

[anyanka2]

My dress code is a collared shirt and khaki/black/brown pants or skirts for women. We have to wear nice closed toed shoes - a slightly vague definition because I've gotten away with wearing Birkenstock clogs and currently I'm wearing ballet flats. I don't mind the pants rule but the definition of collared shirt is the traditional one. Tunic tops are no okay to wear, despite the fact that they are considered business professional attire and sold at nice women's clothing stores. It's hard to find nice looking collared shirts this time of the year too. I hate the shoe rule - I'm a cashier and I really don't understand why nice sandals would not be acceptable, especially when some are better for standing for hours on end, especially the Chaco strap ones and some Birkenstocks.

I also hate the fact that most of us don't get paid more than minimum wage, which is not enough to afford business professional clothes and shoes.