You go to work looking like that?!

[bean]

Okay, I was in the Tom Thumb (owned by Safeway) across the street from my store getting a prescription filled, in my "work clothes". My "work clothes" are a Whole Planet foundation t-shirt (Whole Planet is a non-profit organization that Whole Foods runs), shorts, a Whole Foods hat, and black/bright red sneakers. I don't have to wear the hat, but I do because I'm growing my hair out and it's at that awkward phase where I can't really do anything with it.

I haven't shaved in a week or so - we don't have to keep a clean face, we just have to keep good hygiene (don't smell bad, etc). So yeah, I do look a bit rough.

A lady in front of me at the pharmacy sees the Whole Foods hat and asks if I work at the one across the street. I nod and tell her yes, she asks what I do, I tell her I'm a cashier. She then looks me up and down, stares at my shoes and shorts, and drops this gem:

I can't believe you go to work looking like that! You're in a t-shirt and you haven't shaved!

"Well ma'am, we don't really have much of a dress code. The shirt is actually from the Whole Planet foundation and was designed by Mohammed Yunis, the theme is that he wants to put poverty in a museum and stamp out world poverty. I got the shirt from Whole Foods."

She told me "How depressing! I guess the world has changed a lot."

How is wanting to stamp out poverty depressing? And uh, what's wrong with wearing shorts to work, our dress code allows them as long as they're a solid color and fall below the knee. I may abuse the dress code by not shaving often (I shave twice a month or so), but it's allowed by the official dress code.

[Hobbs]

I agree with the lady.This world's going to crap.

[RayvenQ]

Sure it is, if you have much of a dress code but, bean states that what he was wearing was within his workplaces dresscode so...

[CaroPhoenix]

If it's within the dress code ... I say, fine!

There was no real dress code at the gaming store so I got away with mini skirts, corset tops and other outfits like that. I looked like a tarted-up gaming chick.

But as soon as bean told the person that what he's wearing is within the confines of the dress code at the work, she shouldn't have said anything.

And I agree with bean: How is stamping out world poverty depressing?

[Hobbs]

Sure it is, if you have much of a dress code but, bean states that what he was wearing was within his workplaces dresscode so...

I mean, I agree with the lady's conclusion that the dresscode is not much of anything and stuff. I'd rather shop somewhere where the dresscode was a bit...more.

A question though. It is stated your beard is 'rough.' Now, does that mean it's just grown out unkept? Because if so, that's also kinda grungy. I don't care if people have facial hair or not, just keep it clean is all I ask.

[RayvenQ]

I'd rather shop somewhere where the dresscode was a bit...more.

Personally, I don't particularly care what a person is wearing at their job (as long as it's clean) as long as they are actually capable at their job, but, different strokes I suppose.

[Primer]

You were in her store looking like that, not at work. What made her think you go to work like that in the first place??

[bean]

It is grungy, I admit, but even my department manager goes at least a week without shaving pretty regularly. He shows up to work looking pretty much like me with short hair and more tattoos (he has a couple of visible ones, mine are all hidden by my shirt).

As long as my clothes are clean, not wrinkled, and I don't smell, they don't say anything to me. I'm one of the few that actually wears Whole Foods/Whole Planet shirts to work - they're comfortable and usually free. I have 3 years of Team Member Appreciation shirts in my closet (2007, 2008, 2009 - we get a new shirt every spring during TM Appreciation Week) that I wear regularly, several event shirts with the Whole Foods logo (Hurricane Ike fundraisers, Marathon Kids events, Community Volunteer shirts, etc), and a few plain Whole Foods shirts. Altogether I probably have 15-20 Whole Foods/related shirts. I don't think I've ever seen the store manager wear a Whole Foods shirt (he usually wears a button up shirt and jeans, the asst SM's wear WF shirts and shorts/jeans).

I absolutely HATE shaving, when it itches I take clippers to it and trim it.

People shop with us because they love the service, or the organic selection, or the gourmet stuff. We're extremely focused on customer (I'm sorry, "guest") service, and upper management recognizes that we can focus on that without everybody looking alike.


Our dress code is basically this:

If your hair looks like crap, wear a Whole Foods or a vendor supplied hat. If you start in a department that requires a hat, one will be issued to you for free. If you don't, you can purchase one from HR and have it deducted from your paycheck.

Cut resistant gloves must be used while working with knives. One will be issued by HR.

Shirts may not have any wording on them (unless they're vendor or Whole Foods issued shirts), or anything offensive. i.e. no band shirts, no skulls. Sleeveless shirts are permitted if the employee shaves their armpits. Yes, male or female, but I've only seen females do this. Shirts may not expose the midriff. Nothing "revealing".

Employees must wear a butcher coat or chef's coat in the appropriate departments. Others must wear a Whole Foods issued apron. Nametags are required, other buttons are optional (only WFM issued buttons may be worn).

Shorts must fall below the knee and be a solid color - shorts may not be worn in prepared foods/deli. Pants may not be pajama pants, chef's pants are okay in prepared foods and bakery.

Slip resistant shoes must be worn by most departments - I think cashiers are the only ones allowed to wear regular sneakers (but pretty much all the baggers wear regular sneakers too, same with the store management). The company will contribute $30 per calendar year toward an order from Shoes for Crews and pay for shipping. No open toed shoes, and no Crocs.

Visible tattoos must not be offensive. No tattoos on the neck or hands.

Piercings are limited to 5 per ear and 1 nose stud. I have 2 large holes in each ear (0 gauge, used to be 1/2 inch). No facial piercings, though I got away with an eyebrow piercing when I worked overnights.

I think that's pretty much it. Stores are free to enact a stricter dress code, but my store pretty much follows the corporate dress code. Our regional VP showed up to a store meeting wearing shorts, flip flops, and an ugly Hawaiian print shirt.

[Hobbs]

I admit I don't shave everyday for work. But I do regularly because, well, otherwise it just seems unprofessional.

It's ok to wear "store shirts" imho, because you do work there.

Shorts are rather too 'common' for work. Only time I wear them is when I work out.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't get hung up on dress codes at mass-retailers like grocery stores and big boxes. In fact, I think a lot of them are needlessly picky. Honestly, do people go to places like this, look at employees' dress and say "That guy's polo shirt isn't tucked into his pants! I'm never shopping here again!"?

I wish the swamp would let the employees wear jeans. Not ripped up, overly distressed, hanging off the ass or dragging on the ground, decomposing blue jeans, but nice ones. Being somebody who works with freight, I especially wish I could wear jeans. In my job I ruin khaki pants so fast it isn't funny.

Or here's another idea--how about letting us wear shorts? Especially since corporate is so tight with the climate control that recently, when we had temperatures outside in the 70s, the heat was still running? Again, not trashed, not too short, below the knee or just a bit above would suffice. Add a company-issued polo shirt or t-shirt and you've got a dress code that's practical and functional.

Speaking of khaki pants, one store I worked at wanted all the employees to wear pleated khakis and have their shirts tucked in at all times. Hello? I work with freight. I climb ladders, I schlep boxes, I bend, I stoop, I reach. Shirts tend to become untucked when you do these things. And frankly I think pleated pants are ridiculous and wear them as little as possible.

Seriously, we're a big box store. We sell toasters, light bulbs, Barbie dolls, Frito-Lay snacks and Depends undergarments. Not BMWs or Armani suits. And we don't sell them as cheaply as other places in town. I fail to see how tucked-in shirts and church pants make people more willing to pay our higher prices.

As for the lady in the OP, she needs to remove the stick from her ass. Surgically if necessary. From what I can tell Whole Foods is a more "hippy-ish" (for lack of a better term) place, more laid-back than the average grocery store, and their dress code works for them, so what's the freaking problem?

[Ad_Astra]

If that woman doesn't like the dress code well then, she doesn't have to shop there...

I work at a library--I GUESS there's a dress code but there's nothing listed in the manual, most of the time I wear jeans, sneakers, and a plain t-shirt or dress shirt. I have my nose pierced, a ton of unusual ear piercings, and no one's ever said anything.

What this boils down to is...don't worry about dressing to please everyone, stay within the code and you're home free...

[bean]

I wish the swamp would let the employees wear jeans. Not ripped up, overly distressed, hanging off the ass or dragging on the ground, decomposing blue jeans, but nice ones. Being somebody who works with freight, I especially wish I could wear jeans. In my job I ruin khaki pants so fast it isn't funny.

When I worked at Papa John's, I went through khakis real quick (though we could wear khaki colored shorts). We weren't allowed to wear stained pants - and pizza sauce stains like a bitch.

I should have mentioned our dress code does require pants that are "in good repair" and free of holes/stains - but I don't think I've worn out a pair of work pants/shorts in the nearly 3 years I've worked there. At PJ's I was replacing my pants/shorts every couple of months because of stains.

And yeah, WFM is basically run by hippies. World peace, end world hunger/poverty, extremely laid back staff (I've met a couple of managers with huge sticks in their asses though), etc etc etc. They're hugely successful (Fortune 500 anyone?), so their business strategy obviously works.

[Hobbs]

And yeah, WFM is basically run by hippies. World peace, end world hunger/poverty, extremely laid back staff (I've met a couple of managers with huge sticks in their asses though), etc etc etc. They're hugely successful (Fortune 500 anyone?), so their business strategy obviously works.

Where's a good Clint Eastwood growl when you need one?

Seriously, I've looked on youtube...it didn't help

[Moggie]

I want a job at Whole Foods. I like the fact they dress like regular people in a town full of college students. We all look like that off work anyway.
Well...I don't need to shave, but you get my drift.

[Mnemjian]

For a lot of people, the laid-back dress code at Whole Foods is actually a bonus. I think it's refreshing to see people with tattoos and dyed hair/facial hair in a workplace. However, their customer service is still generally exceptional. It kind of proves that just because someone has ear plugs or whatever, it doesn't mean they're a "hoodlum" or something and they can't be a professional employee. I believe that is is a big reason why a lot of companies frown upon piercings/tats/etc, because of that bias. Hopefully that will change someday and people will start judging each other, not based on appearance, but on what kind of person you are

As for having to wear a certain type of pant to work, well let me just say that I never decided to shop at a certain store over another because of what the employees were wearing (although if I was a guy maybe I would decide to go to Hooters for that exact reason...) It would be nice, though, if management would always choose the comfort of their employees over their "professional" appearance.