# I am about to become the most unpopular man in the office **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 12, 2011, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077 "2011-04-12T12:49:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/81 "2011-04-13T20:08:44Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > I remember years ago we had one of these: Leanne. Leanne was about 22 and very cute and knew it. She’d wear short shorts in the summer. Not anything actually inappropriate for the summer months, but attention-getting nonetheless. > > After a while our old-school, ex-military department director handed down the first-ever dress code barring short shorts and I’m not sure what else. We are definitely office casual around here; we just never had to spell out any kind of “please keep covered up” rule before. We called it the Leanne Rule, because she was the only reason we had such a rule. We’re a bunch of frumpy old Midwestern middle-aged and older ladies here! > > I am curious about the young lady in the OP, though: if she quits instead of being fired, would she not have to explain to future job interviewers why she left? Meaning she doesn’t have to tell anybody, “They fired me because I wouldn’t stop dressing inappropriately for work”? Does it affect her ability to claim unemployment? She wasn’t about to be fired; she was about to get a verbal warning to conform to the dress code. When she came into my office, she listened to what I had to say, shrugged, and said, “Whatever dude. Here’s my written notice.” Since she already had that ready, I infer she already has another job lined up and would have delivered that anyway. Hence the not caring. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/82 "2011-04-13T20:10:38Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > No, I think some of us are implying that the dress code should be based on how _old_ you are. Which also seems very, very discriminatory. I’M not implying that. I’d not care if you were hot or homely, a nymphette or a grandmother; some attire is not appropriate for an office. Particularly for a receptionist. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/83 "2011-04-13T20:34:05Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’M not implying that. I’d not care if you were hot or homely, a nymphette or a grandmother; some attire is not appropriate for an office. Particularly for a receptionist. I didn’t say you were. And I agree – some attire is not appropriate for an office. I just resent the suggestion (which was _no_t made by you, **Skald** , personally) that after age 35-40 or so, I’m supposed to cover it up. Bullshit. I’m still rockin’ awesome thighs and I never wear anything inappropriate. Not that the old biddies I work with would give a flip anyway. My posts are my knee-jerk reaction to "Anyone who is over 40 better not wear [insert some article of clothing I love to wear that looks great on me]… That’s just bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/84 "2011-04-13T20:36:18Z")
Regardless of the rules which may be in place, how these policies get enforced really mostly depends on who gets offended by other people’s level of exposed skinnage and clearly outlined body parts. Customers will rat you out in a heartbeat. Overly-inhibited middle aged women with erectile dysfunctional husbands are probably a close second. We had a senior executive’s receptionist at place I worked in a past life who was a seriously heart-stopping hottie, knew it and dressed the part - every day. This was in a U.S. Government office overseas dealing with local DoD contractors. Pretty stuffed shirt conservative by-the-book repressed authoritative stuff all the way. Nobody ever complained about her (officially) and we went through three different bosses while I was there, meaning she was the same receptionist for three different heads of that organization. There sure was plenty of offline water cooler conversation going on - “Did you see Susan today? Maaaan, she outdid herself again!” I never could figure out how she got away with it, not that I didn’t actually look forward to being called into the bosse’s office for that reason alone. I guess the view was just too good to deny, maybe? Dunno… ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/85 "2011-04-13T20:37:43Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I didn’t say you were. And I agree – some attire is not appropriate for an office. > > I just resent the suggestion (which was _no_t made by you, **Skald** , personally) that after age 35-40 or so, I’m supposed to cover it up. Bullshit. I’m still rockin’ awesome thighs and I never wear anything inappropriate. Not that the old biddies I work with would give a flip anyway. > > My posts are my knee-jerk reaction to "Anyone who is over 40 better not wear [insert some article of clothing I love to wear that looks great on me]… That’s just bullshit. Some years back I knew a 40ish woman named – well, let’s say Ginger – who rocked such garments (within reason) at an office job. Her age was not hidden by her face, but the amount of effort she put into keeping her body incredible (she moonlighted as a personal trainer) was appreciated by all & sundry. Well…the straight dudes. And I suppose the lesbians, though in fact I never asked any. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/86 "2011-04-13T20:38:27Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > What if you’re almost 42, have the killer bod, and maybe even the face to go with it? I’m often told I don’t look a day over 30. Can I still wear short skirts to the office? I usually wear tights if the skirt is more than 3-4 inches above my knees. I’m an A-cup, so no cleavage to reveal and I don’t wear a lot of tight stuff. Just your basic professional A-line or pencil skirt with a buttoned-up blouse. > > Can I? Purty please? > > P.S. I sit in my office all day long and rarely interact with any other humans. There are about 25 people in this office. Four of them are men and two of those are gay. Can I wear a short skirt to work? Nope you can’t. Because we can’t have a sliding scale based off how hot you look or who you sit with or what the male reaction is. Everyone has to get treated the same. So no fingertip length skirts or sheer shirts for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/87 "2011-04-13T21:12:41Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Her age was not hidden by her face, but the amount of effort she put into keeping her body incredible (she moonlighted as a personal trainer) was appreciated by all & sundry. …and this is pertinent in what way? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/88 "2011-04-14T00:43:21Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > …and this is pertinent in what way? Since when was this a coherent discussion? Japanese dress codes are super conservative. It’s spring time, but there are no sun dresses. Should be a crime I tell you… ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/89 "2011-04-14T01:39:42Z")
I see your point, **Dogzilla** (and your stealth bragging :)). That you can pull off a short skirt is to your credit. A lot of women shouldn’t wear them regardless of their age. They just don’t have the legs for 'em. There are _some_ clothes that are simply age appropriate. Why, for the life of me I can no longer find onesies in my size… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/90 "2011-04-14T02:15:53Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Since when was this a coherent discussion? I stand corrected. 🙂 This forum requires that you wait 60 seconds between posts. Please try again in 4 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/91 "2011-04-14T02:48:58Z")
By any chance do you [work at NBC?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qGouqhgFWU) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/92 "2011-04-14T02:50:22Z")
Regarding **Dogzilla** ’s posts: I’ll be in my bunk. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![A.Gwilliam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@A.Gwilliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.Gwilliam)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/93 "2011-04-14T09:24:48Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > I appreciated it. I just didn’t want to date myself. ☹ Well, nobody else would! \ :p;) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/94 "2011-04-14T09:38:43Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > If pole dancing pix are demanded, I most certainly will need that. > > :: slaps 2 x 4 on palm of hand :: > > Yep. That oughta do it. Thanks! > 🆒 Well, yanno, if you don’t want people demanding pole dancing pix, you could, like, not bring up the pole dancing thing three times a week. :dubious: 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/95 "2011-04-14T12:55:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > …and this is pertinent in what way? Hell if I remember. I think it was in favor of 40something women wearing short skirts. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/96 "2011-04-14T12:57:57Z")
Okay, so my skirts must extend past my fingertips. I can do that. I don’t wear microminis to work. (Only on fuckdates with my “friend.”) I don’t do sheer or low cut shirts. Nor any kind of strappy/tanky sort of top. Sleeveless, yes, because this is Florida, but no tanks or anything like that. It sounds to me like I don’t need a talkin’ to by the boss. But I’m probably pretty close to the edge on skirt lengths. Otherwise, as a former mormon, I find it difficult to be too revealing in a professional setting. Some programming is hard to overcome. I don’t try too hard (to overcome the mormon programming) when it comes to modesty in the workplace because if you dress to mormon standards (which I don’t), you’re pretty much golden as far as work dress codes go. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/97 "2011-04-14T13:04:32Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Okay, so my skirts must extend past my fingertips. I can do that. I don’t wear microminis to work. (Only on fuckdates with my “friend.”) No one requested that! We’re happy with hot chicks wearing micro-mini at all non-office related occasions. And even at the office, if it’s just the Xmas party or whatever. > [@](#): > > I don’t do sheer or low cut shirts. Nor any kind of strappy/tanky sort of top. Sleeveless, yes, because this is Florida, but no tanks or anything like that. You are causing us all to weep. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/98 "2011-04-14T13:19:58Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > No one requested that! We’re happy with hot chicks wearing micro-mini at all non-office related occasions. And even at the office, if it’s just the Xmas party or whatever. Oh,\*\* non\*\* office related occasions? Fantastic. > [@](#): > > You are causing us all to weep. [Oh all right then](http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn91/Dogzilla_02/Pole%20Pix/). If you’ve followed this link before, there’s nothing new. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/99 "2011-04-14T13:48:29Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Okay, so my skirts must extend past my fingertips. I can do that. Can’t you just bend your elbows a little so your finger tips don’t go down as far? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077/100 "2011-04-14T14:38:33Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Oh,\*\* non\*\* office related occasions? Fantastic. > > [Oh all right then](http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn91/Dogzilla_02/Pole%20Pix/). If you’ve followed this link before, there’s nothing new. I was not asking for a pic! Rhymers don’t ask for internet babe pics. There’s a rule somewheres. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-about-to-become-the-most-unpopular-man-in-the-office/578077.md?page=6)