A new manager has taken over at my job, and one of the things she wanted to enforce was dress code. This in itself isn’t a problem, I show up in my uniform every day I work there. However, she wanted any employee entering the tutoring center to be wearing their uniform, whether they are working there are not She said that she felt we looked ‘unprofessional’ out of uniform, and that it would be disrepectful to the children :rolleyes: if we showed up in gasp! regular clothes. So I guess if I have to swing by to pick something up there while running errands I better be wearing my uniform that day (even if I’m not working) otherwise I’ll get in trouble
To me this is a little inconvenient and excessive- I often go there from my crossing guard job, and change uniforms in the bathroom. If I am not even allowed to walk 25 feet in my crossing guard uniform to change in the bathroom, I will have to change in the car, a far more embarassing and cumbersome ordeal. In short, I think the rule is really stupid, but then again, I’m not a manager (yet! :mad:) so what the heck do I know?!
Dunno, probably she’s just trying to be loud and get attention that “stuff is happening” right after getting the job. And certainly to try and keep everything looking respectable at all times isn’t a bad goal.
So assuming the above–and that this isn’t a matter of having been granted an A-Hole manager–just explaining your personal situation (which is that you are not coming to work from home nor from another job with an accessible restroom) should be enough to get things reasonable.
So less of an “unreasonable” request and more of a “generally reasonable except in certain situations”-type request.
Yeah, I’d say that it would be unreasonable to not allow you to change right away in the bathroom before you start your shift. I’m not a manager, either, though, so what do I know?
I also think that wearing a uniform implies that you are “on duty” to customers, clients, students, etc. If you are not “on duty”, it seems a bit…well, deceitful…to imply that you are. If you are just running in to get something, as long as the clothing is clean and neat and covering the right parts of the body, what’s the big deal?
I think it does step over the line into “unreasonable” just a little bit. What if someone is stopping by for a minute to check on their schedule for the next week? Or pick up a paycheck? Are they expected to change into their uniform just for that?
Have you tried explaining that you’re coming from another job to this one, and you need to change in the bathroom, because there’s no bathroom at the other job in which to change? If you just slip in quickly and go right to the bathroom, I don’t see the big deal. Of course, you need to stay calm and explain the situation reasonably. Don’t blow up about it, and hopefully the manager will understand.
It sounds (IMO) like the new manager is trying a little too hard to establish herself as The Big Boss and is trying to enforce all the rules, without any leeway.
A dress code for customer-facing employees is not unreasonable. Since your customers appear to be the children in the tutoring center, yeah, I don’t think that the dress code is unreasonable. OTOH, I don’t know if I agree with requiring someone to dress a certain way while off duty. After all, how would the “customers” know that you’re an employee out of uniform? Why don’t you explain to your new manager your predicament with your need to change clothes because of other duties and see what she says. Believe it or not, some managers are reasonable people.
I think that it’s unreasonable to expect you to be in uniform while not working for the day, or before and after your shift ends. I don’t think drugstores and such make their cashiers were the little “I work here!” apron when they stop in on their day off to pick up a check, or when they shop at the end of their shift. It’s also frustrating for customers who see you and expect help; you don’t want to have to work on your off time, and they don’t want to hear “I’m off duty”. I see no benefits and many drawbacks to that particular bit of dress code.
I once worked in a hospital where a new director of nursing put out a dress code that included “plain, white, cotton, underwear.” In the ICU, we wore scrubs, which are quite opaque… I quit before I had to find out how she’d know what color my panties were.
Another part of the dress code, specifically for the ICU, was that scrubs had to be the same color and brand, even though the nurses had to buy their own. Most hospitals that require scrubs, provide them, and launder them. The color she settled on was uncommon, so everyone had to shell out for a whole new work wardrobe.
Her rampage also included, no jewelry, not even wedding rings. No hair ornaments, hair was to be either short or pinned up, but only with “unobtrusive devices.” Make-up was to be minimal, if at all, “none” was her preference. The rest was just as foolish.
When she was hired, she promised to cut the nursing budget in half… she was successful, in that just about half the staff quit. :rolleyes:
Dress code while off-duty? Totally unreasonable. My last employer tried to implement a “business” dress code anytime you were on site - including picking up a pay stub or picking up the lunch bag you forgot. To make this a touch more unreasonable, I worked in a call centre. There were no customers on site. I had no problem with the fact that there were no casual days whatsoever, but I’ll dress comfortably if I’m stopping by work to sign something or pick up something from my locker.
After everyone raised holy hell, and refused to drop by work outside of their shifts for any reason whatsoever, they reconsidered. They decided if you were on site for less than thirty minutes and not acting in your professional capacity (working, attending training, etc.), casual dress was acceptable.
And the not being able to change at work? I can think of no legitimate reason for that. And I agree with the other posters that to me, a uniform implies you are working right now.
Have a talk with her one-on-one, maybe she’s just trying to look cool/mean/in charge/whatever in front of the group. If that doesn’t work have a chat with whoever appointed her/is in charge of her.
Having worked retail- wearing Red and Khaki on the floor was as good as carrying a sign saying “I’m an employee-pester me”. Nametags were part of the official uniform, and many of us carried walkie talkies with us, but just being visible wearing red and khaki was good enough to get you pestered many days. Which was frustrating. Sure, I could go hide in the break room and not get bothered- but how the heck do you get clear across the store wearing your uniform so that you can clock out (or in) without being bothered?
So I’d vote for requiring people to be in uniform when they arrive for work, and especially if they want to drop in on a day they aren’t working to check the schedule, pick up a paycheck or do something else quick and administrative is silly, frustrating for the employees, and more likely to cause confusion for customers than is allowing people to show up dressed casually.
Now, on the other hand, I’ve gotten the impression that some of your co-workers are rather young. I would be sympathetic to a change in dress code aimed at discouraging teens in scanty clothing (especially as summer arrives) from appearing to be too regular frequenters of the center. Especially if they tend to stay and chat and generally hang out at the center when not scheduled to work and so this policy change is aimed at reducing the number of people not working hanging out on the property.
If that is the problem- and it may not be- obvisously I don’t have enough information to judge-I’m more sympathetic to the manager, but am still not sure that the proposed change in policy will have the desired effect on the people causing problems.
I work at a grocery store, and am certainly not required to wear my uniform if I’m showing up to shop, or pick up a check, or something like that.
However, my supervisor had to get special permission to wear a different belt than the uniform one since it didn’t fit her (she’s pretty big, not a value judgement just a fact). Sheesh. Like somebody coming up to buy gas cares about our BELTS.
Even though I am an HR person, I wasn’t able to find a definitive cite for you. At least half of the somewhat relevant google results seem to prohibit or discourage wearing of uniforms while off-duty, though. And in general, assuming you are non-exempt (paid hourly) if they are requiring something from you for the employer’s benefit, and wearing the uniform would presumably be for the employer’s benefit, they need to pay you for the time. If you showed up off-duty and out of uniform, and you were disciplined or terminated for that, it would wind up in the controversial area of “terminating someone for off-duty conduct.” This does sometimes happen, but usually for something more like a youth counselor getting arrested for drunk driving. Some states have laws preventing discrimination based on legal off-duty conduct (these laws primarily are intended to protect smokers.)
I think Eureka most likely hit the nail on the head in terms of the manager’s motivation. And the manager may be fairly young/ new and not looking at this as something that may have intricate legal implications. I’d agree that you should approach one-on-one about why you will be changing upon arrival. Also, assure her you will change before clocking in and will be clocked in on time to start your shift. This will portray an accurate understanding of your obligations as an employee. And of course if it’s “loitering” she’s concerned about, don’t be part of the problem.
She said that she felt we looked ‘unprofessional’ out of uniform, and that it would be disrepectful to the children :rolleyes: if we showed up in gasp! regular clothes. So I guess if I have to swing by to pick something up there while running errands I better be wearing my uniform that day (even if I’m not working) otherwise I’ll get in trouble 