@HunkThunderzone @not2b @RickiTarr I'm on the forefront of GenX, and one of my first jobs out of university was working for 3InitialCo with supercomputers. I spent a lot of time climbing up things, and walking across metal walkways above the floor. So I wore leggings and band shirts, like I'd always done and I got a memo from HR that said appropriate business attire for women was a skirt and jacket, or dress, heels and panty hose. Oh, and makeup and hair. Because I couldn't be bothered. Server rooms are hot as fuck.
I laughed and laughed, and made someone from HR come down into the server room, and try to go up the metal stairs in heels, and then asked her how she'd feel about exposing herself by walking across the planks in a dress. Or climbing over pipes in a skirt.
But yeah, all these people in their 20s and 30s, dressing like Greatgrandmother on the way to a Sunday meeting.
Another factor in the aging of folks pre Clean Air Act: Air pollution was gawdawful.
@MissConstrue One of my first office jobs was at another 3-letter very conservative computer services company in the mid-90s. We also were required to wear skirt suits in black, navy, or dark gray (no other colors and no dresses!), pantyhose, heels, makeup, etc.
I worked on site much of the time inventorying computer equipment at a large automotive company. This required climbing under desks and in some cases over pipes. The client felt sorry for us and finally complained enough about how we were dressed (they were business casual by that point). The 3-letter company was forced to relent if we were on site. They eventually went to business casual a few years later and women could finally(!) wear trousers. And color.
@BatsInLavender @MissConstrue @HunkThunderzone @not2b If the women had to wear panty hose then the men should too, and then see how long that lasts lol
@RickiTarr Right!?! The rules also specified underwear and bras, BTW. I worked with a friend who would occasionally whisper in my ear in the hall "I'm going commando." Like, what were they going to do, have a snap underwear inspection? @MissConstrue @HunkThunderzone @not2b
@RickiTarr not me, but a male coworker in e was sent home for wearing a collarless shirt.
He worked in the same network center as I did. Depending on if this was in central Texas it might have been at the same facility. Mid-90s we had a very strict dress code.
It was and is ridiculous.
@mentallyalex @RickiTarr @BatsInLavender @MissConstrue @HunkThunderzone @not2b Yeah, I once got cited by an employer for wearing shorts... in Florida in July.
@LouisIngenthron @mentallyalex @RickiTarr @BatsInLavender @MissConstrue @HunkThunderzone @not2b I work outdoors and I’ve been written up twice because my work pants were black instead of dark blue (!) and my steel toed work boots were brown instead of black.
WHO FUCKING CARES WHAT COLOUR MY PANTS AND BOOTS ARE!? 🤦🏼♂️🤬
@KingShawn @mentallyalex @RickiTarr @BatsInLavender @MissConstrue @HunkThunderzone @not2b I mean, I get the importance of having a matching uniform in some businesses, but if a company wants those benefits, then they should buy and issue the uniforms themselves instead of leaving it to the employees... Especially when it comes to safety equipment like work boots.
@LouisIngenthron @mentallyalex @RickiTarr @BatsInLavender @MissConstrue @HunkThunderzone @not2b Absolutely but trust me, our customers don’t give s shit what colour clothing we’re wearing. I get wearing the safety gear and I have no problem with that. But if my pants and boots qualify in every aspect *except* colour (and, obviously, they aren’t garish or clash), then the employer shouldn’t give a rat’s ass.
@KingShawn @mentallyalex @RickiTarr @BatsInLavender @MissConstrue @HunkThunderzone @not2b I'm sure you're totally right the customers don't care which color you're wearing.
But if the whole crew is wearing the same colors, it gives the illusion that the company is paying for uniforms and makes them look more professional than they actually are, which makes them more money.
@LouisIngenthron @mentallyalex @RickiTarr @BatsInLavender @MissConstrue @HunkThunderzone @not2b Respectfully, I don’t agree with the logic in general but even less so in my specifics. I work for the provincial Ferry Corporation. Customers *have* to use our services to travel. They’ve already paid by the time they get to us. So us all wearing the *exact* same uniform makes the company no additional $$. 😀
@KingShawn @mentallyalex @RickiTarr @BatsInLavender @MissConstrue @HunkThunderzone @not2b Oh, yeah, that was business owner logic I was citing before. It doesn't bear much of a resemblance to the logic the rest of us use.
@LouisIngenthron @mentallyalex @RickiTarr @BatsInLavender @MissConstrue @HunkThunderzone @not2b Got it.
When I asked, I was told, “It’s so customers know who to ask questions of” - Supervisors/Management wear different coloured “uniforms.”
Except…
Customers have no idea the guy wearing *that* colour is a supervisor or *that* colour is a Terminal Attendant. They just walk up to an employee and ask questions! 🤦🏼♂️
@KingShawn Right, if they really wanted customers to know, they'd give you coats with the company logo on it or something.
@LouisIngenthron They do. :) Everyone wears logoed gear - hats, caps. jackets, safety vests, etc. It all has the company logo on it.
@KingShawn Oh, then yeah, totally, wtf does it matter what color pants you wear? 🤦♂️
@LouisIngenthron EXACTLY! I get that I can’t wear red pants or white pants or orange shoes but….writing me up for black pants (that BTW, are the *exact* same work pant style as the company provided pants but WARMER - hey boss - it’s 32F outside and SNOWING. I don’t think these summer pants are going to help keep me warm!) instead of dark blue and brown boots instead of black is just….STUPID bureaucratic BULLSHIT.