help - question re uniform (or not)

[Miss Potter]

I work in the IT dept of a large firm. We are moving to brand new offices in May. The powers that be want us, for the week(s) after the move, to floor walk in t-shirts proclaiming that we are "happy to help". None of us wants to do this as we feel it will undermine our professionalism. We're happy to wear small badges but that's as far as our willingness goes.

My contract states nothing about a uniform, and the official dress code specifically says we are not allowed to wear t-shirts with words printed on them.

Can they make us?

 

[Andy the Don]

I work in the IT dept of a large firm. We are moving to brand new offices in May. The powers that be want us, for the week(s) after the move, to floor walk in t-shirts proclaiming that we are "happy to help". None of us wants to do this as we feel it will undermine our professionalism. We're happy to wear small badges but that's as far as our willingness goes.

My contract states nothing about a uniform, and the official dress code specifically says we are not allowed to wear t-shirts with words printed on them.

Can they make us?

IT support with t-shirts saying "happy to help".. that's a first..

 

[Fruitloop]

'Happy reading your emails' might be closer to the mark.

the official dress code specifically says we are not allowed to wear t-shirts with words printed on them

That's pretty ironic. Have you pointed it out to them?

 

[Orang Utan]

Refuse point blank

 

[Kanda]

Kin'ell.. IT Dept in not wanting to co-operate shocker...

Whats the harm in it?? Really?

Bit of positive PR for IT, which they usually need. (Yes, I work in IT)

 

[FridgeMagnet]

My reaction would be something like "hahahahahahahano, fuck off"

 

[Pingu]

i once heard that IT has a PR issue with business users...

jeez its only a fucking T shirt. If thats the worst that happens as a result of a big move then count yourself well lucky.

its not like they are asking you to give everyone root access is it?

 

[fogbat]

Perhaps a fetching baseball cap as a compromise?

 

[Orang Utan]

'It's only a t-shirt' - it's humiliating though!

 

[dylanredefined]

Free clothes and your problem is ?Not like anyone going to believe them is it .

 

[Kanda]

'It's only a t-shirt' - it's humiliating though!

If Management think they need a bit of good PR, it's because users have a bad opinion of them. Thats the fault of... IT!!

 

[Badgers]

I wish I wore a uniform at work then my company would bear the cost of some/all of my clothes I wear for work. They have plain black polo shirts that have a small logo on them which are used for some events.

As we are casual in my office and I only have two looks (scruffy and suit). I just went to Primark and puchased 5 plain dark polo shirts for £3 each so that is all I wear at work anyway.

 

[untethered]

Can they make us?

Your employer can always make your life miserable for any arbitrary reason that they choose to, let alone being unco-operative with a request which could be construed as reasonable.

So the real question you need to ask is, what are you prepared to sacrifice to attempt to safeguard your "professionalism"?

 

[Miss Potter]

one idea we had was to order size XS (or whatever the smallest option is) - if they want us to look ridiculous we may as well go the whole hog

IT in our firm has a surprisingly good reputation. It's not about it being "just a fucking t shirt", it's about us being undermined by wearing it with a stupid slogan. It'll make us a laughing stock when we've worked very hard to turn the reputation of IT around.

 

[Kanda]

If the reputation is good, then I doubt they'll have a problem with you having T-shirts with just *IT* on them. They want you to be noticed, as long as you put your point across sensibly surely they'll see it...

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

Would the managers be happy to wear t-shirts saying: "Happy to manage the company and make it profitable!", "Happy to trouser my fat pay cheque, bonuses and dividends and make you do all the work!" or some such crap?

Anyway, shouldn't an IT dept t-shirt just say something like:

"Have you tried turning it off and then back on again?"

Save your vocal chords from repeating your opening gambit over and over, like?

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I'd wear one of these.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

If the reputation is good, then I doubt they'll have a problem with you having T-shirts with just *IT* on them. They want you to be noticed, as long as you put your point across sensibly surely they'll see it...

No, bollocks to that. The contract doesn't say anything about a uniform and I presume doesn't have a generic "you agree to let us treat you like a fucking performing monkey whenever you feel like it" clause. I would most definitely tell my line manager I wasn't wearing that, in no uncertain terms.

 

[lights.out.london]

I feel your pain here, but it may be worth re-checking your contract for a clause which states something like (but in legalese)

"...and any fair and reasonable request made by management, from time-to-time, regarding the terms of your engagement..."

...there often is a sneaky wee clause tucked away.

 

[Kanda]

I'd wear one of these.

I *DO* wear that at work

Great for meetings

I don't see the problem with the initial problem, sure ask to change it something else but it's a big company, moving to a new building, why not make the dept visible to everyone that is ALSO dealing with moving. What's the point in walking the floor making yourself prominent when no fucker knows who you are...

The OP says they've worked hard to change the image of IT round, don't see the prob with a T-shirt saying *IT* on it.

But... I'd put money on the IT Director or whoever is ultimately in charge being a Financial bod (CFO or whatever) and not having a fucking clue

 

[beeboo]

Regardless of whether they can force you to do it within your contract of employment, can't they see sense that if they're going to force people to do it and they're unhappy about it, it'll be totally counterproductive.

What would be the benefit of people going round wearing the 'happy to help' t-shirts if they're then looking pissed-off or awkward, or generally hiding in the loos and avoiding having to be seen round the office in them?

Also how bloody naff is 'happy to help'

I think you're best bet would be to come up with a better idea rather than a watered down version of the original (eg the badges), and present it back to the management.

Would you be happy with a t-shirt with a different message which was less corny and more professional - how about the a simple '**** IT' and helpdesk number? Or getting coasters or something printed up with the helpdesk number and personally delivering them round to get your faces known? Or cheese on sticks and some cheap wine in the new IT area after work?

 

[lights.out.london]

Regardless of whether they can force you to do it within your contract of employment, can't they see sense that if they're going to force people to do it and they're unhappy about it, it'll be totally counterproductive.

Yes. It seems like a pretty poor management exercise.

 

[f for fake]

what the fuck are you lot talking about it departments...
it what???

IT what???

International Trends??

is it some thing to do with computers, i just fucking kick it if it aint working and then tell me boss its bust
Working on a building site the toe capped boots make a right hole in the side of the box thingey. The smoke is way cool as well but i have been told by this nerd in glasses and pens in his pockets not to do that and just try turning it on and off.
I mean how do you get a plastic box horney, yet alone to be a prick tease. Can i tell it, its fat and ugly and needs replaceing with a new model to turn it off.

 

[jbob]

When I worked in Borders some time ago, they asked us to wear T-shirts with the same wanky phrase emblazoned across the back in massive orange letters during the Christmas period. Some members of staff complied, but many, including me, just didn't put them on.


Nothing was said for the first week, then the 'Human Resources' (ugh) manager called me in and said 'you're not wearing the requested t-shirt'. I agreed. Silence. 'I'll say it again, you're not wearing the requested t-shirt', again I agreed, I was not wearing the requested t-shirt. 'Will you?', 'No'. Uncomfortable silence. 'Well, ok, everyone else is...' As if that was going to make me feel 'bad'. And that was that, nothing more was said, although obviously my card was marked from then on. I went on to refuse to comply with other demeaning things, of which there was no mention contract-wise, to no comeback, until I left.

Borders is one shit company to work for.

 

[beeboo]

TBH, I'd see things slightly differently if alice band were talking about a retail environment.

 

[jbob]

TBH, I'd see things slightly differently if alice band were talking about a retail environment.

Why? Work is work. If a place doesn't have a uniform (like Borders), and then implements one without any negotiation, it's the same thing. Or are you implying that retail workers should just accept their lowly status, and don the branding of their employers unquestioningly?

 

[beeboo]

Why? Work is work. If a place doesn't have a uniform (like Borders), and then implements one without any negotiation, it's the same thing. Or are you implying that retail workers should just accept their lowly status, and don the branding of their employers unquestioningly?

ahh, fair enough I didn't realise Borders didn't have a uniform, I assumed it did.

But I do think what is reasonable in overtly customer facing jobs is different to what is reasonable in office based jobs. That could equally mean a doctor could be pulled up on not wearing a white coat in a hospital, I wouldn't say it's anything to do with status, more what is expected within a certain role. If I worked in a big chain like Borders, I would expect to have to toe the 'brand line' to a greater or lesser degree, it comes with the territory.

 

[longdog]

I can think of better things to take a stand on than wearing a t-shirt.

I'd rather wear a t-shirt than be suited and booted.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

... Or are you implying that retail workers should just accept their lowly status, and don the branding of their employers unquestioningly?

I don't know what that earlier poster was implying.

But personally, as a shopper, it's a bit tricky when you're looking for a particular book and you can't find it, and there's a massive queue at the cashiers desk. And there's someone else anonymous looking fumbling around among the bookshelves and you don't know if they're staff or not. It helps in cases that like to have retail staff who don't blend into the customers iykwim

 

[jbob]

I don't know what that earlier poster was implying.

But personally, as a shopper, it's a bit tricky when you're looking for a particular book and you can't find it, and there's a massive queue at the cashiers desk. And there's someone else anonymous looking fumbling around among the bookshelves and you don't know if they're staff or not. It helps in cases that like to have retail staff who don't blend into the customers iykwim

Well, library staff don't wear uniforms and there never seems to be much of a problem there. Or pub workers (on the whole), for that matter.

Staff in bookshops can normally be identfied by the fact they'll be shelving books and serving behind the counter, activities which customers on the whole do not engage with. Their 'anonymity' is perhaps due to your own perception of retail staff, (a view which is shared by the majority, I find), as identity-less automatons.

It's interesting to note the implicit hierarchies of occupation that are used to judge whether people should accept whether they are corporately branded or not.