Uniforms at work

Youre an IT monkey at a law firm, the suits should be reserved for lawyers only

Get back In the basement

Oh and you just don't want them to know you need xxxxl
 
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He probably gives a vague and suggestive Chancery Lane in his sharp suit whilst giving a knowing wink. Now he is frightened people will just think he works at the McDonalds opposite Holborn Tube.
 
Wearing uniforms has it's pluses. Means you don't spend money on items of clothing. Some people don't feel comfortable with it but some people do. I certainly don't mind and wish we did have a uniform. Feels more professional and bound to the company then.
 
OP, no offence, but it sounds like you don't want to wear a uniform because it shows to everyone else that you're not a lawyer.

As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with uniforms. My line of work means I can wear the full company uniform, or simply dress smart. I choose to wear the uniform for several reasons.
First, it means less wear and tear to my own clothes, second, I can apply for a tax break for washing said uniform at the end of the year, and third, I'm hugely proud of where I work and it gets me recognition pretty much wherever I go in the North East of England if I happen to be wearing said uniform at the time.

Just wear the damn uniform?
 
There is nothing wrong with uniforms, they have purposes. In retail, so that they can be distinguished from customers and identified. In a small business setting everyone knows IT by face. If your work may result in clothes becoming continuous damaged then it may be cost effective for the work to use company clothing. My clothes do not get damaged and I can manage ok with paying the small amount that it costs to pay for work clothes. It would be great if i could claim back my work clothes as expenses, as it is a type of uniform.

I think it is just a way for the company to exert dominance over the people and serves no other practical purpose. In that sort of setting, in a corporate office with loads of lawyers or bankers or any type of business man who dress smart they will respect people less if they wear a uniform. They won't be as comfortable at speaking to them with any authority. Of course in some instances uniforms do lead people to respect them but that is not always the case. Incidently i ask my boss if he would be wearing the uniform and the answer was no, it wouldn't look good in front of clients would be the probably justification. That works the same for people directly below him as well.
 
Malt_Vinegar said:
Leaving a good job over an logo on a shirt is not the behavior of someone rational.
Clearly the job is crap anyway if this is what causes you to leave.
Just be honest, you hate your job, dress upto pretend you have a better one to people you do not know and now wish to use not being able to use this social crutch as an excuse to find a new job.
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some people get funny about status, job titles in particular can cause all sorts of problems, people are often concerned about their perceived status in relation to others - we've more or less got rid of them but in the past every time a new org chart got published it prompted tantrums

I'd guess that is part of the issue with the OP, he wears a suit, works with people wearing suits etc... he's can think of himself as another professional. Stick him in a polo shirt/uniform and suddenly his status is more like that of the cleaners or the guy who comes round to fix the lights etc.. he's now just the bloke who deals with the computers
 
I am not much for status, I don't buy expensive suits or get them dry cleaned every week. I buy 3 pack white shirts and under £200 suits. I buy £40 m&s smart wool trousers for winter with stretchy waist band, which allows me to wear lower sizes and still be comfortable. I am not much in to job titles either. It is more for business reasons, that i think in that environment it is better to dress as everyone else does. If it is a field engineer someone who visits and leaves then i think a uniform is reasonable.
 
but you've pretty much said it yourself

In that sort of setting, in a corporate office with loads of lawyers or bankers or any type of business man who dress smart they will respect people less if they wear a uniform.
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which is basically a status issue... do you dress like them or dress like the guy who fixes the lights etc..
 
dowie said:
but you've pretty much said it yourself



which is basically a status issue... do you dress like them or dress like the guy who fixes the lights etc..
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No, if there is a guy who comes around to fix the lights then it is reasonable for him to be wearing a uniform so he can be identified. But if they employ a light guy to sit a desk for 40 hours a week and cover it 24/7 for light problems and he his face is in the company directory and so on. Then there is no need for him to be in a uniform and it is makes more sense to for him to dress as everyone does.
 
Tbh, I love wearing a uniform. Can spend less money on clothes for work without having to think about it.
 
Dressing smartly definitely brings a type of respect in the city. I was told if you want to move up and earn more money you have to dress the part. If you think independently of the company. You want to represent well across all sites so that you can get another job opportunity and create contacts. It may not be possible to do that so well in the city if you are wearing a uniform.

Some law firms IT directors make partner in the law firm.
 
anything I don't mind said:
Dressing smartly definitely brings a type of respect in the city. I was told if you want to move up and earn more money you have to dress the part. If you think independently of the company. You want to represent well across all sites so that you can get another job opportunity and create contacts. It may not be possible to do that so well in the city if you are wearing a uniform.

Some law firms IT directors make partner in the law firm.
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So your admitting now that you want another job?
 
neil_g said:
non customer/client facing = meh.

here its shorts and flipflops all round in the summer :D
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Amen :D

When we go on a client site we'll wear appropriate dress. When clients come here however, they all know how our dress code is so wear jeans/t-shirts themselves! :p
 
Not really any one answer to it. There was a big bust up at a previous place I worked when people came in at 5am voluntarily at crunch time (gone before opening of business) without uniform and one particular manager thought they should have worn uniform and tried to go down disciplinary route.

Needs a bit of common sense and flexibility from both sides really.
 
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