Wearing a tie in a company that does NOT embrace ties?

jdbenson · Sep 9, 2010

1961MJS said:
Hi

I'd say the bigger problem is not being invited on Poker night. When I worked in Huntsville AL for an aerospace firm (up through 1995), only those who played Dungeons and Dragons with the leads got raises. In fact, they all got raises of 14.5% every year with 15% being the amount needed to get corporate permission for the raise. I realize that I'm in aerospace and we're nerds, but jeez..

Later

That's just a lawsuit waitin' to happen...

Geesie · Sep 9, 2010

Funny that this thread was made so close to Labor Day. The holiday that was created in honor of the labor movement, a movement to counter the force in this country that says "But when they sign the paycheck, or the dreaded pink slip, you just bend over and take it.", a movement that tried to replace it with the idea that you owe the company work under stated conditions and they owe you money for that work under stated conditions, that for an employer to break that agreement, you had to violate the terms of your contract.

Such pleasant dreams.

Baron Kurtz · Sep 9, 2010

No-one's saying it's right: It's just the way it is. Someone's gotta be sacked, it's going to be the one that doesn't "fit in" or is going out of his way to buck the trend. They'll find a reason to boot that guy. It's just common sense.[huh] People need to get over the idea that anything's really changed. The boss is still the boss.[huh]

(I'll add that it's bloody easy for me, as an academic, to comment on such things. No-one gives a flying damn what I wear, what I tattoo on or pierce into my body, or my hairstyle. But I think that if I were in a conventional job, I would be uncomfortable wearing 30s clothing every day of the year. It's certainly not what people consider "normal" and might increase the chances of being the first head on the block. In my business, the head of department or dean comes to you and tells you what you're going to teach; followed by "You don't want to? Well, the door's over there." Our contracts have that wonderful phrase "and any other duties as reasonably requested by the line manager". Now, I can go away and quite easily find a job elsewhere. Very few people even in acadaemia are in that position, and need to take into account the effect such ridiculously esoteric things like ties or tattoos might have on their boss.)

bk

dhermann1 · Sep 9, 2010

I find it interesting that a company that probably thinks it's promoting individuality is actually requiring conformity. That is an old dead horse around here, but still . . . .
Personally, I think I'd forego the tie most of the time. Maybe you could find your most casual style ties, maybe if you have any knits, or old fashioned woven wool, worn with a work shirt with double patch pockets, that might let people know that it can be cool and still casual to wear a tie.

Miss Neecerie · Sep 9, 2010

JLStorm said:
Ties are jokingly frowned upon and not worn that during large company meetings, if our directer catches you with a tie and you dont remove it, he may try to cut it off (this is a running joke with the ONE employee who wears a tie every day and gets a tie cut off every annual meeting).

I have no interest in being the center of negative attention with a tie as my fellow coworker is, however the issue is,

Honestly....if we go back to the first post of this....the question answers itself.

It is an environment that would ask you to remove a tie, or have it be cut off as a 'joke'.....

that means it is a 'dress code', enforcable by ridicule or being accosted physically..

If one has no interest in being the center of negative attention...then one does not wear a tie in this environment.

When in Rome...

Puzzicato · Sep 9, 2010

VitaminG said:
It's not like you'll be going it alone, JLStorm. You've already stated that someone else around the office is wearing them daily

Anyone who is happy to let the boss destroy their tie every year is an insufferable toady and not really someone to emulate.

Tomasso · Sep 9, 2010

JimWagner said:
I meant to add that the better you are than those around you at your job the more (in general) you can vary from corporate culture (in my experience).

If you are a serous rainmaker you can wear a tutu. That's life.[huh]

LizzieMaine · Sep 9, 2010

It's hilarious, really, that their insistence on "casualness" is as utterly lockstep conformist as suits and ties would be at IBM. Who are they trying to kid?

But how about a *bow* tie? At the very least they wouldn't have an easy time of cutting it off.

Miss Neecerie · Sep 9, 2010

LizzieMaine said:
It's hilarious, really, that their insistence on "casualness" is as utterly lockstep conformist as suits and ties would be at IBM. Who are they trying to kid?

But how about a *bow* tie? At the very least they wouldn't have an easy time of cutting it off.

Ahhh but shoe on other foot here...as a manager, would you be happy if one of your employees consistently 'stretched' the dress code by wearing something that you thought was innappropriate for the uniform or dress code...

If the environment has a 'dress code' or a uniform...then wear whats expected and don't assume you are the special snowflake of a flower that deserves to be different.

LizzieMaine · Sep 9, 2010

Well, my thought there was "if they want individuality, what's more individual than a bow tie?" After all, "The Man," enemy of casualness and creative thinking, always wears a long tie, never a bow. But yeah, if they're hostile to any kind of neckwear...

I wonder what the female employees have to worry about at that company. Would they get harassed for wearing a skirt and nylons?

Geesie · Sep 9, 2010

Baron Kurtz said:
No-one's saying it's right: It's just the way it is. Someone's gotta be sacked, it's going to be the one that doesn't "fit in" or is going out of his way to buck the trend. They'll find a reason to boot that guy. It's just common sense.[huh] People need to get over the idea that anything's really changed. The boss is still the boss.[huh]

Oh I know. I guess I got spoiled working union jobs where the boss had to have an actual reason to fire you, beyond "I don't like the way you look".

Dan'l · Sep 9, 2010

something to think about

I've read this thread a couple of times now and it's got me thinking.

My family and I do 18th century reenacting. We do a living history interpretation of a frontier family in Colonial American. Now, imagine if I showed up at work wearing an 1750's style waistkit (almost knee length), knee breeches, buckle shoes, etc... "lock the crazy up" might be the response.

I bring this up because I wonder might there come a time when the Golden Era dress fashion is really a thing of the past? It's possible that 50 years, or 100 years, from now there could be a community of Golden Era reenactments.
I know there is already WWII reenactments but think about going to some event where the participants are dressed in attire from the first half of the 20th century displaying what life was like "back then." It seems kind of funny right now but where are we headed?

Sorry, not trying to steal the thread but it has sparked my thougths.

cptjeff · Sep 9, 2010

Dan'l said:
I've read this thread a couple of times now and it's got me thinking.

My family and I do 18th century reenacting. We do a living history interpretation of a frontier family in Colonial American. Now, imagine if I showed up at work wearing an 1750's style waistkit (almost knee length), knee breeches, buckle shoes, etc... "lock the crazy up" might be the response.

I bring this up because I wonder might there come a time when the Golden Era dress fashion is really a thing of the past? It's possible that 50 years, or 100 years, from now there could be a community of Golden Era reenactments.
I know there is already WWII reenactments but think about going to some event where the participants are dressed in attire from the first half of the 20th century displaying what life was like "back then." It seems kind of funny right now but where are we headed?

Sorry, not trying to steal the thread but it has sparked my thougths.

The tie as we know it today was adopted by the europeans becuase it was less annoying then the lace collars that were in vogue then. Could the same thing happen to the tie that happened to the lace collar, shunned and actively hated because it serves no purpose and is uncomfortable for many? When we no longer consider functionless neckwear necessary to an appropriate appearance, that question kinda answers itself, doesn't it?

I have very little doubt that the tie will die before too long. Very possibly within my lifetime.

CliffG · Sep 9, 2010

I wear a suit and tie to work every day, I am in management position and the only one in my office, the other people in my position and higer do not dress like I do, they are more casual like your company, but when some one makes a comment my remaik is "The manager at Mc Donalds and WEndys wear a dress shirt and a tie while working out on the floor with the team, I am a manager of a company that I feel has more to offer than a fast food stop so I want to portray that by dressing as a manager"
I usualy get a humm...I never thought of it like that...

1961MJS · Sep 9, 2010

Hi

I'm more worried about this:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/

It's called Idiocracy, "Private Joe Bauers, the definition of "average American", is selected by the Pentagon to be the guinea pig for a top-secret hibernation program. Forgotten, he awakes 500 years in the future. He discovers a society so incredibly dumbed-down that he's easily the most intelligent person alive."

I watched part of this, doctors can give out band-aids and everyone dresses in sweats.

Later

repeatclicks · Sep 9, 2010

Yeps said:
It is worth a try. That is how I got the people around school used to neckwear. The standard dress code here is sweat pants and a ratty tshirt.

Sounds familiar.

Mav · Sep 9, 2010

1961MJS said:
Hi

I'm more worried about this:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/

It's called Idiocracy, "Private Joe Bauers, the definition of "average American", is selected by the Pentagon to be the guinea pig for a top-secret hibernation program. Forgotten, he awakes 500 years in the future. He discovers a society so incredibly dumbed-down that he's easily the most intelligent person alive."

I watched part of this, doctors can give out band-aids and everyone dresses in sweats.

Later

Hilarious, yet depressing flick. It's uncannily relevent.

VitaminG · Sep 10, 2010

Puzzicato said:
Anyone who is happy to let the boss destroy their tie every year is an insufferable toady and not really someone to emulate.

He may not be one to emulate, but he does set a precedent. Wears a tie daily, hasn't been sacked yet.

Geesie said:
Oh I know. I guess I got spoiled working union jobs where the boss had to have an actual reason to fire you, beyond "I don't like the way you look".

I guess in the same way I've been spoiled by the unfair dismissal laws over here. A breach of the dress code in my organisation could lead to losing your job, should you choose to ignore your manager's formal warnings. But the dress code sets a minimum dress standard, not a maximium. So no sandals, tracksuit pants & singlet tops at the office, but a suit & tie is fine if that's what you want to wear. Even if your manager doesn't wear one.

1961MJS said:
Hi

I'm more worried about this:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/

It's called Idiocracy, "Private Joe Bauers, the definition of "average American", is selected by the Pentagon to be the guinea pig for a top-secret hibernation program. Forgotten, he awakes 500 years in the future. He discovers a society so incredibly dumbed-down that he's easily the most intelligent person alive."

I watched part of this, doctors can give out band-aids and everyone dresses in sweats.

Later

good movie. Most of the teens in my town dress in similarly garishly logoed clothes. Reality television & amateur stunt programs (like Jackass & Dirty Sanchez) rule supreme! "Ouch My B@lls!!"

Talbot · Sep 10, 2010

LizzieMaine said:
It's hilarious, really, that their insistence on "casualness" is as utterly lockstep conformist as suits and ties would be at IBM. Who are they trying to kid?

But how about a *bow* tie? At the very least they wouldn't have an easy time of cutting it off.

Bolo tie.

And side arm.

1961MJS · Sep 10, 2010

Talbot said:
Bolo tie.

And side arm.

And Bolo ties are easy to tie. Even I can do it without directions.

I haven't worn those since grade school when I got back from my summer vacation to Arizona. I can't wear my sidearm at work.

Later

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