Our friends over at Overlawyered write about the tale of a 63 year old woman who was terminated and then sued for age discrimination.
Yawn. I know you are thinking that this is about the most boring post ever. (Well, there was one that had a heated discussion about armpits...) It's not. And the reason it's not boring is the company this woman is suing, for age discrimination is...drum roll please...the AARP. That's right, the American Association of Retired Persons (or people--too lazy to look it up right now).
Geez Louise. I know nothing concerning this case. Nothing, so I'm not commenting on merit. I'm just commenting that either we should be aware because anyone can violate discrimination laws or we should be aware because no matter how much we do, you are always in danger of being sued.
Showing posts sorted by date for query armpits. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query armpits. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Too Dressed Up
Hi! I am the Director of Public Relations/Community Liaison for a non-profit counseling center in Wyoming. I am a young(in my 20's) professional female with a college degree and a passion for what I do. Recently I was pulled aside by my Executive Director and Clinical Director and given a lecture on my dress.
I dress in very professional business suits and dresses that are no shorter than knee length with business heels everyday, and I have worked hard and enjoy wearing designer clothes(Dior, Prada, etc). I was told that I needed to tone it down and think about wearing jeans, etc because I was dressing too professionally and that coworkers had complained that it made them uncomfortable. They then continued that donning designer shoes/bags/dresses makes my coworkers feel like I think that I am better than them. I was told that this is Wyoming and business is casual. Am I nuts or does this sound absurd to you? Thanks for your response!
You're nuts. Heck at my office, people pay $5 to be able to have the priviledge of wearing jeans once a year in order to raise money for March of Dimes.
Sorry. If your co-workers and boss (especially the boss)are wearing jeans and you're wearing a Prada suit with heels, you are inappropriately dressed.
Not that I would recognize a Prada suit if it bit me (I'm way too old and fashion challenged, plus a little bit cheap), but there are times it is inappropriate. I don't know much about Wyoming's dress code (does a state have a dress code?), but I did grow up in a town where suits were known as "marry 'em or bury 'em" clothes. Someone in a suit was out of place in most settings outside a church.
Now, I'm not one to criticize your sense of style and as long as your armpits aren't showing I'm fine with whatever you are wearing. However, there are consequences to all of our actions. The consequence for dressing up is that you co-workers feel uncomfortable.
They may be irrational. You may be the only appropriately dressed person in the entire place. It doesn't matter. Perception is reality and their reality is that your outfits make them uncomfortable.
As a commmity liaison, you should understand the importance of being able to communicate with your community.
Now, you don't have to dress exactly like everyone else. That might be a little creepy, because it's not your style. Dress like you would dress for business casual.
If your suits are too important to you to give up, fine. But, there will be consequences to that choice. Since the leadership at you company doesn't approve, a consequence could be a lack of career growth. Take a hint from your bosses and follow their leads.
I dress in very professional business suits and dresses that are no shorter than knee length with business heels everyday, and I have worked hard and enjoy wearing designer clothes(Dior, Prada, etc). I was told that I needed to tone it down and think about wearing jeans, etc because I was dressing too professionally and that coworkers had complained that it made them uncomfortable. They then continued that donning designer shoes/bags/dresses makes my coworkers feel like I think that I am better than them. I was told that this is Wyoming and business is casual. Am I nuts or does this sound absurd to you? Thanks for your response!
You're nuts. Heck at my office, people pay $5 to be able to have the priviledge of wearing jeans once a year in order to raise money for March of Dimes.
Sorry. If your co-workers and boss (especially the boss)are wearing jeans and you're wearing a Prada suit with heels, you are inappropriately dressed.
Not that I would recognize a Prada suit if it bit me (I'm way too old and fashion challenged, plus a little bit cheap), but there are times it is inappropriate. I don't know much about Wyoming's dress code (does a state have a dress code?), but I did grow up in a town where suits were known as "marry 'em or bury 'em" clothes. Someone in a suit was out of place in most settings outside a church.
Now, I'm not one to criticize your sense of style and as long as your armpits aren't showing I'm fine with whatever you are wearing. However, there are consequences to all of our actions. The consequence for dressing up is that you co-workers feel uncomfortable.
They may be irrational. You may be the only appropriately dressed person in the entire place. It doesn't matter. Perception is reality and their reality is that your outfits make them uncomfortable.
As a commmity liaison, you should understand the importance of being able to communicate with your community.
Now, you don't have to dress exactly like everyone else. That might be a little creepy, because it's not your style. Dress like you would dress for business casual.
If your suits are too important to you to give up, fine. But, there will be consequences to that choice. Since the leadership at you company doesn't approve, a consequence could be a lack of career growth. Take a hint from your bosses and follow their leads.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Harassment?
My co-worker, a peer has accused me of not doing my job, leaving early and skipping assignments. (NOT TRUE) He pulled me aside at work to accuse me of these things and did not tell management. He did say all of my other co-workers agreed with him that I was not "pulling my weight". Is this a form of harassment?
He did not threaten to tell management, was just letting me know.... but I feel like this is a scare tactic to get me to quit, or some sort of other targeting ploy to harass me.
I tried to ignore it.... but yesterday I found out (through a meeting with him and my manager) that two months ago he contacted my manager to tell her that I do not shave under my arms, and that it is offending customers. (no one SAID this, he could just tell) He did not feel comfortable approaching me about it at the time because the last time he approached me it "Backfired" on him.
Do I have grounds to go to HR about this? Do my peers have the right to discuss my shaving habits? That is not his business. Are my job activities even any of his business if they do not directly affect him??
"Rights" is a word that gets thrown around without anyone really thinking about what it really means. Of course, your co-workers have the "right" to discuss your shaving habits. Free speech baby. Now, does your company have to allow that? No. Do you have to remain silent about it? No.
Now truth be told, unless you are a life guard, I think you shouldn't be wearing anything that reveals the status of your armpits. Sleeveless is just not professional. (I know many people disagree with me. Get your own blog. How about Ilovearmpits.blogspot.com? I think it's available.)
If you are asking if his behavior is illegal, that's a different question. Perhaps. I would need to know more about him and you and what really happened. He sounds, basically, like a big jerk. So, let's handle him. We'll call him Steve.
Jerk: You aren't pulling your own weight. Everyone agrees with me.
You: Steve, that's just not true. You know it's not true. Furthermore, our boss knows it's not true.
And then you walk off.
Jerk: Your armpits are unprofessional and gross.
You: Your comments are inappropriate and border on sexual harassment. I'm going to report this comment to Human Resources/manager.
And then you walk off.
Jerk: You clocked in 3 minutes late today.
You just walk off.
You to your manager: Steve keeps questioning my performance and dress. Do you have concerns about either of these things? I'm happy to make changes in how I work, if what I'm doing is less effective.
Your manager may respond that you aren't pulling your weight and your armpits are gross. (They are--hair or not. Put some sleeves on.) Fine. Make those changes. If your manager is extremely wimpy, he may be relying on Steve to convey messages to the other employees. Why on earth is Steve in a meeting with you and your manager? It sounds like he does have some supervisory authority over you. In that case, you need to make sure you remain professional with him. He may have authority to talk to you about your late arrival, dress, or work habits.
If this is the case, you need to get that clarified with your manager. If it is not the case, the main thing is that you don't engage Steve and you do your best to ignore him. Do talk with your manager to make sure that you are performing up to expectations. Do report his behavior to your manager and/or Human Resources. Do this in a matter-of-fact way and not in a weepy "I'm picked on" way. Steve may not be sexually harassing you now, but he certainly seems capable of it. The company can't do anything about it if they don't know about it.
Steve enjoys yanking your chain. Don't let him yank it any more. He's stuck in 7th grade. You move on.
He did not threaten to tell management, was just letting me know.... but I feel like this is a scare tactic to get me to quit, or some sort of other targeting ploy to harass me.
I tried to ignore it.... but yesterday I found out (through a meeting with him and my manager) that two months ago he contacted my manager to tell her that I do not shave under my arms, and that it is offending customers. (no one SAID this, he could just tell) He did not feel comfortable approaching me about it at the time because the last time he approached me it "Backfired" on him.
Do I have grounds to go to HR about this? Do my peers have the right to discuss my shaving habits? That is not his business. Are my job activities even any of his business if they do not directly affect him??
"Rights" is a word that gets thrown around without anyone really thinking about what it really means. Of course, your co-workers have the "right" to discuss your shaving habits. Free speech baby. Now, does your company have to allow that? No. Do you have to remain silent about it? No.
Now truth be told, unless you are a life guard, I think you shouldn't be wearing anything that reveals the status of your armpits. Sleeveless is just not professional. (I know many people disagree with me. Get your own blog. How about Ilovearmpits.blogspot.com? I think it's available.)
If you are asking if his behavior is illegal, that's a different question. Perhaps. I would need to know more about him and you and what really happened. He sounds, basically, like a big jerk. So, let's handle him. We'll call him Steve.
Jerk: You aren't pulling your own weight. Everyone agrees with me.
You: Steve, that's just not true. You know it's not true. Furthermore, our boss knows it's not true.
And then you walk off.
Jerk: Your armpits are unprofessional and gross.
You: Your comments are inappropriate and border on sexual harassment. I'm going to report this comment to Human Resources/manager.
And then you walk off.
Jerk: You clocked in 3 minutes late today.
You just walk off.
You to your manager: Steve keeps questioning my performance and dress. Do you have concerns about either of these things? I'm happy to make changes in how I work, if what I'm doing is less effective.
Your manager may respond that you aren't pulling your weight and your armpits are gross. (They are--hair or not. Put some sleeves on.) Fine. Make those changes. If your manager is extremely wimpy, he may be relying on Steve to convey messages to the other employees. Why on earth is Steve in a meeting with you and your manager? It sounds like he does have some supervisory authority over you. In that case, you need to make sure you remain professional with him. He may have authority to talk to you about your late arrival, dress, or work habits.
If this is the case, you need to get that clarified with your manager. If it is not the case, the main thing is that you don't engage Steve and you do your best to ignore him. Do talk with your manager to make sure that you are performing up to expectations. Do report his behavior to your manager and/or Human Resources. Do this in a matter-of-fact way and not in a weepy "I'm picked on" way. Steve may not be sexually harassing you now, but he certainly seems capable of it. The company can't do anything about it if they don't know about it.
Steve enjoys yanking your chain. Don't let him yank it any more. He's stuck in 7th grade. You move on.
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