Me........
Supervisor: Fraser can I see you in my office please!!!
Me: Gosh....what I do now boy (inside voice)
Supervisor: How many times do I have to speak to you about having your arms outside at work?
Me: Oh...but I have on a scarf, so it's not that bad. We live in Tropics yuh no, the place hot. So ease me up (inside voice)
Supervisor: I understand that, but it is not appropriate to have your arms outside while you are in the office.
Me: But I travel the other day and most of the blouses and dresses I bought are sleeveless. So I waste money then. How come nobody does tell the lady in the next department, that does have her arms and at times the top of her back exposed, anything?
Supervisor: Fraser, that is for her supervisor to deal with, not me. My focus is on those under my supervision. We are guided by a dress code policy and you seem to be breaching this every week.
Me:
Me: I think this policy needs to be revised. Men wear short pants to work in Bermuda cuz de place hot. A lil sleeveless should not be an issue for the office. Plus is not like my arms are offending anyone.
Supervisor: Ms. Fraser, why are you arguing this point. At the end of the day you need to adhere to company policy. It has reached to the point where it seems you are influencing other staff members to dress the same.
Me:
Supervisor: Clearly a verbal warning does not suffice in this situation. Any time I have to speak to you this matter again it will be in writing!!!!
Me: Ok. Returns to my office.
Me:
Ladies what do you all think about being sleeveless at work. Is it really inappropriate??? I get that it may not be apart of a company's policy, but policies can be amended. I think this is a matter for the union. Watson Duke seems like the most appropriate representative. lol.
Having to place a cardigan or blazer over my blouse or dress may hide its beauty and .....is more washing at the end of the week.
What do you all think?
I must say I am grateful I don't have to deal with this anymore. I agree with you Fraser, work getting done arms out have nothing to do with it
ReplyDeleteahahahaaa.....Dais why u is my partner.
ReplyDeleteSimply put it is archaic BULLSHIT!!! Fashion has evolved so much over the last couples decades even years. Policies change as well. Why would you adjust policy on everything else and not dress code? I wear sleeveless dresses to work and so does my Mgr. I even wore one at an event this week and did anyone die??? NO!!!! In my best Tian Tees voice "they need to ease meh up"
ReplyDeleteIt's how you wear it, in my opinion. Some companies will be a little more relaxed in their dress code while some need to be more stringent - tropics or not. You rock it well Fraser. Some people may take it too far and it may look inappropriate in the office place/corporate world, just as you referred to the 'short tight skirts'
ReplyDeleteSleeveless ain't for everyone ..next thing you have to tell ppl about under arm hygiene and shaving their arm pits .lol ...there are appropriate corporate armhole and cap sleeve blouses ..I think wearing on a Friday isn't a bad idea but it depends on where you work ...other than that Fraser like she wanna start a riot lol
ReplyDeleteI think it's appropriate if it's private organization if you don't have to attend to customers. In addition, it must be worn tastefully.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments you all. I have been wanting to write about sleeveless at work for awhile now. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration and you all mentioned them; the office environment, a person's body type and of course company policy. All are important. While I totally agree with you Erica that policies should be updated, Trina u said it right. Sleeveless is not for everyone
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ReplyDeleteIt depends on the organisation really... Some people's interpretation of sleeveless might be thin strap so we have to be careful, we know Trinis love to overdo lol
ReplyDeletehahaaaa......yea.
DeleteEverything within reason
I wear sleeveless dresses but always walk with a shawl/blazer/sweater for that same reason. I may start out the day bearing arms but the AC temperature usually cause me to cover up before 10:00am.
ReplyDeleteThere's also always the possibility of being asked to attend a meeting and you know how we like to be well dressed cause you never know who'll be in attendance. My cousin who works at American Airlines couldn't stop laughing when he almost everyone in a uniform and the sentiments were that we're really extra here in Trinidad cause it's so hot.
I think too it really comes back to the organization's policy. When I first started my new job I was accustomed to wearing sleeveless tops on a Friday. I remember my first week and there were stares all around. Of course I threw my pashmina over and covered up. The last thing you want to do is offend and 'set the wrong example'. I'm s our culture I guess. ��
lol...thanks for sharing your story. It does come down to organisation policy and culture. That's why we need to protest. hahahaaa
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit iffy about arms being out but certainly not against it. Definitely always have your jacket/cardi handy in case you get called into an emergency meeting.
ReplyDeletePoint taken. Time and place!
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