“Wear A Tie? Sure Thing”: Employee Finds A Way To Maliciously Comply With Company’s Ridiculous Dress Code
Of course, companies need to have rules. But they issue one that’s just a lazy way of creating order, the employees won’t be too psyched about following it either. And this story is an excellent example of that.
When Redditor u/CrazyCatLadyBoy worked at a computer store, he had to follow its dress code. And an important piece of that dress code was a tie. In fact, it was so vital that when u/CrazyCatLadyBoy forgot it at home one day, management made a huge deal out of it and gave the poor guy a real corporate spanking.
However, u/CrazyCatLadyBoy was not to be outdone. Over the next couple of weeks, he developed a revenge plan that would both comply with the policy and point out how ridiculous it was.
Image credits: Robert Nose (not the actual photo)
Dress codes (whether to have them, what clothing should be allowed and prohibited, as well as ways of enforcing these rules) vary depending on the atmosphere of the individual companies. I think it’s safe to assume that a small urban skate shop will be less formal than a Fortune 500 office, so will its employees’ attire.
According to a survey by Salary.com, different people have different feelings when it comes to clothing regulations at work. Some think such policies foster professionalism and hard work while others refuse to believe wearing jeans somehow detracts from performance. But people on both sides agreed that uncertainty breeds confusion which can lead to serious problems.
Only about 3 percent questioned said they’re not even sure if they have a dress code. So whether or not a company implements a dress code is actually secondary to making sure employees clearly understood how to dress for the job. Vague tie rules aren’t doing anyone any good.
People really liked this savage act of malicious compliance
My brother worked at a University that had a dress code of "collared shirts" for men. He was an old hippie, t-shirt kind of guy. So he wore Hawaiian shirts every day until he died several years later. When we had a memorial service for him, we all wore Hawaiian shirts. Even the women. It was lovely.
Some managers are terrible. Why make a big deal because someone forgot a tie. And then treating them as if they are 6 yo? I'm surprised the employee didn't just leave.
He went a short distance for a coffee and a crappy tie. As for the leaving the job, he may have wanted to continue supporting his colleagues by bringing up their concerns with management.
Load More Replies...Once had some relatives visit who were traveling across Canada. The were driving, so no special dress up clothes for that! The closest restaurant for us and them to go to was somewhat fancy and did require male customers to wear a tie. Our male relative was wearing a golf shirt style shirt . OMG! He wasn't wearing a tie. The person greeting us at the restaurant pulled a tie out of the drawer for him to put on. 🤪 He looked absolutely ridiculous. But, at least he was wearing a tie.
i worked for the d.a. and the dress code for court was women in dress suits or skirt with blazer, etc. i worked there 13 yrs and if i wore a dress or skirt it was always when i didn't have court. for court, it was a tailored men's suit, complete with power tie, wingtip shoes, and tiny handcuff earrings and tie pin. no one ever said a word to me.
I know it's not the subject but I can't get past the fact that this guy drove 40 min one way in a car to get to a part time job for some supplemental cash. How much can a job pay to make that worth the time and gas money?
I drive 40 minutes each way for work. I make my gas money back after 15 minutes working.
Load More Replies...I agree that dress codes are stupid. I am much more efficient as an employee when I don't have to spend all day in a skirt and heels.
Friend of mine was working as a nurse in the 1980s when the CEO of the hospital decided to make a decree that all the nurses had to wear nursing caps. This was after nursing caps were falling out of favor and hardly anyone wore them. The next day all the nurses showed up in caps. Including my friend. My male friend. Who was 6 ft, 250 lb and had a beard. The CEO had a conniption, but he hadn't specified gender, only job title. The next day the memo that all the nurses had to wear nursing caps was rescinded.
Many years ago the uncle of my (then) girlfriend was going to a military dinner. Dress instructions were simply “Regimental ties must be worn”. His wife stopped him as he was headed out the door wearing just his tie and nothing else. He went with Plan B - a pair of mechanic’s coveralls, a white shirt, and his Regimental tie. Since he was the unit’s second in command no one commented.
The best part is the manager that understood what OP was doing and totally got it. That's a good manager and probably someone you would always work for.
"The importance of a dress code" speech is absolute proof that there is zero importance other than as a tool for the vicious and controlling feeble-minded 'managers'. We hates them precious.
20 years for a fairly big company teach me this: If you think, you and the other staff members including higher ups working together for a greater goal, boy are you so wrong. We had everything out of the book from the team building handbook and other useless stuff. Not so long ago, we got a lot of papers with questions about the company and what we think and the best thing whas, the entire catalog whas anonym! The staff answered very honest every question and it whas terrible! The Company decided then to try to explain, we not rated the company, we are rating the shop we work and the manager for that shop. But the Staff did not understand that part and for years the try everything to make that clear. Pressure the shop manager, to get better results out of the staff. nothing helped. In the end, for a couple of years now, the catalog is gone.
My nextdoor neighbor was a manger in the same situation. He always wore a tie with Mickey mouse on it. He was once asked in a meeting why he didn't wear a company tie, he said he always did and then the penny dropped.
Button UP shirt. Button down shirts have the tips of the collar BUTTONED DOWN over the tie.
There was a guy at my office who draped a tie over his shoulders, but never tied the thing. He also managed to look like he hadn't shaved in days. The man kept this up for years, until he retired. He happened to be very good at what he did.
Things have changed a lot in Canada in the past 20 years, we almost don't see men wearing ties and suit anymore, except maybe the president of the company.... Dress code is more be clean and respectful, I remember seeing a man in suit that looked so dirty that we use to say we would prefer seeing him in jeans. Today when we see a coworker wearing a suit and tie we ask if he has an interview.
His privilege made it easier for him to address employee concerns and bring them to management's attention. Plus he gave his immediate boss a good laugh and his co-workers some vicarious revenge. As long as he was doing his job, no harm done.
Load More Replies...My brother worked at a University that had a dress code of "collared shirts" for men. He was an old hippie, t-shirt kind of guy. So he wore Hawaiian shirts every day until he died several years later. When we had a memorial service for him, we all wore Hawaiian shirts. Even the women. It was lovely.
Some managers are terrible. Why make a big deal because someone forgot a tie. And then treating them as if they are 6 yo? I'm surprised the employee didn't just leave.
He went a short distance for a coffee and a crappy tie. As for the leaving the job, he may have wanted to continue supporting his colleagues by bringing up their concerns with management.
Load More Replies...Once had some relatives visit who were traveling across Canada. The were driving, so no special dress up clothes for that! The closest restaurant for us and them to go to was somewhat fancy and did require male customers to wear a tie. Our male relative was wearing a golf shirt style shirt . OMG! He wasn't wearing a tie. The person greeting us at the restaurant pulled a tie out of the drawer for him to put on. 🤪 He looked absolutely ridiculous. But, at least he was wearing a tie.
i worked for the d.a. and the dress code for court was women in dress suits or skirt with blazer, etc. i worked there 13 yrs and if i wore a dress or skirt it was always when i didn't have court. for court, it was a tailored men's suit, complete with power tie, wingtip shoes, and tiny handcuff earrings and tie pin. no one ever said a word to me.
I know it's not the subject but I can't get past the fact that this guy drove 40 min one way in a car to get to a part time job for some supplemental cash. How much can a job pay to make that worth the time and gas money?
I drive 40 minutes each way for work. I make my gas money back after 15 minutes working.
Load More Replies...I agree that dress codes are stupid. I am much more efficient as an employee when I don't have to spend all day in a skirt and heels.
Friend of mine was working as a nurse in the 1980s when the CEO of the hospital decided to make a decree that all the nurses had to wear nursing caps. This was after nursing caps were falling out of favor and hardly anyone wore them. The next day all the nurses showed up in caps. Including my friend. My male friend. Who was 6 ft, 250 lb and had a beard. The CEO had a conniption, but he hadn't specified gender, only job title. The next day the memo that all the nurses had to wear nursing caps was rescinded.
Many years ago the uncle of my (then) girlfriend was going to a military dinner. Dress instructions were simply “Regimental ties must be worn”. His wife stopped him as he was headed out the door wearing just his tie and nothing else. He went with Plan B - a pair of mechanic’s coveralls, a white shirt, and his Regimental tie. Since he was the unit’s second in command no one commented.
The best part is the manager that understood what OP was doing and totally got it. That's a good manager and probably someone you would always work for.
"The importance of a dress code" speech is absolute proof that there is zero importance other than as a tool for the vicious and controlling feeble-minded 'managers'. We hates them precious.
20 years for a fairly big company teach me this: If you think, you and the other staff members including higher ups working together for a greater goal, boy are you so wrong. We had everything out of the book from the team building handbook and other useless stuff. Not so long ago, we got a lot of papers with questions about the company and what we think and the best thing whas, the entire catalog whas anonym! The staff answered very honest every question and it whas terrible! The Company decided then to try to explain, we not rated the company, we are rating the shop we work and the manager for that shop. But the Staff did not understand that part and for years the try everything to make that clear. Pressure the shop manager, to get better results out of the staff. nothing helped. In the end, for a couple of years now, the catalog is gone.
My nextdoor neighbor was a manger in the same situation. He always wore a tie with Mickey mouse on it. He was once asked in a meeting why he didn't wear a company tie, he said he always did and then the penny dropped.
Button UP shirt. Button down shirts have the tips of the collar BUTTONED DOWN over the tie.
There was a guy at my office who draped a tie over his shoulders, but never tied the thing. He also managed to look like he hadn't shaved in days. The man kept this up for years, until he retired. He happened to be very good at what he did.
Things have changed a lot in Canada in the past 20 years, we almost don't see men wearing ties and suit anymore, except maybe the president of the company.... Dress code is more be clean and respectful, I remember seeing a man in suit that looked so dirty that we use to say we would prefer seeing him in jeans. Today when we see a coworker wearing a suit and tie we ask if he has an interview.
His privilege made it easier for him to address employee concerns and bring them to management's attention. Plus he gave his immediate boss a good laugh and his co-workers some vicarious revenge. As long as he was doing his job, no harm done.
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