'Game on': Spunky employee maliciously complies with his manager's strict 'collared shirt' dress code by filling his closet with hideous tropical shirts

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Oct 17, 2023 10:00 AM EDT

Although some fashionable folks cherish their clothing choices every morning, there are others who value comfort over all else, believing that dress codes are reserved for weddings, private high schools, and the opera house. The flip-flop and shorts crowd might even consider the suit-wearing types to be a bit stuck up, forcing their arbitrary dress code requirements on the casual masses in the workplace. Sure, we understand that you want to make a good impression on your colleagues, but at what point does a dress code infringe on personal expression and comfort? 

When u/BuddhaMcDonald was faced with a surprise dress code enforcement in his office, he decided to take his strict manager's suggestions quite literally. After seeing a coworker get sent home because of his 'inappropriately casual attire', OP was extremely frustrated. On his way home from work that day, he got the brilliant idea to achieve exactly the professional standard that his suited-up, button-down, collared-shirt manager wanted. Scroll for the full tale of malicious compliance that took form in the tackiest, brightest, and most in-you-face expression. Next up, here's another work story of a spitfire employee who stuck it to their boss after he asked her to 'smile more' in their weekly Zoom calls. Yuck.

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  • 01
    Font - Posted by u/BuddhaMcDonald 2 days ago Ô You want to enforce a nonexistent dress code? Game on... S OC
    via u/BuddhaMcDonald
  • 02
    Font - Years ago I was working in a development lab for a large tech company. It was pretty casual, and there was NO dress code until an old-school manager took exception to a couple of us showing up in tie-dye apparel. A
    via u/BuddhaMcDonald
  • 03
    Font - coworker was sent home to change clothes, and I got lectured about professionalism and appearance and "...it would be nice to see you show up in a REAL shirt sometimes, you
    via u/BuddhaMcDonald
  • 04
    Font - know, with buttons and a collar..." So I bought several of the ugliest, loudest, brightest tropical print shirts I could find (yes, with buttons and collars), and those became my standard work attire forever after. Grumpy manager actually said "OK, I give up".
    via u/BuddhaMcDonald
  • 05
    Font - Abstruse 2 days ago Having worked primarily in offices with "Business Casual" dress codes with weird requirements like "must wear dress shoes" and "shirts must be tucked in" and stuff like that for jobs where we're not
    via u/BuddhaMcDonald
  • 06
    Font - only not customer-facing but never see anyone outside the company while on the clock unless it's the fire department because something's literally on fire, this is my go-to malicious compliance.
    via u/BuddhaMcDonald
  • 07
    Human body - The42ndHitchHiker Any Hawaiian shirt that can't be heard from space isn't loud enough. . 2 days ago
    via u/The42ndHitchHiker
  • 08
    Facial expression - carycartter 2 days ago If it can't be sensed from two dimensions over, is it really a Hawaiian shirt?
    via u/carycartter
  • 09
    Font - Von_Moistus 1 day ago . Ever catch a weird flash of color out of the corner of your eye? Now you know why. 8 Reply Share carycartter 1 day ago . That explains so much! Thank you!
    via u/Von_Moistus
  • 10
    Font - Ferretoncrystalmeth 2 days ago How can somewhere dictate your personal image? I know for things like military or emergency services it makes sense to a degree, but civilian work?
    via u/Ferretoncrystalmeth
  • 11
    Font - Abstruse 2 days ago It's common in the US. They don't dictate your style, they just have a dress code. Must wear dress shoes, no open- toed shoes, must wear button-up or polo shirts, no jeans, etc. You can wear whatever you want that fits within their guidelines.
    via u/Abstruse
  • 12
    Font - sirkibblesnbits. 1 day ago The line " if I must suffer, your retinas must suffer" hits hard Vote Reply Share derpne13 2 days ago Good Lord is this post funny.
    via u/srikibblesnbits
  • 13
    Font - Maxxover 2 days ago I worked in the game industry for years. The only dress code was that you had to wear clothes. Unless there was going to be a meeting with someone who might give us funding. Then the suits came out.
    via u/Maxxover
  • 14
    Font - fractal_frog 2 days ago I worked for an ISP whose dress code was basically, "no visible underwear". Everyone dressed for function and comfort.
    via u/fractal_frog
  • 15
    Font - RealUltimatePapo - 2 days ago The grumpier the person, the more satisfying it is when they finally admit defeat Hopefully he appreciated your dedication to this cause
    via u/RealUltimatePapo
  • 16
    Font - Spida81 2 days ago Office pulled that one once. Apparently I really have the legs to pull off a kilt as daily wear. Dress code scrapped for some reason. Can't imagine why.
    via u/Spida81
  • 17
    Font - chalkoutlin3 2 days ago this backfired on me in the best, most hilarious way possible... We were required to wear neckties.. I bought every cartoon tie I could find.. My boss loved them
    via u/calkoutlin3
  • 18
    Font - Laringar 1 day ago My personal favorite loophole in the "tie" retirement is that very few employers bother to specify where the tie must be worn. Rambo headband, anyone?
    via u/Laringar
  • 19
    Font - Obliterous 2 days ago Once had an employer change the dress code to require neck ties, I spent $10 on a cheap flat grey one; wrote "I quit" on it, and left it on my workstation. I haven't worn a tie since the day before my 18th birthday, and I don't plan to resume.
    via u/Obliterous
  • 20
    Font - Winter-eyed 2 days ago Golf shirts and ugly plaid pants. The Hawaiian shirts too! 20 Reply Share Corgiverse 2 days ago Worn together for maximum visual effect
    via u/Winter-eyed
  • 21
    Plant - Ste
    via u/canva

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boss worker collared shirts fashion dress code employee hawaiian shirts manager work coworkers working employees supervisor clothing workplace clothes shirts reddit thread Reddit coworker casual
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