Toxic CEO enforces dress code policy, employee maliciously complies: 'He strongly recommends [...] not wearing those shirts anymore'

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    Dress Code Drama
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    Return to office and Dress Code M OC I work in IT for a manufacturer... A global organization with offices in more countries than not in countries. 30,000 employees globally.
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    Our really good CIO who was technical enough to "get it" and smart enough to realize that a global organization needs global people from all areas with wide ranges of skills... He retired abruptly. He led us very well through the uncharted waters and we did well.
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    His replacement was named, and was a high level Financial guy about 2 years ago. Many of us knew what this meant, there are some very accurate memes and colloquialisms about Fiance guys destroying IT. Just around his 1 year anniversary he announced that we must return to the office and used the same emotional appeals about collaboration and "missing something" with remote work as the other brain dead executives around then globe.
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    After a couple of weeks of enforced 2 core days a week for only the office he worked at and the other "corporate office in the neighboring city". We're a set of mergers and acquisitions with multiple "key offices". Anyway after a couple of weeks of this RTO, email was sent about dress code,
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    clean jeans, it would be best to wear company branded shirts or polos. After all IT is on the same floor as the Executives and he's not going to look good bending the knee if us serfs are dressed in t- shirts. Comments were made on the side by middle management on how this would reflect poorly on reviews and merits...
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    The Malicious Compliance part... I decided to purchase a 4 pack of high vis polo shirts... Bright yellow, bright orange, teal green, and grey..each with reflective striping. For the last year I have worn these shirts every core day. We are afterall a manufacturer, our corporate office is attached to a manufacturing building where HiVis is required, along with hard hats, hearing protection, safety boots... We take our safety seriously and I applaud that.
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    Today my manager let me know that both the CIO and the Sr Director that I report into after a few layers of yes-people have commented that my shirts are not liked. My manger said that it's totally up to me what I do, but he strongly recommends picking my battles and not wearing those shirts any more.
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    So I leave with this ... I'm writing up an ethics complaint now. ... But what should I wear next week's core days? I'm thinking about showing up in my suit and nod to those two cowards who can't even say something to me directly. Thoughts?
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    coffeethulhu42.5 days ago My suggestion? Keep wearing the same hi vis polos, and file a complaint with HR that, as an IT worker in a space attached to a manufacturing plant requiring safety gear, you have done your best, at your own personal cost, to ensure work appropriate attire that also meets safety standards and you are now being singled out by members of leadership,
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    with implied threats to your performance evaluations, because you are prioritizing work-related professionalism over irrelevant appearances while fully conforming to the workplace dress code to which you are now subject since the cancellation of work from home. Get the paper trail going and find a good employment lawyer for the inevitable retaliation lawsuit. While you're at it, check to see if you are in a one party consent to record state. If so, get a pocket voice recorder so you can get evid
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    Cybermals 5 days ago So, let me see if I got this right: you're IT in a building next to a manufacturing plant THAT REQUIRES SAFETY PRECAUTIONS BE TAKEN & they don't like this? the Ethics. If you're in the US, report them to the Labor Board. ANYTHING you do in the plant requires safety gear that isn't "dress code appropriate" to their stupid standards. 132 Reply Share
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    Thortok2000. 5 days ago Find the oldest and dressiest possible way to dress that matches the dress code. I saw an MC once where she had gone with victorian. If you can possibly outdress the ones that are implementing the dress code so you look like you're their boss, even better. After all, they say dress for the job you want, not the job you have. 131 Reply Share
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    Guy_Chicago 5 days ago Bright lime green suit with a creamsicle orange shirt and white tie. 113 Reply Share
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    MyDangerDog. 5 days ago I'm considering Hawaiian shirts with a kilt when we are forced to RTO.
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    Lecaz 5 days ago A mankini a la Borat. Safety is important, got to be seen!
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    NerdingOutSkins 5 days ago 1980 women's power suit with the biggest shoulder pads you can find. Preferably a pencil skirt with a questionable "crotch" outline. Bonus points for heels. It's still a suit.

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