Do you have to wear a uniform for work (or for something else you do)? Can we see a picture of you in your uniform? I have always hated wearing uniforms. One of the things I like about my current work is that what I wear is up to me - there isn't even a protocol to follow. If I want to work in jeans and trainers and a shabby old jumper, that's up to me. If I wear smart clothes, it's because I've chosen to. But I know some people prefer clear guidelines for clothing and that uniforms can be convenient and a great equaliser, meaning that no one has to worry about what they wear. How do you feel about uniforms? Do you like wearing them?
We don't have to wear uniforms, only hardhats w/ hairnets, gloves, and slipresistant footwear that the company provides, and we have to wear clothing that is clean and in good repair and not too loose for safety's sake. Most every one wears jeans and T-shirts or sweatshirts often with the company logo on them, but that is entirely voluntary. Certain workers do have uniforms, electricians have jeans and cotton workshirts, maintenance personnel ( we have two who are women) have those coveralls that are SO attractive, and I think they get jeans and workshirts, too. If we had shower facilities at work, and they would provide six sets of clothes I would gladly wear a uniform at work, but that ain't gonna happen.
Not being a civilian but rather a serving member of my country's armed forces, uniform are quite mandatory for me. Part of the whole military thing. That said, we have a much looser code within my own unit, it being a very technical-oriented office environment. And really, the Israeli uniform was already designed to be less flashy and more practical from the beginning - we only ever see actual dress uniform when sent abroad. I'm still limited to a white t-shirt with my unit symbol on it, beige uniform pants, and black shoes when I'm in the office. Out of the unit I also have to wear the beige buttoned shirt with unit shoulder tag and the beret in the left-side shoulder strap. It's also worth mentioning that Israeli soldiers only ever wear said beret about twice a year. In general, having spent some time in the military and with active contact with various corporate employees, I can see the main reasoning behind their dress codes. For the military the predominant factors are obvious, so I won't go over those, but for the corporate folks it's a matter of being the public face of the firm to some extent. Israeli dress codes are notoriously lax and practical all around, but when you work for a large firm whose reputation and public appearance is critical for its business, at least some form of "looking respectable" is required. It's a matter of balancing between personal freedoms and the restrictions that come with the needs of the job - and I can see the sense in that. I'll try and look up a picture of me in uniform, but it may take a while.
One of the only 2 benefits of my work is that i can wear whatever the fuck i want to the office. Jeans and t-shirts is the order of the day for me! However, i do have to wear a suit tommorrow, since I'm going to an offsite location, for secret government work. So, I'll get a picture of myself in my suit. Perhaps, i can compare it to the other one I have from graces wedding, so everyone can see how terribly i've aged in the last few years. Oh, and the other good thing about my work is flexi time. Means i can come and go as I please. Hoorah!
No uniforms for us, being office creative types (that's chaotic-good in normal language), but we are asked to wear "appropriate office wear" during the week and "casual within reason" on Fridays. I like a well-designed uniform and absolutely loathe a bad one. A good uniform in the right context can make employees look smart, improve hygiene/safety and customer experience, and generally create a good impression. A badly designed/maintained uniform can do exactly the opposite. The worst example I can think of recently is the manky 1960's housewife apron the poor Ryanair stewardesses have to wear while serving the food/drinks. Those aprons were in the same kind of state as the kind of thing the sports teacher would keep in a smelly cupboard for those who were daft enough to forget their kit. I mean, it's hard to make a worse impression than the average Ryanair experience, but that just finished me off... Also, there are quite obviously places where uniforms (or at least a dress code) are not welcome/clever, and others where not having one makes the place look scruffy and disorganised.
No uniforms for us academic types. i do make the effort to look nice when teaching but sometimes i just can't be assed and teach in jeans and a shirt... I have heard of a lecturer in Queensland who teaches in stubbies shorts (those are those really short cotton ones) and singlet and thongs. Thinks Crocodile Crocodile in the Last Continent. I have also heard of lecturers who would turn up in full academic regalia to lecture. When it comes to work dress we're a weird bunch but i give you permission to shoot me if I ever dress in a tartan jacket with elbow pads and a pocket protector and pens in my shirt pocket...
Most people in the labs turn up in jeans and t-shirt and jumper (as the temperature requires) but thanks to heath and safety it isn't seen much as once we enter into the lab areas a labcoat, safety glasses and safety shoes are required. (lovely shoes, black or white laceups, chemically resistant with steel toecaps)
As I work from home I don't really need a uniform. Come to think of it, with powerful central heating, I don't really need to wear anything, unless I have anyone coming to call. Banish the thought! All I'll say is, never play the accordian without wearing a shirt. Especially in cold weather.
When I worked at NetJets (Biggest airline in the world for the Super Rich) I was required to wear a suit, unless I was on the nightshift. My other jobs were/are all creative, and as I'm now freelancing from home, I am glad not to be wearing a uniform. At halloween all the guys in the creative dept. showed up in a suit. Scared the hell out of my boss, he probably thought we all had job interviews or something.
