the christmas season is in full-swing and no where else is it felt more than in retail. lots of people shopping and asking questions, staff to train and trying to get all the usual stuff done is tricky, but you have to roll with punches. the last two weeks in particular have been busy and a tad stressful, but i'm coping and keeping up with the challenges in this new position. in fact ( at the risk of tooting my own horn here) i think i'm actually excelling at the job. things are organized, getting done and running smoothly. i've been given more responsibility and have risen to the occassion, leaving little room for criticism. that said, there is one thing that i seem to do wrong and that had to do with the way i dress.
work has a dress code which is as follows: black, blue or white shirt paired with tan, black, or navy pants and black or brown shoes. while most days, i follow this code there are a few days that i haven't been exactly up to code. what i mean by that is i have chosen to wear a shirt that doesn't fit (dark grey) or i've worn a sweater which could technically slip through but depending on the mood of the manager that day, doesn't.
this is extremely frustrating to me as it really feels like because i can and do a good job at work, the only thing that management can come down on me for is what i'm wearing? how does that actually affect my job performance? in truth, i take pride in my appearance and attempt to dress up for work as much as possible. I have always been a firm believer in dressing for the occassion...collared shirts feel comfortable and professional to me, so what does it matter if they aren't black, white or navy? the vest i wear over top of the shirt clearly denotes the fact of where i work, so what's the big deal? i could see if i was wearing running shoes, ripped pants, or jeans or something but when the laundry hasn't been done and i've chosen a shirt which is technically a shade of one of the approved colours for one day, do i really need to be told about it?
i think what it boils down to is jealousy. again, i sound a little conceited here but what else could it be? by not staying in dress-code do they think i am better than they are? i don't (just for the record) but like i stated earlier, i take pride in my appearance and want to project a professional image. some of the choices in work attire from my fellow colleagues should be discouraged, if not downright outlawed. i'm sorry, but unless you work in a factory somewhere you should never wear a mock turtleneck for a day at work.
i know it might seem petty, but would it be satisfying to quit a job just because you frustrated over the the fashion? likely not, but everyone has to draw a line in the sand some where.
