A Little Help Please. Kilts at Work Research

[Rigged]

I've taught First Aid and CPR as a Red Cross volunteer for years, kilted. I received not a single complaint. We all recieved a memo a year or so ago about dressing professionally and appropriately, but I was still allowed to wear the kilt while instructing.

My current employer requires that I wear a uniform while on duty, but allows me to wear a kilt during company functions when I'm not on the payroll. I've gotten some interesting questions from co-workers and a few negative reactions (initially, but not lately), but my boss and his boss have seen me kilted and haven't said anything about it.

On my screensaver at work I show the full range of styles and the history of kilts with photos from war years, formal and informal kilt photos, photos of guys working in the modern kilt variations, fictional depictions from movies and television (Braveheart, Highlander, Monarch of the Glenn, James Bond, etc.) to put my kilt-wearing in context. I think that's helped people who were otherwise confused to make sense of the kilt thing.

[ozone]

I dont know if this is helpful or not: I wore a kilt to work 2 halloweens ago. As a doctor, I am expected to dress the part. I see people from all walks of life is Aspen: from the janitor to the CEO. The only semi-negative comment I got was from a woman who, while I was doing an EMG test on her, stated the she had trouble taking a man seriously who wore a skirt. Everyone else had nothing but positive, albeit occasionally startled, comments about my kilt.

I think rigged has a good idea: if you have your own office space where you see people, perhaps putting up pictures of kilted folks, scottish scenery, etc. would be a way of visually explaining why you wear a kilt and perhaps get your clients talking more than they otherwise would have.

Finally, another professional example. I know a family doctor in Salt lake who is an avid flyer. She and her husband go on extended trips all the time. As I am sure Cessnatowser can attest: "when travel by air, have time to spare" is a good way to stay alive in the general aviation field. Anyway, she is not infrequently delayed getting back to SLC. BUT, she has pics of airplanes ALL OVER THE OFFICE. Patients of hers instantly learn that this is her passion and understand that they might not see her on the day of their appointment because of a storm in Iowa or some such thing. She has told me numerous times that her patients are happy to hear that they were delayed in seeing her because they would rather know that she is flying safe. My point is this: she makes it abundantly clear in the office setting what her passion is all about and then people are able to understand and move on. Incidentally, she works for IHC...and if there is a more cumbersome bureaucracy in Utah, I don't know it.

[furrycelt]

if the only concern is that a client would make a pre-judgement, then that is a weak argument for wearing pants.

there are many things that could cause a client to not connect with you. your skin color, your long hair, your hair color, your gender, your height, your build, your age.... etc.

i am kilted full-time. i never see clients or the public. i'm a programmer. my boss doesn't care and actually thinks they are cool. we have a very casual environment anyway. heck, my boss brings her dog to work.

[Arlen]

I just started my new job today, but in my previous job I wore a kilt to work very regularly.
I worked for The Abbey bank in the U.K. A part of Grupo Santander, one of the 10 largest banks in the world.
I regularly dealt with workers from other offices around the world visiting my building, shareholders visiting the office etc. Not once did I have a negative experience regarding my being kilted.
I did have four or five occasions where visitors to the building commented that I looked very smart and professional compared to some of the other staff, but that they felt I seemed very comfortable and accessible because I was wearing something unusual.

[Dreadbelly]

I believe that people have evolved narrow minds so that their heads may fit up their rear ends with relative ease.

[Eujeankilt]

Ron,

I've been wearing kilts to work about as long as you have. I work as a Tecnician/Network Admin at a large community college. We have over 30,000 students here a year - from youngsters fresh from high school to 40 somethings working toward a new career to 70 somethings taking a class for fun. I am also in and out of offices of staff, faculty and top administrators. I have never had a snide comment or any evidence of disapproval for anyone in that time.

I have also taken trainings off campus and represented the college at local festivals while kilted - again with no negative comments

Of course, I dress smartly - business casual or better, so in some cases, I'm better dressed than some of my colleagues. We value our reputation for diversity in a public institution and I like to feel that I make a contribution toward that reputation.

Good luck in convincing your supervisor.


Dale

[The Wizard of BC]

Ron,

You already know that my job is making kilts. But I also have another job as a Docent at the Royal BC Museum. I regularly speak in the galleriess about the First Peoples of BC. (To Americans, this is what we call Indians up here.)
Quite often there are members of the tribe and family present. And I speak to people from all over the world. From every lifestyle. I have spoken in front of Dignitaries and World Leaders.
Never have I had a problem. In four years, 52 weeks each year, and hundreds of thousands of visitors, no one has ever made a derogatory remark. Nor have there ever been any comment cards filed quoting my kilt as a distraction or causing an inability to develop a rapport with my visitors.

When speaking to members of other cultures I have actually found my kilt to be an ice breaker. Canada prides itself on it's multiculturalism and it is not uncommon for our visitors to attend the museum in many forms of national and ethnic dress. So seeing a kilt, although not common, is not seen as any different than turbans, sari, or dashiki. My standing joke I open my talks with is "Does anyone here, other than me, see it strange for a former American, in a Scottish Kilt, to be talking about the First Peoples of BC? How Canadian is that?"

Some of the most rewarding experiences I have had are speaking to First Peoples. The indigenous peoples of N. America already feel outside the mainstream of society. They take great pride in their different heritage and culture, and they also take pride in wearing symbols of that culture. They see my wearing kilts as similar to what they do.

Some of your clients also see themselves outside of the mainstream due to drug use, alcohol use, or poverty. I can't imagine a worse way to alienate a client than to sit behind a big desk in a 3 piece suit. It screams "I'm from the establishment, I'm here to tell you what you've done wrong."
I'll bet though, that quite a few positive comments have come from the people in the area your clinic serves because they see you as being akin to them and not from outside and official.

You have tats Ron. They have spiritual meaning to you. But what if you were told "You can't work here because someone may mistake your tattoos for you being a Hell's Angel."

What would your answer be to someone telling you that because of your tattoos you can't work there because someone may take offense.

I've met you Ron. I have the highest respect for you, your work and your life. So which image does your boss want you to project? Establishment button-down, regulation spouting, or a caring, helpful, listening, counselor? It would be my contention that you, in a kilt, would be far more effective, form deeper and longer lasting relationships, and garner the trust and respect of your clients and neighbors than you, in a suit.

Just as it is easier for me to speak to First Peoples because I show respect for culture and heritage, your clients, who also respect those things, will find it easier to speak to, and respect you.

[Livingston]

Ron,

I am in high end IT sales. I work about 95% or more of the time on the phone so my clients do not get to see me. That being said, there is one show each fall that I go to in Orlando that is for the military training and simulation groups, I/ITSEC. The last 2 years I have taken my kilt for the Scottish Night that one of the vendors puts on. Everyone I have talked to there thought to begin with that I worked for that vendor. When informed otherwise, the thought it was great that I had worn my kilt. This includes one of my customers that I've worked with for the last few years.

[Archangel]

Hey Ron, missed you.

I can't wear my kilt at work for safety reasons. I have worn it at work events.

It was a main feature and discussion focus when I ran for Human Rights, and won, last year. If you remember, I ran a poster with me kilted on it.

I think it let other groups see that I had a non-traditional white culture I wished to express and therefore I would help represent their cultures better.

Perhaps more in the east than where you are, there is a strong link between kilts and natives that Steve alluded to in his earlier post. Nowadays there is a very strong communication between all natives, I would think it would be a more positive thing than your boss suspects.

There's another thing here, that's hard to express. You've been doing this for a long time now, kilt-wearing, and it would be a big shock to the community if you stopped. It would destroy the centre's credibility if it came out that you were directed to conform to some eastern standard. How can you help me find my core if you've been told to stray from yours and you followed that direction, disobeying your own core? Whoa, what happened to my grammar?

[GMan]

I know that I am very lucky indeed. Since I work out of my house and most of my physical public contact from the business end is UPS, DHL, FedEx, etc.

I have no problems at all.

I hope that I did not skew the outcome.