Thanks, all. Great ideas, um, for the most part.

The work I do: I'm a sales guy for a high-tech firm; we make optics components for infrared vision and laser systems. We have zero local customers, we have approximately two customers visit every year (with months of notice), and I'm on the road every two months visiting customers or standing in a tradeshow booth. My proposal, when I get to that point, is that I don't wear a kilt in front of customers - period. I think that's a reasonable concession to offer.

One upshot: I'm one of the most outspoken people here, but in a good way. I had a pony tail (trimmed two months ago), I have a pierced ear, and my facial hair changes periodically, I dress reasonably well all the time (nice blue jeans and button down shirts). I sometimes bike to work and people see my in spandex ("the spandex is much worse than the kilt" is what I heard at the Christmas party!). I frequently do impromptu speaches at the company-wide communications meetings, and there's copious courteous ribbing whenever I trapse through the production area. To sum it up: people generally like me, and have learned to expect the unexpected from me; when it happens they shrug it off as "that's just boB."

I don't think I like the idea of intentionally wounding myself, but I like the way you're thinking, Sister. I play ice hockey in the local adult rec-league... and there's plenty of opportunity for "injury" there!!

The employee handbook says nothing about kilts (no surprise) and it says that shorts and skirts must be of appropriate length. There's not really a greivance procedure; we're too small a company to have thought of such things.

I'll talk to our accountant to collect her thoughts...

More updates as the situation warrants, but this is an ongoing thing and progress may be slow.

Tenacity! Perseverence! Pleats!


boB