Asked not to wear a Rolex to work…

Just keep asking what the time is constantly until your manager gets really fed up of it.

Failing that you could keep a small clock upon your person like this Mantel clock and keep pulling it out randomly to check the time. If anyone asks about it just say you were going to buy a new watch but didn’t have time and were getting ticket off 😂.

Agree, they have spoiled a brilliant piece of repartee from MorrisZapp.

Meh. I own a Rolex. Currently work in a minimum wage job. Wore it every day to a job whilst I worked in a warehouse. Mine was a 21st birthday present. Would cost £9k to replace it with the like for like model.

They can F right off. You bought it. You're wearing it. I honestly can't see the difference between that and taking 3 holidays a year (which let's be honest could easily cost £9k). You've just chosen to buy something worth keeping.

I actually forget I've got mine on. I doubt anyone notices it. For that price, it needs to be worn every day so it doesn't cost anything! I wouldnt be keeping it for best.

I would tell her it's inappropriate and insensitve to put you on the spot like that. Speak to HR!

As an aside I've found your thread quite helpful OP. I also have a HR meeting tomorrow due to my low standard of dress. I'm very clean I may add, but apparently too scruffy for a senior role. This thread has given me excellent material and I will claim to be not parading my wealth in line with all the recent layoffs at our company. The low dress standard is because I set myself a target of no new clothes in 2023 (which I stuck to bar 1 item) then extended it to 2024 (which so far I have also stuck to).

You should continue to wear the watch - it has nothing to do with the financial situation your work is in. What if you have a flashy engagement ring - would you have to take that off too? I also agree with PP that things like this are always focussed on women - look at how much female politicians are criticised for how much their clothes cost (I remember an article in Theresa May’s leather trousers years ago) - how often are male politicians criticised for their suits which probably cost the same amount?

I think there is a time for sensitivities around money, especially during times of redundancies. For example - don’t be bragging about an expensive holiday or big house purchase when folk are being laid off, but you should continue to wear a functional item you’ve worn for years.

"most senior staff already know to avoid wearing expensive, flashy items to work”.

How do they know? Is it in some kind of training manual or handbook? Because it doesn't seem like it would be an obvious rule to "know" about.

My first thoughts! However, unless it's in a uniform policy/contract, just wear it unless you feel morally obliged not to.

I’ve an HR background.
I think it’s truly weird that someone noticed your watch, and not only asked you not to wear it but implied that you someone who “didn’t realise that it was inappropriate”.

If you want to go on record. The email:

Dear colleague,

Start with brief summary of what u discussed, (always to this do this so that you know “on same page” / esp new manager).

I’ve given your suggestion about my watch some thought, I’ve been wearing it for XX years, and honestly, I’d never thought that other employees would view me negatively for wearing it. Thank you for your candor, I have made the decision to stop wearing it for now, so I can support company values (or whatever might be correct).

I’m liking forward to blah blah blah

(Maybe you can start wearing a nice plastic Fitbit and talk to person nonstop about your steps …)

I didn't see it originally but both
is it a wind up and no its a swiss precision battery are top quality posts!

Brilliant and thanks to @SatansBobbleheadedDashboardOrnament for enlightening us .

@lateatwork and @MorrisZapp 👏

Trigger happy with their deletions these days 🙄

Mods were too quick ! 🤣

In response to “Is this a wind up?”

@MorrisZapp you are very clever and very funny! I just snorted while DH makes dinner!

I agree with PP. If she says it again, just say.... oh this old thing? It's a Rollecks, bought it in the markets in .... (wherever cheap enough for her!)

If that's the case then I think you should leave things as they are. If others wear expensive watches then I'd carry on wearing it and point this out.

I sort of get it. We have a couple of directors who are so ludicrously financially out of touch, such is their wealth. I’m sure nobody actually resents them having nice things, but it’s always at times of tension that it really doesn’t help. In our case it’s mostly stupid comments like ‘can’t you just get a nanny’ when having to get back for wraparound care etc. But if you’re going to have to deliver bad news being more ‘of the people’ might not be a terrible idea

The deleted post said "Is this a wind up?"

God damn, MN should have left that one.

Thing is though, I’d bet there are plenty of senior lawyers with expensive cars- much more expensive than your watch. And as other posters have said, lots of women in that field will have expensive engagement rings. For many people, their rings are the most expensive item in the house aside from cars.

Does she object because Rolex is recognisable. Would she be bothered if it was Cartier or Omega? I bet some of the male seniors have nice watches. Has she had a chat with anyone else?

what was the post you quoted, it's been deleted but I need to know the joke 😂

Now I want to know what the deleted post said...

It's weird she's noticed and I think she's just jealous - otherwise she wouldn't have clocked it.

@Hydrangeajp do you have a friend who could lend you an obviously dior suit and a couple of valentino blouses plus a pair of louboutin shoes? just for a wee while??

JC - If it's a board level person that you report to and she's this batshit, I think I'd agree, because goodness knows what else she might do, right?

I'd also start looking for another job....sounds like the time might be right anyway...

how ridiculous. Is she going to ask you to forego nice holidays as well? Because other people might find out you’re spending money on nice things?

As you manage a team, presumably some of them are at risk? So I can see how it might be insensitive.

Maybe there have been gripes about senior management that have got to your new manager's ears?

I wouldn't know a rolex from any other watch, but I guess the whole point of a watch like that is people can recognise it.

It's not actually harming you to forgo wearing it to work so I'd just go along with it.