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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I being a wimp or is this unreasonable?

41 replies

KateSpade · 15/05/2014 20:11

So, yet again I am moaning about work... But please bare with me. I would like to know if I am genuinely being a wimp about this 'new' issue that has arisen.

So, basically we (me + 1 other job share In a fairly large dept) have been forced to wear our blazers, and are not allowed to take them off at any time. However, the lady I job share with has the radiator on all morning, 6 hours and our desk is directly in front of it. So you can imagine on a day like today, sat in an office with no windows, in front of a radiator wearing a jacket. It is so uncomfortable,

I had a conversation with the HR director today, after he walked past my desk and 'caught' me without it on, I said 'I'm sorry Mr Smith, I'm rather warm today' his response was 'it is not about how you feel, Kate is it it is about what I want and I say put your jacket on now' to which I apologised again and put my jacket back on.

Now, I wouldn't mind but.. His god daughter works at the same company, different office and refuses to wear her uniform as she has a mans shirt. And the CEO's daughter works here as we'll and has done for a lot longer than me, she is covering the holidays for his PA and today wore a hoodie, leggings and flip flops. I Kidd you not.

And just btw, underneath my jacket the uniform is a shirt with logo embroidery, and a scarf along with formal trousers.

If you got through that, please be my 'grandmother willow' (been watching Pocahontas) and tell me what my 'path' should be now?

....oh god Sad

OP posts:
Thumbwitch · 16/05/2014 09:46

Oh that's possible, I don't know about how long you have to have worked somewhere, or that you hadn't been there that long. That's the sort of question a Union rep would definitely know the answer to, though.

MojitoMadness · 16/05/2014 10:06

This would drive me nuts, I hate being hot! Could you just refuse to put your blazer on? What are they going to do? Suspend you? sack you? If you're having to leave anyway because they're being utter twats (I remember your previous thread) it may be worth fighting them on it. Or you could just "forget" to bring your blazer into work with you.

Also WTF is this "'it is not about how you feel, Kate is it it is about what I want and I say put your jacket on now"? Shock Who the hell does he think he is? The fucking King of the Nile? FFS, that is absolutely appalling! Angry Next time he comes out with a little gem like this, please try and have the confidence in yourself to stand up to him. You don't have to be rude or nasty just assertive. Something like, "well that may well be, but I won't be much use to you when I've passed out from heat exhaustion will I".

Original poster
KateSpade · 16/05/2014 10:52

I remember the first time I spoke to him mojito he I asked if I was busy in passing and I said something like 'not really, if you have any work that I could be doing, please feel free to send it down, as I'm free this afternoon' his actual words were 'excuse me? do you know who I am?' As in he was horrified that a lowly staff member would dare to speak to someone like him! Angry

We were given two jackets, but I may 'send them to the dry cleaners!

Have you seen how hot it is today, it's gunno kill me at work this afternoon!

OP posts:
naty1 · 16/05/2014 11:50

I also feel the cold. But would never dream of forcing colleagues to have thw heating on if they all agreed it is fine.
In fact i gave a thyroid condition so it makes me cold.
Maybe she is old or ill?
Anyway i used to wear thermal underwear under my clothes most of the year and this is what she needs to do.
Your company should not be wasting energy heating in this weather.
Under these circumstances you can do much to cool down but she can make herself warmer.
Thicker socks etc.
And anyway surely she would be freezing outside.
Could you get a fan?

MiscellaneousAssortment · 16/05/2014 15:41

I remember your other thread. This company is awful and the best solution is to get another job before your self esteem gets crushed.

Good luck Flowers

EverythingsDozy · 16/05/2014 15:47

Wear blazer but no shirt?! Grin

Thumbwitch · 16/05/2014 15:54

Tomato soup makes a good lunch. You could have it cold of course; and then accidentally knock it all over your blazer, which would mean you'd have to take it off. And then, you know, while that one's at the cleaners, I'm sure you'd just need to have some other cold tomato-based food that, amazingly and whatanunfortunatecoincidence, just happened to also fall over your blazer! Oh dear, what a shame, never mind.

RedRoom · 16/05/2014 16:43

Fainting then blaming his stupid policy is a wonderful idea.

Salazar · 16/05/2014 16:45

I've never understood when schools did this, let alone adults.

If you have designed a uniform that doesn't look professional when worn in any combination, you have the problem, not the employee.

I like the fainting idea. HR will shit themselves.

ginnybag · 16/05/2014 16:53

I'm also for fainting.

Or just email HR, and say that you're struggling with the heat as it's dehydrating you, and you're worried about the impact of this. As other staff members do it, you presume that it's not against the company handbook that you remove the blazer.

If it is in the company handbook, where? And when was the policy last reviewed as it seems out of step.

If you're not customer facing, why does it matter? If you are, surely shirt and fresh faced looks better than sweaty, redfaced, blazer-clad rag?

5Foot5 · 16/05/2014 16:58

Just turn the radiator off. If your colleague complains then it will just have to go higher I guess.

Is your role customer facing?

I said 'I'm sorry Mr Smith, I'm rather warm today'

Far too polite. "Look Mr. Smith I can't work in these conditions, it is far too hot for the dress code you suggest and will probably make me ill. Therefore it is a H& S issue. Would you like me to raise this formally?"

erin99 · 16/05/2014 17:15

What is everyone else doing in the fairly large office? Are they all wearing blazers? Or is there a reason you have to wear them and others don't eg because you're on reception?

If the issue is purely the radiator surely your jobshare can turn it off 30-60 minutes before she leaves.

Original poster
KateSpade · 16/05/2014 18:02

Occasionally and I say very occasionally I have to great customers, eg this week I have spoken to 1 person before a meeting and 2 students. But they obviously don't care about them meeting people looking scruffy/un professional as the girl in the flip-flops is taking the minutes in his meeting!

The man being a dickhead is the HR director - so that would get me no where!

I do agree with misc my self esteem will end up on the floor if I stay their much longer!

OP posts:
TinklyLittleLaugh · 16/05/2014 19:28

Are you in a Union Kate?

Original poster
KateSpade · 17/05/2014 13:17

No, I don't think so? Nobody's mentioned anything?

OP posts:
samsam123 · 17/05/2014 17:00

get in early and superglue the radiator heating off

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