To wear leggings to work

[parrotsummer]

We have a uniform and it's just a tunic black or navy trousers. Most people wear leggings and trainers. One woman has been complaining saying it's not professional! AIBU to think if they want professionals they need to pay professional salary not £6.90 an hour!

I think leggings should be regarded as thick tights and the bum area is best covered. I do understand carers wanting to wear them for comfort, I used to when I cleaned for someone but there no one to see my arse.

We have a teacher who is fond of leggings without covering her bum. This week I could see the shape of her fanny lips as the seam was pulled up into her crotch....

Thick thick leggings would be great. There's a market for it definitely.

^Piercings everywhere,
tattoos on necks,
see through leggings,
patterned leggings, trainers in bright colours,
long bright colours false nails.
Hair dyed in wacky colours scraped back on the face so it looked like they had a facelift,
big gold jewellery.

Spending 5 minutes at a service users house instead of 30.
Slagging off colleagues and service users constantly^

Out of your list, only the last 2 actually matter, although will give you the false nails if they scratch the clients.

Maybe people trying to scrape by on £6.90 per hour can't afford a wide selection of work clothes like more expensive, non see through leggings, especially as they might get ripped or stained due to the nature of the job?

I can understand many older people with more fixed ideas of dress, may find appearance more important.
But the job is about doing physical tasks and being kind and caring. That is what is important.

When I learned to drive my preference was for an instructor who I liked and got on with. I had a couple of instructors who I liked, but weren't actually that good at teaching me. Then I had an instructor who I didn't actually like particularly, but he was a brilliant instructor, and I easily passed my test.

There is a difference between our ideal person, and what is important when someone does a job.

I used to work with young kids when I was young. I often dressed scruffily because my jumpers and t shirts were constantly getting marked with paint, clay, glue and other things. I was low paid and couldn't afford to keep replacing things, so I wore stained clothing.

Maybe people trying to scrape by on £6.90 per hour can't afford a wide selection of work clothes like more expensive, non see through leggings, especially as they might get ripped or stained due to the nature of the job?

They may not matter to some but they will to others, so I made sure I had a clean, professional appearance at all times. I didn't fit in at all. I was one of those people scraping by, I could still afford sensible, professional, clean and appropriate clothing from George @ Asda.

I spent forty minutes at someone's house last week instead of my allocated five because her hair hadn't been washed since she'd been admitted to hospital (which is what i think is unprofessional not leggings but there you go!)

Don't think she cared what colour my hair is or what's in my ears or on my bum!

I'm not missing the point. Caring isn't s profession - we aren't nurses - no need to look professional. Clean, yes, and I am, but business dress?

From Boden, obviously

To me it doesn't sound like the tunic is really long enough to wear with leggings. There are other cheap comfortable trousers available that might work better?

Surely leggings are just tights with the feet removed?

I often wear them to work with smart boots and a long tunic-like top. They're one of the rare items of clothing that genuinely can be smart or casual.

Which is what usual?

Whatever job you have you should care about your appearance. No need to look professional? Well, you shouldn't be going in in a suit no, but appropriately dressed, yes.

George @ Asda will be fine, no need for Boden.

Stating fact that yes tons of piercings and tattoos looks unprofessional, and I am definitely a snob when it comes to making sure you take care of your appearance in the workplace. Even though you work in a low paid and low skilled job you should still take pride in how you look. I'm not talking about a full face of make up, I'm talking about a clean, smart, appropriate appearence. I can't believe people think otherwise.... still not sure what my posts have proved? Apart from being snob in this instance, which I am, and would rather be.

That's great. I wouldn't want someone who has no pride in their appearence looking after myself or a family member. Everyone is different.

I could buy a pair of cheap trousers from George but it's the amount of washing they need (and ironing) that make them not very conducive.

Also the 'dress code' is just - tunic and black trousers (or navy). I wear leggings, so do most others, or black jeans. I just find the buttons on standard black trousers not that comfy as obviously we do lots of driving and I find it can dig in. Also like I say not really convenient for washing.

I love leggings, if you don't obviously don't wear them! I wear mine with pride!

People can have tattoos and piercings and still take pride in their appearance.

I've found when people are dying they don't really care what you look like, they are just grateful someone's there.

Maybe one day someone will say they'd rather sit in a wet pad than have me change it because of my leggings! It hasn't happened yet though!

Carry on wearing them. And you sound like a brilliant carer.

I think business dress and looking professional are two separate issues. In my previous job (in a call centre), looking "professional" didn't mean business dress. It meant no holes in your jeans, no short skirts (unless with leggings ), no shorts, no cleavage, good personal hygiene etc.

No one would be expecting a carer to turn up in a suit.

My (personal) issue with leggings is the thickness of the fabric. If you don't like to wear something with a rigid waistband, or buttons, then why not leggings/treggings? Just as easy to care for, available cheaply, but look a lot better on most people.

Okay usual, you crack on.

I do wear leggings in the appropriate situations. Honestly the George ones really did work well. They were almost like leggings. I will try and find the link for you.

Empathy is essential in being a good carer, not whether you're wearing trousers or leggings. Pretty much sums up what is wrong with the 'care industry' in this Country.