In thinking my manager is hugely insensitive for wearing these things into work?

[Mandarinthyme]

Our department head is very young and glamorous and is fairly new to the company. We know her salary range as it was stated alongside the job advert (a six figure salary whilst the rest of the team are lucky to earn a quarter of that). Every day she swans in to the office like she’s dressed for the catwalk, different designer handbags (the very obvious types - think Gucci, LV etc), Rolex watch, Cartier bracelets, designer belts and shoes. Not to mention the perfect nails, hair and everything else that we just cannot afford these days.

Meanwhile our large team is underpaid and overworked. The recent financial climate means many of us are struggling to heat our homes, worrying about mortgage/rental price hikes and generally having to really cut back. We are all office based and this is something we talk about frequently in conversation, so she’s completely aware of this. She’s previously had the cheek to say that we are all feeling the pinch given the financial situation, which is an absolute insult when she rubs her wealth in our faces 5 days a week.

AIBU in feeling completely incensed by this and wondering how on earth she can think it’s appropriate?! The whole team are upset with this and considering raising it with HR.

Unless your field of work is a homeless shelter, she's not being insensitive and YABU.

I wasn't allowed to wear a pretty dress to my friend's brother's party because she liked it. We were 6 (and I'm still disgruntled about it!) This reminded me of it. Pathetic.

I'm feeling the pinch and i probably earn the same as you do, and im a single mum (i have a long distance new DP). But I also don't really like or care for designer brands such as LV, Balenciaga and Gucci etc. There's other things I wish had 1000s to spend on but its definitely not designer/catwalk worthy clothes, but each to their own
It wouldn't bother me because I don't like or care about having those things. I don't get why you'd actually care!
You need to stop being part of the office gossip group mentality. Its making you look petty and pretty silly

Yabvu. Jealousy is an ugly trait op.

Bins?!!! Bloody hell, you don't know you're born! Me and my team wait while we see someone drop a bit of food on the floor and pick it up. We've even been known to wrestle pigeons to the floor fighting over discarded chips!

I've never heard of miss me jeans, so no idea of the cost. No-one should be so unpleasant at work.

Unionise, do some collective bargaining for better wages.

Or: steal her stuff, sell and share the profits?

Yeah you all sound jealous. Bitter. Nobody is missing your childish point.

Don’t compare yourselves to someone else just because of their salary and how they choose dress and what brands they own/wear.

If this is affecting you this much just look for another job. Be prepared to come into contact with people from all walks of life. Some wealthy people. Some not.

Not all wealthy people wear designer brands and not all people who wear designer brands are wealthy.

This is one of the daftest things I've ever read on here.
Please go to HR, they could probably do with a laugh right now.
Your supervisor is allowed to wear whatever she wants (within company dress code rules of course). She's allowed to spend her money on whatever she chooses. I'm pretty sure she doesn't purposely flaunt it in front of you all.

So, you’re not jealous, of your young, glamorous, six figure earning boss? Yet you are going online and pricing up her accessories? Wow.
you do realise that the world is full of people who have/earn way more or way less than you and your colleagues? It’s life. Her outfit choice is not the cause of your financial worries.

Totally unreasonable.

My 24 y.o niece has been buying designer items for 6 years while working and studying.

She doesn't smoke or drink.

She's beautiful too.

If you were in Ireland I'd suspect that the thread was about her. 🤔

My colleague has designer shoes. I couldn't afford designer shoes. I'm not planning on banning her from wearing them to work. You sound pathetic.

1. could be counterfeit clothes/ bags/ jewellery. Not really your business if they are or they aren’t though.
2. she may not have bought these items with her salary.

why shouldn’t she wear items she has purchased?

this sounds so jealous, I’m sorry.
what your manager wears should not be affecting you.

A coworker. He was angry at me because I was asking to pick up his shift because I needed a few extra hours because I was struggling to pay the electric bill. I was young and naive at the time and shared a bit too much about myself.

I am not really sure why you think that I felt I needed permission to wear them though? I was simply explaining that it was an unpleasant experience. We shouldn’t be assuming what people are going through because of their clothes. That was the point of my comment.

Can you explain your thought process where you thought I needed approval to wear the clothing exactly?

My dh had a boss like this. He'd please poverty on promised pay rises then drive a different sports car into work every day. He was a cunt. It does happen. You can't go to HR though. It's stupid and shows a lack of respect I think.

I sort of get you op, although I can't imagine an industry where most staff are paid 20k-ish and the head of dept is on 100k-plus. Is there nobody in between?
In my job even directors of services are only on about 50k (mind you this is public sector)
It's not the wearing of the clothes that would annoy me but the insensitive 'we're all feeling the pinch!' when she very clearly isn't!

*her not you

You’re looking online to check the prices of her accessories and this is somehow her fault? 🤣🤣🤣

OP, I think you need help. Go outside, touch some grass.

Sounds like a large toxic female finance team.
How a person dresses, as long as work appropriate, and spends their salary is absolutely nothing to do with you. Also nothing to do with her respect for the team, and everything to do with people's individual self esteem.

I'd suggest you do go to HR and ask them to do more training with the team, professional development support, basically ensure that everyone feels they are at their best professionally. If the wages are low, perhaps HR could benchmark locally, other companies I know are giving extra one off cost of living increases. These are the things to explore, not jealousy of a younger better paid lady.

Yes!

You are being utterly ridiculous

'To wear normal clothes like the rest of us.'

What if her entire wardrobe consists of fancy and designer things? Are you suggesting she go out and spend/waste money on things she doesn't need to appease you and the team?

Some people can afford the more expensive things in life and others can't 🤷🏻‍♀️. I certainly can't yet I have many work acquaintances who stomp around with designer bags and the like.

Maybe get on with your work and don't let this bother you.

Oh and massive eye roll to the "did you apply" posters.

Poor lady having to manage such a bitter and nasty team.

Perhaps Op ought to be rubbing themselves silly.

They need some joy in their life.

And will probably complain that they are having to slum it with Mrs palm’s lovely daughters, while posh boss has a diamond encrusted device. Operated by a billionaire with his own hair and teeth. And wearing Mr Me jeans. 😉

I hope HR tells you all to get to fuck.