office wear

[Flute56]

I work in an office and the majority of the peole wear casual and by that I mean jeans and t shirts and trainers. I always dress smart for work. Some who have tatoos wear short sleeves and show huge tattoos down each arm. I do not think that is appropriate for the office. I really wish i worked for a company who has a strict dress code wehre the women have to wear smart trousers and jackets and dresses and skirts and the men have to wear shirts and trousers and maybe a suit. I could not go to work looking sloppy even if there is no dress code

I understand where you’re coming from but at the same time a flexible dress code is quite nice.

I work in a professional organisation and before Covid we were expected to dress in formal office wear. Now we aren’t. Which is bizarre as the business of what we do hasn’t changed.

I think if you want to dress smart and formally that’s up to you, just as much as someone in jeans with their tattoos on show. We live in a very different world now, we should be judging less but we don’t.

if you wanted to move for a dress code you might find the culture may not be as kind

Horses for courses. Back in the 90s and 00s I worked in London and everyone was suited and booted. Now it's jeans and T-shirts (as you said op). It's an ever changing world and people now prefer to be casual and comfy. I prefer to wfh in jeans and a T-shirt, doesn't impact my work and it means I don't have to spend £'s on workwear. I now only own 2x smart outfits that I wear when I go onto a customer site.

Why on earth should people have to cover tattoos as long as they’re not offensive. One of the best carers I’ve ever worked with had tattoos up and down his arms. He was brilliant at his job. Same with a night senior I worked with. You would have hated him, he had a tattoo on face and neck but fantastic at the job.

So look for another job with a dress code then.

I work in an office and have loads of tattoos, including on my hands so they're always visible. Nobody cares. My job is not face to face with the public or clients.

I'm so glad we are getting past this old fashioned stereotype about tattoos because it has no affect on a person's ability to do their job and I do mine very well.

I work in an office and the dress code is business casual. Yesterday one of my colleagues was wearing crocs 😆 it doesn’t bother me at all but I do think that is pushing it.

I work for one of the traditional professions and I never see anyone dressed how you describe unless they’re going to court. It mirrors most of our clients too, we’d stick out like sore thumbs if we wore suits and probably lose work - clients like us to mirror their values.

I work in the city and suits are gradually dying out. The older generations still wear them, but the younger generation are wearing smart casual and the women are ditching the heels.

Why does what others wear upset you so much? It sounds like you like control and want to control what other people wear. Or maybe you feel unfashionable or out of touch and want people to conform to your clothing preferences?

Look for another job.

They’re not breaking the dress code, so why should they dress like you just because you like it?

Also the tattoos thing is completely separate. People can dress smartly with tattoos or casual with tattoos. Unless there are any company rules about displaying them I don’t see any problem other than that you personally don’t like tattoos.

YANBU to want to dress smartly for work yourself.

YABU to police other people. Live and let live.

It's 2024

@Flute56 I'd be more concerned at you working in an office, your spelling is awful,

Tattoos are the least of the office worries,

I only work well in a 3 piece suit and a top hat.

And brogues I hope?

Find out where they work and apply for a job then, if you find it hard to work in an office where colleagues’ clothes don’t conform to your personal aesthetic. But if what other people are wearing affects your ability to do your job, you are the unprofessional one here.

And a monocle

I’m with you Op. The slovenliness nowadays is just shocking.

We are a smart casual office but most of us work from home now, PJs and comfies are what most people wear.

However, we recently received an all company email stating belly tops and athletic wear are not acceptable in the office or on teams meetings 🙃

YABU and managers cannot spend time now punishing people for how they dress. That sort of nonsense wouldn't hold any water anymore. I can't imagine a disciplinary process for how someone looked - just seems crazy and backwards.
I'm sure you could find a company out there strict on clothing, but I wouldnt expect progressive policies or want to work there myself (unless customer facing?)
What's the issue with tattoos (unless offensive)

When I have to go into the City for work I enjoy trying to spot a tie in the wild.

people have tatoos but cover them up at work

Tattoos are not clothing. They make no difference to the formality of an office.

Why should people cover up tattoos just because you don’t like them? Some people might not particularly like your face, but they’re not telling you to put a bag over your head.

Having a personal preference for businesswear is absolutely fine. That’s your taste and that’s perfectly valid. But isn’t fine to think everyone else should conform your personal taste just to keep you happy. It’s controlling, selfish and fucking weird. You’re entitled to hate what your colleagues wear, but you’re not entitled to question their professionalism or expect them to dress like you.

You’d have conniptions if you walked into my office. We can wear whatever we like provided it’s clean and doesn’t have any slogans or sports team crests on it. We’re a professional organisation in the regulatory sector and our remit is a very serious and formal one. I have a meeting later with two colleagues - one is a knight and one is a dame, and the dame is so eminent in her profession that tomorrow she has to go and sit for a portrait that will be painted and hung in the entrance hall of her profession’s HQ. I have visible tattoos, a cherry red panel in my hair and multiple piercings. I’m wearing black jeans, a black t-shirt and platform Converse. The knight and the dame absolutely do not give a shit and they trust my professional advice and judgment.

Dress shoes and spats, silver-topped cane

Go work somewhere else then?

I just had coffee with someone who is a KC and part time judge. He was in jeans and a hoodie as not in court that day. Times have changed.

What's your AIBU exactly?

I'm non customer facing and mainly wear leggings, hoodie and shirts, I'm the highest performing in my team.

If feel comfortable wearing formal dress then go for it but others favour comfort. I'd hate to be sat down all day having to wear tights and skirts in a potentially boiling office and not feeling like I can wear anything cooler. I feel self conscious in formal stuff and much prefer just being comfortable. There's nothing wrong with your approach and preferences but you can't police what others wear!

Also There's nothing wrong with tatoos.