Asked not to wear a Rolex to work…

[Hydrangeajp]

I've been with my current company for several years in a senior legal role, managing a team. The company's struggling lately - redundancies, pay freezes, and bonus cuts. My own manager recently left, and their replacement (board level), joined last week. After a positive initial face-to-face meet, she scheduled a meeting later that week about the Rolex watch she noticed me wearing into the office.

She told me it was inappropriate and insensitive, given both my seniority and the company’s current situation, and ultimately requested that I stop wearing it to work. She essentially said that "most senior staff already know to avoid wearing expensive, flashy items to work”.

I’ve had this watch for years and wear it daily. I’ve never given it any thought and would think most people wouldn’t even notice it's a Rolex. Am I the completely deluded and inappropriate one here? I was so taken aback and put on the spot that I simply agreed not to wear it, but since then I can't stop thinking I should’ve stood my ground (not because I’m desperate to wear the watch, rather, the whole ask felt excessive and inappropriate?) WWYD? I’d really appreciate an honest outsider’s perspective.

I was told by a mentor when I was training to teach that the jewellery I was wearing was inappropriate as it was too flashy. I told her it was cubic zirconia (It wasn't, it was real diamonds) and she never mentioned it again. Jealousy came to mind.

If Rolex is not considered equivalent but Swatch/Timex is, clearly there must be an official list of appropriate watch brands as part of the office dress code. After all, they definitely wouldn't make an HR policy up as they go along, as that would be potentially discriminatory, right?. So ask politely if you can see that list, because you have your eye on a nice watch that costs £199/£499/£799 and you want to be sure that it will be OK.

Continuing on the "consistent, fair, definitely not made up as they go along" list, since the request not to wear the Rolex is based on the fact that there have recently been redundancies, ask for the formula by which the "Tone down the watches" rule is calculated. For example, if the share prices goes to £20 can you go back to the Rolex? If it hits £30, can you get a Patek Philippe?

(None of the above suggestions are serious, but FFS, this is such a stupid policy that they might as well be.)

Keep wearing it. She's being stupid, and I'm someone who will never be able to afford a Rolex.

If the madness continues look elsewhere for work.

Wear the watch. It's yours and no one should police your sartorial choices

I would be emailing asking her to clarify the dress code following on from your conversation and be asking her to highlight exactly which section of it your watch violates.

It’s not like you’re swanning into work with multiple Selfridges bags every week.

Some people can be so strange, can't they?
Imagine coming up with something like that.
Perhaps your replacement manager has pretty sharp eyes spying your Rolex watch which most people would not have recognized for what it was.
A very strange attitude I would say, perhaps she is jealous.

I'd hope it was a self winder.

My $25 one is

And make sure it's well over £10k!

Perhaps she's not the right fit for your firm...
As others have said, of course, in a senior legal position you have a few nice things. If she knew how much your clothes cost would she ask you to wear trackies from Tesco?
When I need legal advice, I expect the solicitor/barrister to have a bit of bling - like @MzHz observes, it's proof of success.

I see what you did there. Funny

Let’s say you stop wearing it.

The people who notice what watch you wear will either

Wonder why you have bought a new watch (spending money on something unnecessary) - if they hadn’t recognised it as a Rolex

or

Wonder if you have sold it because you needed the money, because the company’s financial situation is worse than they thought - if they had.

Lose, lose.

You wearing a cheaper watch would do nothing to change the fact that there’s a cost of living crisis, that your company is having to make cutbacks and life is tough for a lot of people. Where are the boundaries here ? I’m on a low, fixed income and really struggling . Are my wealthier friends and family being insensitive for living in their own lovely homes , going on holidays I can never afford ? Should they sell up? Stop taking holidays or buying things I can’t buy, in case I feel in any way lesser or more disadvantaged? unless they did some of those things and then passed on the money to me,it makes no difference to my circumstances. They don’t rub their nicer lifestyles in my face, just as I’m sure you don’t draw attention to your beautiful watch . This should be challenged I think. Tell them it’s not happening “on your watch” 🫣

At a law firm in Manchester a senior person rocked up in a flash new sports car, made several people redundant, and it was noticed. Of course they objected to the person who spent a huge bonus on a new car when that would have covered at least 3 or 4 people’s wages that they’d laid off. That was a mistake but a watch that’s been worn for years? I don’t see a problem with that but someone must have mentioned it.

🤣 loved the person who asked is this a wind up meaning your joking about being asked not too wear it , but the owner of the watch said no it’s a Swiss precision battery obviously taking it as being asked is it a wind up watch. 🤣

Ooooh this would rile me up. I’d be so tempted to come in the office having ditched the Rolex but sporting an LV bag, Chanel suit, Hermes belt whilst arriving in a Ferrari. I would merrily bankrupt myself trying to wind her up.

I would strut through those office doors of a morning like fucking J-Lo with diamonds dripping from every orifice.

Yeah yeah we all got it.

Tell her it’s discriminatory and say no. Or just tell her it’s fake to have an easier life.

As you were, carry on wearing it. If she mentions it again, just say you've reflected on it and it's best to be true to yourself rather than adjust to what, as a well off person, you think less well off people would take issue with. Because that is deeply patronising to other people, who believed it or not, can cope with people wearing expensive gear if that's what they want to do.

Well tell her to shove her request where sun don’t shine , bloody cheek. And don’t worry about agreeing not to wear it ,you’ve changed your mind you didn’t sign a bloody contract to say you won’t wear it again. You just wear it and enjoy wearing it .Stuff her.

I would tell her its that watch or your Patek Philippe which would she prefer you wore? Can't believe the cheek of the woman tbh!

Years ago, I was a junior in a company going through redundancies, and every day senior management would turn up in expensive cars and suits and still be going out for lunch every day, in between holding meetings about which junior staff were out the door that week. It does lead to an atmosphere.

I've been through redundancy many times (unlucky I guess) and I had no idea what cars people drove, or how much their cars cost, or their clothes.

Seeing them go out to lunch, not sure that would have registered either - didnt for me, but if it had, I would have been cross with the company for paying for it.

No need for sarcasm

I wouldn’t have said it but I would have thought it. In hard times I think it's sensible to be mindful of your privilege. Our former ceo equivalent used to come in in his top of the range merc. It used to piss me off. I'm glad the new one drives a Golf.

At work very few people know my dc went to some of the best schools in the UK and I do minimise how I dress at work. I'm one if the most senior people at the organisation and I prefer to blend. My jewellery is valuable but discreet. I have a nice watch but it isn't blingy. My car's five years old and I'd get an uber rather than drive in in DH's if it's in the garage.

I sort of see her point but wouldn’t have vocalised it.

Boom boom! 😅

Absolutely nuts. Do you have to downgrade your handbag and shoes as well? No mulberries etc

As a side note my friend wears a Rolex. She is by no means rich or well off but her brother is and he bought it for her many years ago. I suspect if someone told her to stop wearing it she would tell them to stop being so silly..