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 think your new manager has watch envy.

This wins the internet today!

Does she really think you wearing a Timex will make someone facing redundancy feel better?

But you have agreed , so I would honour that. Just say no to anything further.

She essentially said that "most senior staff already know to avoid wearing expensive, flashy items to work”.
Take the hint, or you'll never get promoted.

I kind of see where they're coming from, but it's not really very different from senior bosses driving flash cars, sending their children to private school etc

It is my pleasure to serve 😉

That is crazy! Next they will be telling you to change your car because the brand makes others feel bad. I would ignore and keep wearing your watch.

I'd be sorely, sorely tempted to screech into the work yard with a brand new flasher, if I had the means.

I'm amazed she scheduled an actual meeting about this.

What's next? Please don't drive to work in your lovely new car? Please stop using that handbag? Please stop wearing clothes from certain shops or designers?

While I agree it's your choice, I think she makes a reasonable point to be honest.

Dear new manager,
thank you for the meeting about my watch, I have been considering our discussion. i have worn this watch for years as I too agree that it would be insensitive to wear something flashy and obviously expensive, so I prefer tasteful and beautifully made. I could wear one of these as an alternative, but I am not sure they would meet your criteria:
(select from this list... https://luxe.digital/lifestyle/watches/most-expensive-watches/)

I am slightly torn now between my options - so if there is a watch the company would prefer me to wear, do feel free to help by buying me one and I will happily wear it.

yours
OP

Incredible

Hahaha 😂🤣😂🤣 that's just what I was thinking

I agreed because I was completely blindsided at the time, and was in shock. I now worry if I don’t challenge this and set boundaries early on, it could lead to further issues down the line.

You are in a "senior legal role" and blindsided by this?

Follow up via email, say that whilst you understand the current financial situation you feel that it was wrong to schedule a meeting specifically about the watch you choose to wear and that, having had time to reflect on the issue that you will choose to continue to wear a watch you have done so for over xx years (I mean it would help if you had been wearing it when you were a poor penniless street urchin but hey, years of ownership prior to the company failing should be enough..)

Probably too simplistic, but is she jealous?

How utterly patronising to the other employees. She thinks they can’t contain their jealously and will sulk. She has a low opinion of her staff.

Odd woman, let’s hope she wears a hair shirt to work. Wear the fucking watch!!!!

Lawyers are human too (also, areas of law are numerous and many will never have touched employment law).

I would constantly turn up late, when asked why tell them you are not allowed to wear your watch só you have no idea off what the time is.

I wouldn’t give a toss about a senior member of staff wearing an expensive watch. It could have been a present from a parent, former fiancé, whatever. Equally you could have saved up for years for it. Nobody’s business but yours.

HAHAHAHA

Tell her to fuck off.

In my opinion there is a fine line here but this might be clouded by previous experience etc

I have been a board level director at a SME where we had to go through measures such as redundancy and short working weeks, we made sure that the staff knew that this applied to the directors too and even if you saw us working every day that didn't mean we were being paid.

I have also more recently and through Covid worked for a SME where the director level did very little except penny pinch whilst driving top-of-the-range cars. They also cut wages, made redundancies and said there was no money for pay rises year after year.

However, never would I have asked a member of staff to tone down what they were wearing for being too flash, nor would I accept that request. I drive a better car than my boss, and spend much more on my holidays and have some very nice jewellery. How I spend my money and where my money comes from is only my business.

Ask for the dress code policy and any particular references to watches or jewelry.

She’s nuts. I would’t even know what watch people are wearing

Tell her you've given it some thought and you're not going to stop wearing it.

Does she want you to leave it at home for a potential burglar to steal it?

I've been wearing mine for 15 years & not once has anyone commented on it.

What items of wealth is she willing to sacrifice for the sake of the office?