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 tell you what is insensitive - them doing redundancies, pay freezes and bonus cuts. What has you wearing a rolex got to do with that?

What a bunch of hypocrites!!

Sorry for commenting!

She has no right whatsoever to ask you to not wear a specific item unless it is against a standard clothing policy.

It also sounds like she's exerting her power, to let you know how she will manage you.

Sorry but @MorrisZapp got there before you!

no analogue

How much company time did she waste with you, having that meeting? No wonder there are redundancies if people are having pointless meetings about watches instead of billable hours

@Hydrangeajp

Just be a bit late for every meeting you have with her until she raises it. Then respond with “you know what, I think I’m going to go back to wearing my watch again”

Problem solved 😉

I’ve worn this watch for my duration of my employment at the company and have a great relationship with my team. If there had been any issues raised by my team members directly, I would’ve been made aware long before my new manager starting, especially given the financial issues aren’t especially new.

I'd look for work elsewhere.
What's next?
Sally, could you please not drive your flashy X car to work.
I'd be low-key about my reasons for leaving, though. The industry is a small pond and you might work together in future. Standard line: Other challenges, broaden my knowledge etc; and be really upbeat about looking to fulfill personal goals.

That is insane I earn an average wage in a public sector job and was gifted an expensive watch for my 30th I wouldn't be stopping wearing it unless it breached a uniform policy

You've got redundancies, but she was bought into a new senior leadership position? Tell her to work for free for a few months!

I asked my OH (who has his own 30-odd yo Rolex) for his opinion and he said, if you’re a lawyer and a senior one at that, I’d say that it’s a mark of success and a sign that you know what you’re doing and are a bloody good laywer.

he also said in China it’s evidence of your accomplishment- which is why Victorias Secret failed in China, nobody could see the display of status.

i would carry on wearing the watch, style it out initially and suggest you forgot or didn’t realise she was serious, and then push back.

we don’t get to tell a woman what she can and can’t wear, a watch is far more understated than a flashy car or a pair of laboutins/posh handbag.

I have a great relationship with my team too but I know they still bitch about me behind my back. That’s what staff do. They aren’t your friends.

Stop wearing the watch in lieu of enormous diamond earrings? 🤗

And it may not even be your direct team- could be receptionists/ secretaries/ cleaners. Either way there are a couple of indicators about culture- the comment about the other senior staff knowing to be understated.

I've worn Rolex watches to work for over 30 years and only a couple of people have ever recognized them as Rolex. I wouldn't agree to this and having paid for an expensive watch service a while back I also wouldn't be happy to not wear it every day.They need movement throughout the day.
As a solicitor you'll be more familiar with this than I am but aren't you starting a dangerous precedent here which could be interpreted as you changing your conditions and having to pander to other whims like your clothing, make up etc.

I'm 20 years further down the line than my team. We are in opposite life stages. I know it and so do they. They are balls deep in nappies and childcare. I'm out the other side.

They see my watch, my bags, my clothes. They know the village I live in.

They may gossip about my income, but how I spend it is my business.

Wear the watch.

Is she going to make you bring in packed lunches too, if popping out to Pret/wherever is deemed too frivolous and rubbing your wealth in the face of others?

Seriously. She’s on one. Follow up by email and cc HR. She’s massively overstepped. Your finances are piss all to do with her or your colleagues. The fact you wear a Rolex has no bearing on someone else’s potential redundancy.

Go buy yourself an Omega watch & wear that to work instead

we don’t get to tell a woman what she can and can’t wear, a watch is far more understated than a flashy car or a pair of laboutins/posh handbag.

Entirely this.

Stop policing women's clothing unless it's against the company's dress code.

Sounds like she’s trying to get you out tbh.

Given she’s new, and the company backdrop you mention.

Wear the same one and if questioned exclaim “it’s a different one, I have like 10!” and ask them to clarify what their precise issue with it is 😂

I thought you were going to say you worked in a soup kitchen or a food bank or something, in which case I could kind of see their point. But if you work in a senior position in a law firm, it’s bloody ridiculous. I’d carry on wearing it.

😂😂😂

I would wear it. If she spots it and comments tell her that on reflection you felt it was an unreasonable request. It's not a brand new watch and you have been wearing it for years, furthermore it's not company policy and that you will be continuing to wear it.