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Smoking, Dress Codes, and Union Politics

Dress and Public Opinion

Program Assistant
Indian Health Service
Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:29 AM

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As for our organization, my small program, in particular. I am really sick of seeing professionals dressed like hookers and beach bums, come on now, these are MDs, RDs, RNs, Program Directors! Then we have the oppsites, in stuffed shirts, one day, rigid, next day sloppy again. Staff seem either so uptight or so relaxed, either way business is not the priority of the day. We even have an "unspoken" no blue jean policy, but some of the minis, leotards, wrinkled shirts and barely there shoes are worse than seeing a nice pair of jeans with a neatly pressed blouse or shirt. If it takes a dress code policy to improve public opinion and self respect, I'm all for it. It is my opinion that if a person dresses sloppy you can almost bet they approach the rest of their responsibilities in the same manner. If you like dress like a laborer or an aerobics instructor then you shouldn't be working in an office. Especially management!

Re: Dress and Public Opinion

DRO
VA
Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:30 AM
Come on, I can tolerate a woman who would dress like a hooker; but, I'd have to draw the line at fat woman dressing like one. For that matter, we should ban all fat women from Federal Government Buildings!!!!

Re: Dress and Public Opinion

Union Employee
Courthouse
Thu May 31, 2007 3:22 PM
Sure I believe that some people should really watch what they wear to work but I also think that it should also be the supervisors position to say something if they think that their employee is dressing inappropriately. I would wear anything that the Administration wanted me to but when our jobs are at such low pay how are we supposed to afford these "new" clothes. I barely have money for my bills much less a new wardrobe. I believe that if they want to have a dress code provide uniforms and if they don't then they should make sure that their employees are paid well enough to afford their own.

There is a middle ground to most negotiations

EEO Manager
IRS
Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:35 AM

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Just as the aforementioned case could have and should have been negotiated differently it proves hindsight is 20/20. On another note, I've been plagued by two divergent issues (1)Employees with their overpowering perfume/cologne and (2)Employees that don't seem to bath/shower. Just some food for thought.

Smoking & Dress Codes

MSS
SSA
Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:44 AM

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Re: smoking - there's nothing in the contracts regarding smoke breaks. It's absence from the workplace, period. Now, during regularly scheduled breaks and lunch, smoke 'em if you got 'em, but off the premises. Once you're no longer on government property, it's no longer the government's business, as I see it.

Re: dress codes - no uniforms, please! We just need some basic rules about attire. If you dress like a hooker, don't complain to me about sexual harassment - you're asking for it. If you dress like a bum, you'll probably will be treated by your peers like one - so don't whine about getting picked on. Flip-flops? I don't care for them, but it's better than wearing no shoes at all. Think about your feet if you had to get out of a damaged building because of a natural or man-made disaster. Walking through broken glass and rubble in shower shoes is not real bright. No, attire should be appropriate for health and safety - be it physical or mental.

Smoking, Dress Code, and Union Politics

AR Analyst
VAGCVHCS
Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:17 AM

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I am a 15 year federal employee. I am getting very tired of the "big brother" agenda of federal managers who seem to have very little to do except micro manage and drive hard working employees nuts. I think we are going a little too far to the right. Isn't this country about protecting our rights as individuals? Isn't it my right to do what I wish to as long as it does not harm anyone else and it is legal...If I choose to smoke in a parking lot, away from anyone who might be around, that is my right. Just as it is a non-smokers right not to breathe my second-hand smoke. However, it is not the right of the non-smoker to dictate to me my rights. I think we need to remember that this is the United States of America, not Russia, not a 3rd world dictatorship...maybe some of these folks are in the wrong country???

Re: Smoking, Dress Code, and Union Politics

Library Technician
Dept. of Veterans affairs
Wed Aug 18, 2004 2:27 PM
If smoking in the parking lot is prohibited then you don't have the right to do it, period.

Re: Smoking, Dress Code, and Union Politics

CBP Manager
CBP
Wed Aug 18, 2004 11:28 PM
Typical radical response. No one is taking away your rights or micro managing your life. Get over it and stop your whining about management! The panel has simply supported the fact and RIGHTS of the MANY other federal employees who have the right to a "Hazardous Free Work Place". The right and demand to have a healthy work enviroment is surely your right also is it not? If not, use your rights as an American and make an adult choice or find another job!

Tone of this Editorial

Claims Rep
SSA
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:53 AM

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I know this is primarily an Op-Ed piece but I am saddened by the obvious anti-Union/anti-Employee slant of the reporting and comments. These are not trivial issues for employees they affect productivity and employee personal finances. I do not smoke but do not wish to have smoking used to discriminate against hardworking, productive employees. Nor do I wish to have my employer impose their clothing tastes, or lack thereof, on me and my wallet.

Re: Tone of this Editorial

lr specialist
civilian agency
Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:22 AM
The article describes the situation accurately. The union made a mistake in its strategy and then lost everything before the FSIP. Not wanting to take responsibility for its own problems, it is now blaming anyone and everyone else instead of looking inward. Presumably, that would influence the next AFGe elections if its national president had to accept responsibility instead of blaming everyone else.

The only "anti-union" aspect of the article is that the author had the temerity to point out the obvious--something many news organizations reporting on the federal sector adamantly refuse to do--probably because they know they will be called "anti-union" when they step out of line and don't parrot back the latest line being given out in union press releases.

Dress Code

Claims Rep
Social Security Administration
Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:23 AM

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Recent studies show that casual dress can boost productivity. It has been on the morening news shows among other places this week. What that shows is that the Management proposals for dress codes, like that imposed on CMS and proposed in SSA, are really more about management wanting total control over employees, reducing employees rights to make some decisions in the workplace. I think hte dress code is a silly issue than only become serious when looked at this way. It is the kind of bureaucratic thinking that causes many people to think we are not a good place to work. Management is always calling for "flexibility" but never when it comes to employees having some control over parts of their worklife. I don't see the Bush Administration mving to help employees. So, I support my union.

Negotiating with the Union

Compensation Analyst
AAFES
Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:31 AM

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Until recently I was in Labor Relations and engaging with in negotiations with union leaders. The problem the union faced here was their inability to agree to any compromise. Management couldn't expect the union to agree to a reasonable proposal from the beginning and so started out with an absurd position to argue backwards from. Since the union refused to compromise at all, they ended up at the panel ... and lost. No doubt even management expected the panel to back their position down, but the union failed to give them any compromise positions to work with. Faced with no reasonable option, the panel went with Management. The lesson here is for unions to take reasonable positions from the beginning and thus end up with reasonable results.

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