Management issues

[Edwina's Secretary]

Unless the store was on fire, or someone died, I wouldn't say a single thing to the manager while he is on vacation. Let him enjoy his time away, and he will appreciate YOU doing his job in his absence. When he comes back, have an opportunity to speak to him briefly and fill him in on the high lights. Throw in, "I understood a lot more of your job trials now" and laugh it off. Save the detailed report for your own file. Otherwise, you look like a tattle tail, and that you need to be micromanaged.

If the guy already knows the other guy is wonky...find the way to make yourself shine: by doing your job, and his, and being a good sport about it all.

And, really, I would ignore the guy as much as humanly possible. Wearing a polo shirt instead of a shirt/tie might be off limits...but, no reaction would ever come from me. If he wants to disobey "rules" (and I happen to think dress code rules are silly), let him. Mention it once, and move on. Mention it to the 'boss' and let him do what he thinks appropriate.

I would ignore him completely, in regards to the silly stuff.

I am in complete agreement with you Cataholic, except for one thing. This is retail. Dress codes matter. You may find them silly but that is not the point. I have known plenty of employees who have thought many "rules" are silly. If I had a nickel for every time an employee has said "what's the big deal about being to work on time? That's silly!" I just read a case involving a neonatology nurse who wanted to be exempted from the hospital's very generous attendance policy. Fortunately the court agreed with the hospital that attendance is an essential function of the job...

I get so annoyed at Nordstrom's - they have eliminated name badges for the employees. It is challenging to figure out who works there and can answer questions. In retail there is a reason for a dress code - so I can figure out who works there more easily. Uniforms, and that includes dress codes, exist for a reason - lots of reasons really.

[Cataholic]

I wasnt aware Nordstrom eliminated name badges....How would you know that they were an employee versus a shopper?

I think people can be clad in many "appropriate" garbs, none of the must be a tie and shirt (which minus the jacket doesnt work for me anyhow, stylistically). Frankly, a tie with a short sleeved shirt (uh uh) looks the same to me as a nice 'polo'. Name badges included, of course.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I wasnt aware Nordstrom eliminated name badges....How would you know that they were an employee versus a shopper?

I think people can be clad in many "appropriate" garbs, none of the must be a tie and shirt (which minus the jacket doesnt work for me anyhow, stylistically). Frankly, a tie with a short sleeved shirt (uh uh) looks the same to me as a nice 'polo'. Name badges included, of course.

You just wander around asking anyone you see dressed all in black (how uncommon is that???) until someone admits to working there. Now that is silly!

I just do not think it appropriate for me to substitute my fashion preferences for those of the business owner. If that is the image the owner has determined is best for business - you can wear it or work elsewhere. You know the golden rule..."he (or she) who has the gold rules."

[catnapper]

Personally I always thought it unfair that women can wear basically anything we want but men get strangled with ties. My point to him about the shirt was an observation instead of complaint (picking my fights and all that) the shirt became an issue after he tested me in a couple other ways.

A female cowrker got away with tan jeans yesterday knowing full well jeans are prohibited. How she expected me to consider tan jeans NOT jeans I dunno.... and of course I never got to talk to her yesterday because she arrived 35 minutes late and the store was crazy busy. I cant ignore customers to chastize her... nor am I going to say anything to her in front of the entire sales staff. It was closing time before I knew it and the opportunity to talk was gone.

[catnapper]

Oh and as for name tags, I am often out shopping and customers come up to me as if I work there. I could be standing there with the basket as a shopper, and always get asked questions about product. My favorite time was when I was wearing stained sweats and greasy hair. If I really dressed like that for work! I guess I just look like a salesperson even if it's not my store

[kitten645]

"Personally I always thought it unfair that women can wear basically anything we want but men get strangled with ties."
Oh nooooooooooo...I worked for MANY years and had to wear a skirt and pantyhose. I'd wear a necktie any day over pantyhose. And of course if you wear pantyhose you have to wear a certain heel. Torture.
You know if you take a job at a corn dog hut, you are signing on to wear a silly hat. I also work retail and can't tell you how many times I've been dragging a heavy fixture across the floor or been behind a cash register with my giant gold name badge and had someone ask me if I work there. I generally reply "I hope so or I'm doing alot of work for free!"
Document everything. Name names. A job is not a right. If he behaves like a 10 year old at 50 perhaps he deserves to be treated as on. You are in charge. Do not let that come into question.

[catnapper]

In my store, women can basically wear what we want. My one female coworker routinely wears seasonal sweatshirts (as tacky as can be.... the guadier the better in her mind) and HR didn't amend the dress code just because one style challenged woman out of a hundrrd wears a sweatshirt. Yet men have to wear a tie.