The last thong of summer?
As the unofficial end of summer arrives, feds are packing up their sneakers, thongs, spandex and comfortable clothes and donning their professional business att...
By tradition (at least for some traditionalists), today is the last day they can wear white. Men must toss or store their straw boater hats until spring. In many polite circles, Labor Day is the cutoff for tank tops and sandals. In some, the cutoff is much sooner. And more permanent. Anyhow …
The question de jour is: Is there still a dress code at work, particularly in federal offices? Or is every day casual Friday? What’s going to be the uniform of the day in your office starting next week?
According to some of our far-flung correspondents, the forecast is for more of the same. Predictors are that the let-it-all-and-then-some-hang-out culture will prevail. That every day will be TMI in some places. Example:
- Defense civilian writes: “I am completely speechless no matter what time of year it is. Long gone is the premise to dress for success. It’s not just young people, it’s mature people who should know better … who wears large fluffy animal slippers to work? I saw this and was speechless … especially after learning this person was the department head. … What we need is a real dress code.” C.C.
- “I’ve worked in a variety of IRS offices from Covington to Cincinnati and Detroit. … Now I rarely have to meet a taxpayer in my new midwest location.
“I agree that people who have contact with the public (should) project a more ‘professional’ image. … I take issue with this notion that somehow throwing on a suit no matter how ill- fitting and poorly tailored … somehow makes a person more professional. I’ve seen people slouching … in suits that looked like togas … so droopy they looked like some teenager on the street with low-slung jeans. Or so tight … guys, just admit it. You’re not 20-years old anymore. Just because you can cinch the top of your trousers BELOW that Fiat-sixed paunch you’re lugging around these days, doesn’t mean you’ve still got that 32- inch waist.
“And ladies, spandex for those of us with aging BMIs … just is NOT a good look. At least not in the workplace. That may be judgmental, but it’s truth, and believe me I freely acknowledge I’m one who is not flattered by spandex. And when did it become commonplace for bra strips to just be part of one’s outerwear? … I’m talking about women wearing their bras with totally backless shirts. … I don’t want to have to look at peoples’ underwear while I’m trying to focus on monthly, quarterly and annual reports … hard enough to process that tedium without having to constantly battle nausea too, every time a co-worker walks by with their flip-flops flapping and their horrible toes waggling.
“Confession: I’m fond of my sneakers at work — recurring foot problems make them the best shoes for controlling pain. And working for the IRS these days is painful enough, without adding aching feet.
“Keep the comments coming: The wardrobe horror stories are a much needed humor break in a tremendously dour and yet highly stressful work environment.” Sneakers In The Midwest
NEARLY USELESS FACTOID:
Chuck Taylor did not play basketball in college or in the pros. He did play basketball in high school, where he first fell in love with Converse All-Stars athletic shoes. After graduation, he became a salesman at Converse. He was so successful selling the athletic shoes to high school and college teams that Converse eventually put his name on the shoes. Taylor never received a dime for this honor, but he did have his name live on with the popular Chuck Taylor Sneakers.
Source: The Refined Guy.
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OMB to Congress: Fix 2015 budget to avoid return of limited sequester
The White House sends its annual report to Congress outlining the cuts to discretionary spending next year. The departments of Defense and Energy and the FBI would face an extra $34 million cut to reach Budget Control Act cap levels if the Senate’s spending bills become law.
GSA to temporarily suspend adding new vendors to services schedules
The General Services Administration will stop accepting new vendors on its professional services schedule in the coming months. The decision to temporarily close down the seven schedule contracts for services to new companies is part of how GSA is giving its entire program a facelift.
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Mike Causey
Mike Causey is senior correspondent for Federal News Network and writes his daily Federal Report column on federal employees’ pay, benefits and retirement.
Follow @mcauseyWFED
