Fetish gear in the engineering workplace

[pplwatching]

I am a manager in a small engineering business. A new hire that I directly manage interviewed "vanilla" but showed up to work the first week wearing a sturdy, wide leather collar with one large D ring that (to my animal lover's eye) looks like a large dog collar. To my pervy eye, it's a D/S accessory.

Maybe this person just likes the way that it looks, or is in some kind of D/S relationship. I really don't care which. I consider myself kink friendly in my personal life, and more power to them if they've got a kinky groove going on at home.

I think that either way it's not professional to wear it to work. We have a written dress code, but it doesn't cover "dog collars" (assuming it's just another vanilla accessory). The problem is that when I see this "accessory" in the workplace it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. We have customers in on a regular basis that this person will interact with. I also don't want other employees to be uncomfortable. I am worried that someone will ask, "what's that?" and this person will reply with something resembling "wink, wink".

Anyway, I am planning to ask this person to leave the dog collar at home (or in the car). I am wondering what the D/S friendly crowd thinks of both the collar and my "not suitable for the workplace" reaction.

Thanks

 

[MeekMe]

I think you're perfectly right in that it's inappropriate for work. Even if it's just something they find to be "fashionable," I would still tell them it's not acceptable for a professional setting.

 

[Primalex]

I think that either way it's not professional to wear it to work. We have a written dress code, but it doesn't cover "dog collars" (assuming it's just another vanilla accessory). The problem is that when I see this "accessory" in the workplace it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. We have customers in on a regular basis that this person will interact with. I also don't want other employees to be uncomfortable.

If you think it's an inappropriate sight for your customers, ban it.

But...customers are not as sensitive as you might think. Those who are pissed off and want to stir up trouble might complain about the dog collar, but without, they will complain about something else instead of turning into a friendly person.

Back when I worked in retail, customers wrote letters to my manager, that I would have been the only helpful person there and an older lady tipped me once 10 bucks just for me doing my job. As long as it's not a dirty (as in dirt) outfit, customers care much more about how you treat them.

So, do you want to have the dog collar removed because of your customers or so you get the thought of fucking her out of your head?

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[pplwatching]

The customers who visit are either engineers or senior management. I know that engineers are a kinky bunch, but they're almost always in dress shirts and slacks when they visit us. I guess I've gotten used to a certain appearance, so this stands out.

Our company's dress code prohibits jeans and T shirts, but doesn't say anything about jewelry. I don't recall any (customer or employee) jewelry ever standing out as inappropriate. Other than that the policy manual has basically a catch-all "dress professionally" wording.

I guess if I try to put my finger on it, it's different enough that it stands out and draws attention to itself. I guess at this point since it's my call, and it bothers me I'll probably go ahead and deal with it.

I don't know if two people counts as a trend, but I was at a volunteer meeting several months back where another volunteer took it further. She was wearing clip on "cat ears" in her hair, platform shoes, leopard print spandex, and a dog collar. No self respecting cat would be caught dead in that collar.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[RawHumor]

Engineers tend to be a pretty conservative bunch. I'd ask her to tone down the accessories while at work.

 

[Endless_Night]

A dog collar accessory certainly violates a catch-all "dress professionally" dress code, IMHO. Senior management and engineers generally reside in a "business casual" atmosphere. Offbeat, possibly fetish, jewelry might raise a few eyebrows.

Leaving the leather home during work hours seems appropriate.

* * *

RawHumor. Your, "Guy's, don't be a douche," post is hysterical.

 

[RawHumor]

RawHumor. Your, "Guy's, don't be a douche," post is hysterical.

Thank you, thank you.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

I love how some people just assume the collar wearer is female...

 

[StrangeView]

Funny thing is, when I read the first post, I got the impression that the wearer was male.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

I know it holds no relevance whatsoever to the issue, just find it interesting.

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Over empathising with collar wearer?


Yesterday at the fetish fair G and I heard a story about a puppy who spends time at places in crates. While I am not a puppy, it was interesting how different G and I felt about this story. G felt this was not so etching he would be comfortable doing to a person! where as I felt, mmm, that would be nice, a little corner to snuggle up in and watch from.....take a nap in, watch the world from. My concern was that it would be offensive to real puppies. Any way, it shows how empathy can colour interpretation!

No, zero empathy from me. I always dress appropriately for professional situations, and would not feel comfortable otherwise. I was commenting on the prejudicial bent of those who assumed that a collar wearer was naturally a female, when of course it could be anyone.

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[Primalex]

Engineers tend to be a pretty conservative bunch.

Engineers are pedantic, not conservative.

 

[Aurantica]

Ugh, and here I am debating wearing my metal collar to work...
You have to argue that it's safer than a necklace!