Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

Question

I work at the library shelving books. I'm young, so I thought that I could still wear ripped jeans, but yesterday my boss came up to me and said that they started a dress code. She looked at me wearing my ripped jeans, old sneakers, and baggy sweatshirt and said "You would be able to wear those anymore." "And make sure your clothes look clean."
I felt so humiliated! I only work a few days a week, for two hours at a time, for minimum wage. Why is it any of their business what I wear? It made me cry, the way that she looked me up and down. What should I do? Ask for some money to buy more clothes, quit, or go with the flow? Help please!

Thanks everyone! I'm really paying attention to your answers. Thank-you for responding so fast!

Answer 1

Hi Alisha

It sounds like your boss has very little people skills. There are different ways of addressing this type of issues and she used one of the worst possible.

However if there is a dress code in place at your work I'm afraid that if you want to work there you will have to abide by it. I'm not sure what you do at the library but I suspect that you come into contact with their "clients" and the public. That is one of the reasons they want you to dress in a certain way. Its all about giving the right impression.

I am very sorry that she treated you in that unprofessional manner, but some people become bosses without the right training. Don't cry over it because its not worth it.

As for what you should do that depends if you want to stay there or not. If you do then you will need to abide by their dress code, find out what the dress code actually is. It probably says you have to appear smart or smart casual. You can try and ask for money but I suspect that you won't have any joy. If you don't want to abide by the dress code then I'm afraid that you have no choice but to leave.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. If you need more advice please feel free to ask.

Answer 2

She certainly could have been nicer about the way she told you. But as an employee, you do need to dress more reasonably - it is their business and the employees, especially those in sight of the public, need to present a good appearance.

Ripped jeans and sweatshirt wouldn't be appropriate dress on almost any job. Did she tell you what the dress code is? I'd guess that clean, and not ripped, jeans might still be OK, sneakers would be if they aren't falling apart, and some kind of shirt other that a sweatshirt - a t-shirt might be, but ask.

Your best bet would be to go with the dress code they have established. If you quit, you are likely to find that any other job would have the same requirements.

Answer 3

Well, she didn't say you couldn't wear jeans did she? She just didn't want you to wear ones that look old, ripped, and dirty.
Actually, many many places have dress codes - and usually more strict than that.

Can you go to a thrift store to find some clothes that would work? All you need is one or two pairs of pants, and a couple of shirts - and sometimes you can find great stuff cheap. Just use those things for your work. You can tell her, that it's going to take a little time for you to save up the money to buy some other clothes for the job, but that you'll do your best to comply with the dress code. If they JUST enacted a dress code, they need to give you a little time to get things together.

Make sure you find out EXACTLY what the dress code is - have them print it up for you, so you can take it on paper...and when you go shopping. Hit the Goodwill and other thrift stores in your area - it might take going a few times to find something decent, but you will - and since you told them it was going to take some time, they'll know it's coming.

Answer 4

Ultimately the decision comes down to how much you like the job. If you really still want to work there and money is tight to get new clothes try looking at second-hand stores or "gently used" stores, you'd be amazed at the deals that you can get. Plus if it's only a few days a week you might be able to put together a small wardrobe for little money. Especially with regards to minimum wage jobs they usually involve some type of dress code or uniform. People will always judge based on what you are wearing (it's human nature), so if you still want the job show that boss that you weren't intimidated by her stares! Good luck!

Answer 5

Meh, that's no big deal. Most employers want their employees to look semi-professional at work. Sorry, but ripped jeans and a hoodie is far from professional. Your employer was trying to tell you, in a not-so-subtle way, that they want you to dress a little nicer. It could have been A LOT worse. One of my friends was fired for not following a dress code. All of the employers I have ever had required me to wear black pants and either a white, button-up dress shirt, or a conservative top.

Why would you quit over that?? It's not like they yelled at you and said you were a horrible worker. They just want you to wear more appropriate clothing. They are completely in their right to ask you to do that. You shouldn't have to buy more clothing. Do you not own any khaki pants? Black dress pants? If not, try a consignment shop like Goodwill or Plato's Closet (a teen consignment store). They have cheap (but nice) clothing. If you only work a few days a week, you could easily get by with wearing the same pants to work both times. As far as shirts, I would make them somewhat conservative (not low-cut, and not too short where your booty hangs out). Especially at a library, it is important to dress nicely. If you were working at Abercrombie or something, whatev, it's a teen store. But there are many adults that go to the library, as well as children. You want to look appropriate in that environment.

Answer 6

Well your boss is your boss and you need to obey the rules and also the dress code, and if you dont like it then quit. im sure you have nicer clothes other than ripped jeans, old sneakers and i sewatshirt and/or your parents can buy you some. just because your yonug doesnt mean you can get away with anything and everything. i know i would never go to a job looking like that even if it were in a library. you want to set a good example for the library and the people around you. so like i said if you dont like the rules or dress code quit or obey what your boss asks of you. not every job is going to let you wear what you want to wear just because your young, its a job, welcome to the real world..

Answer 7

I think her looking you up and down was inappropriate.You should ask her what the specific dress code is so that you know what you can wear.You will find that theres dress codes for lots of jobs and lots of things you do in life so dont let it get you down, just go with the flow.Be up to the challenge of finding some nice new clothes.If you dont have much money theres a lot of thrift stores that have awesome clothes for really great prices too!Also about it being their business-You are working for the library so what you wear is a reflection of the library, you should dress for the job.Be glad you have a nice job!:)

Answer 8

Its totally fair for a business to ask you dress accordingly, especially if they have a dress code. You dont need to go out and purchase an entire wardrobe, just some nice black pants and a few different shirts should work.

You'll see as you get older and have more experience and better jobs that you have to dress to impress. If you do not want to comply with their dress code you will have to find another job... and working at the Library sounds WAY better than working at McDonalds or something :P

Answer 9

Most jobs have a dress code especially when you'll have contact with the public. You should ask her to show you pictures of what she expects you to wear and keeping in mind that you do shelve books and don't want to ruin good clothes. Meanwhile, go with the flow. Life is full of things you won't be happy about, but you must learn to adjust. It's part of growing up.

Answer 10

You are an employee at a place that has imposed a dress code. You have to abide by the code. It is that simple. If your school imposed a dress code, you would have to abide by that code. It's not that hard. A few days a week you will have to wear something nice for a short period of time.