Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Interns Get Fired En Masse After Protesting Dress Code at Work

yahoo.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 101 posts

Re: Interns Get Fired En Masse After Protesting Dress Code at Work

#11

Post by XorNot »

jrowley wrote: post #6

I got a job recently that requires business formal dress code. It's was a little frustrating until I read somewhere that by wearing dress clothes your are allowing yourself to kind of be branded by the company and in that way I appreciated it because it allows me to partition my identity into work and nonwork. Part of me still thinks I'd be more productive and happier in my normal street clothes though.

We're casual at work, but when I get home I still always change as soon as possible. However you do it, I think you attach an identity to what you're wearing.

Re: Interns Get Fired En Masse After Protesting Dress Code at Work

#12

Post by masklinn »

dingo_bat wrote: post #2

I think they shouldn't have complained about something that everyone was following, and a formal code is not very uncommon. I also think that firing everyone point blank just because they wrote a letter is an extreme overreaction. They could have been lectured on professional behavior instead and I'm sure most of them would have understood.

> I think they shouldn't have complained about something that everyone was following

> they weren’t going to complain. That is, “until I noticed one of the workers always wore flat shoes that were made from a fabric other than leather, or running shoes, even though both of these things were contrary to the dress code.”

The interns were told that was a medical exemption… after they were mass-fired, but not when they initially inquired about the possibility of relaxed dress code:

> I spoke with my manager about being allowed some leeway under the dress code and was told this was not possible, despite the other person being allowed to do it.

> They could have been lectured on professional behavior instead and I'm sure most of them would have understood.

I don't understand how sending queries/proposals up the chain is unprofessional behaviour. Ignoring the dress code and coming in not following it would be unprofessional behaviour.

They asked informally, they got shut down (rather than answered), they went with a more formal query, they were fired.

That's sounds nothing like "interns are guests" but it sounds a lot like Corporate America's reaction to union noises.

Re: Interns Get Fired En Masse After Protesting Dress Code at Work

#13

Post by hk__2 »

jessriedel wrote: post #4
dingo_bat wrote: post #2

I think they shouldn't have complained about something that everyone was following, and a formal code is not very uncommon. I also think that firing everyone point blank just because they wrote a letter is an extreme overreaction. They could have been lectured on professional behavior instead and I'm sure most of them would have understood.

Punishment completely aside, as an employer I'd simply want nothing to do with these intern in the future. Protesting something like this is a good signal of their attitude/perspective.

> Protesting something like this is a good signal of their attitude/perspective.

Why? They saw something they didn’t like and wrote a letter suggesting an alternative. I see that as a very good attitude.

Re: Interns Get Fired En Masse After Protesting Dress Code at Work

#14

Post by anu7df »

Is there possibly more to this story? As it stands it looks like the interns made a polite request and fired for it. I understand the "intern is a guest" argument, but he/she is also a future employee playing that part and would like to be treated as such. If any polite request is countered by firing I can't imagine that will be a good place to work.

Re: Interns Get Fired En Masse After Protesting Dress Code at Work

#17

Post by yesiamyourdad »

jrowley wrote: post #6

I got a job recently that requires business formal dress code. It's was a little frustrating until I read somewhere that by wearing dress clothes your are allowing yourself to kind of be branded by the company and in that way I appreciated it because it allows me to partition my identity into work and nonwork. Part of me still thinks I'd be more productive and happier in my normal street clothes though.

My first couple jobs required dress pants, a long sleeve button down shirt, and a tie. Back then "casual friday" was a real thing, you could wear a polo and khakis. These days unless you're an attorney or in finance, nobody wears a suit.

I work at a place that has a dress code that harks back to the early 90s. After spending my 20's griping about dress codes, I actually enjoy it for the same reason: it's a physical reminder of my work identity vs my non-work identity.

I'm curious - how would you be more productive in casual wear? As an engineer, my main gripe was that I often worked in a lab and my tie and slacks would get snagged on the edges of the computer racks. Mostly that was an issue with ruining clothing. At the time, I remember the woman who worked full time running the lab was granted an exception to the dress code for that reason - she was constantly snagging clothing and ruining things from having to crawl around on the floor running cables and things, so they let her wear jeans and more generally rugged clothing.

Re: Interns Get Fired En Masse After Protesting Dress Code at Work

#18

Post by ethanbond »

heptathorp wrote: post #10

How is this newsworthy? Some company (not named) fired some interns? Oh I see, this is an excuse to have yet another commentary about how millennials are so self-entitled.

Yeah I'm pretty shocked this is high as it is. I'm skeptical, especially with the "a female veteran who lost her leg."

Almost like the "and that boy was Albert Einstein."

Re: Interns Get Fired En Masse After Protesting Dress Code at Work

#19

Post by jasonkostempski »

hk__2 wrote: post #13
jessriedel wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Punishment completely aside, as an employer I'd simply want nothing to do with these intern in the future. Protesting something like this is a good signal of their attitude/perspective.

> Protesting something like this is a good signal of their attitude/perspective. Why? They saw something they didn’t like and wrote a letter suggesting an alternative. I see that as a very good attitude.

They based their anger on a stupid assumption and didn't bother to get clarification before going full steam ahead. This wasn't a protest, it was an angry mob.

Re: Interns Get Fired En Masse After Protesting Dress Code at Work

#20

Post by keithpeter »

jessriedel wrote: post #4
dingo_bat wrote: post #2

I think they shouldn't have complained about something that everyone was following, and a formal code is not very uncommon. I also think that firing everyone point blank just because they wrote a letter is an extreme overreaction. They could have been lectured on professional behavior instead and I'm sure most of them would have understood.

Punishment completely aside, as an employer I'd simply want nothing to do with these intern in the future. Protesting something like this is a good signal of their attitude/perspective.

Management might actually need people who will ask questions or challenge certain kinds of group thinking at some point. You never know what the future might bring.
Post reply on HN