Breaking the Rules

Our new blue uniforms are rather nice when compared to our old rent-a-cop like white uniforms. I think they make us look more professional and the badges were a real confidence booster for the employees. When we started wearing the new uniforms we were told of the new uniform policy that was only slightly different than the old policy.

The policy, in laymen terms, says that any officer who wears the short-sleeved shirts are to NOT wear the tie whatsoever. I then asked the Manager does this rule apply to those who would wear the vest or sweater over the shirt and his reply was that even with those garments covering the shirt, the tie was still NOT to be worn because it was not designed for that purpose. So I said OK and went on with my day.

Fast forward a year to where I finally receive my sweater in the mail and I wear it this entire week over my short-sleeved shirt WITHOUT the tie. No one says a thing because I am not violating the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in regards to our uniform. Today however one of the managers had a hissy fit because I was not wearing the tie. Here is our conversation:

Him: Where is your tie?
Me: I don't need to wear a tie sir because I am wearing the short-sleeved shirt underneath this sweater.
Him: You MUST wear a tie when wearing the sweater.
Me: Um, sir? That is not what the SOP states.
Him: You MUST WEAR A TIE! (he then storms off)

I follow him to the office
Me: Sir, may I see the SOP Please?
Him: NOT RIGHT NOW LYDIA!
Me: Sir, it is my right to see the SOP.
Him: DID YOU NOT HEAR ME? NOT AT THIS TIME!!

(I am not exaggerating here, he really is yelling at me and I am speaking to him calmly)
Me: Sir, I'm not trying to argue with you but just requesting to see the SOP because I was told differently by another Manager that I was not to wear a tie with the short-sleeved shirt, regardless of the sweater.

(he storms off the the supervisor where he asks for the SOP, tells her why, and I overhear her standing up for me saying that I am right).

Two hours pass and I am called into the office. By this time I have already removed the sweater just to avoid more conflict and as a result I am literally freezing at work. See, they are doing some construction at the airport within our checkpoint that has resulted in the windows being taken out and an uninsulated plywood wall to replace them for the time being. Despite the fact that the heat is on, the cold air seeps in and makes the checkpoint the same temperature as outside. Which at 4am was 37 degree fahrenheit. Brr!!

To end this story I will simplify what happens next. I man up and apologize for appearing to be disrespectful towards the manager even though he was disrespectful towards me and never even bothered to apologize. The supervisor told me that I was indeed correct and that I was not violating the uniform policy. However, she then said that she and the manager had added a rule requiring officers to wear a tie with the sweater. If I come in tomorrow to work without the tie then I will be written up for deliberately disobeying her REQUEST.

So damned if I do and damned if I don't. By wearing this sweater I am breaking someone's rules. If I wear the tie then I am violating the SOP. If I don't wear the tie then I'm violating HER and the MANAGER'S rule. Either way, I lose and will be punished for such nonsense. So tomorrow I will be going to work in my short-sleeved shirt and without the sweater. Then if I get sick I will sue their asses.

Ok I probably won't sue. Mainly because I'm leaving in 6 months. However, how dare they threaten to punish me for NOT EVEN BREAKING GOVERNMENT POLICY!?! It's completely insane I tell ya...INSANE!

Why don't I wear the long-sleeve shirts? Because the collar rubs my neck raw to where it bleeds. I refuse to be in physical pain because of a poorly made uniform.

And if you are asking: How can they tell which shirt you are wearing under the sweater? You can tell because on the short-sleeve there is no room for the tie to fit comfortably. On the long-sleeve shirts there is an extra piece of fabric about 1/2 inch in width that is sewn on to accommodate the wearing of a tie whereas the short-sleeve shirts do not. It is so very obvious too but apparently I am the only one who noticed this difference between the shirts.

Seriously, I work with a bunch of assholes. *rolls eyes and sighs*