Do you wear a tie to work?

[flere-imsaho]

First of all, I apologize that this is basically a poll for the guys.

Secondly, coming across this article (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/fashion/11CODES.html?ei=5070&em=&en=077ae679652b8a93&ex=1192248000&pagewanted=print) made me think about this and spurred me to post this as a poll

For the record, I do wear a tie to work, as my consulting company requires it. I also wore a tie to my last job, which was working for the Development/Alumni Relations department of a major university. But before that, not since I did office jobs as a teenager.

I'm definitely getting tired of wearing a tie to work, but I guess I do see how it sets me apart from a lot of the people at my clients' sites. I should note that when I was on assignment in the Bay Area I did not have to wear a tie, as the corporate cultures in that area are very anti-tie.

So, anyway, thoughts?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Never had a job where one was required, would never have taken one where it was.

[Critch]

I work off-site from our clients. I don't even shave anymore, never mind wear a tie.

[Kodos]

Hell, I don't even have to wear pants.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The only time I wear a tie at work is if I am meeting with clients, other attorneys, or going to court.

I do not like ties and I can't tie them for shit.

[Passacaglia]

About a month ago, I took a job that would have required me to wear a tie. It was almost a deal-killer for me -- almost as soon as I got there for the interview, I was thinking, why am I even bothering. But then I started to think that I have a good ten ties that I never wear, so maybe it'll work out all right. Turned out, my first day on the job, they switched to business casual. I told myself I'd still try to wear a tie like once a week, but I haven't done it yet.

[ThunderingHERD]

Never had a job where one was required, would never have taken one where it was.

Did you get picked on a lot by ties when you were little or something?

[Fidatelo]

I work off-site from our clients. I don't even shave anymore, never mind wear a tie.

+1

[Eaglesfan27]

I wear them for professional organization meetings, one of which I'm attending tomorrow, otherwise I hate them and never wear them.

[George]

I wear a tie to work every day, and I dislike it.

[Radii]

I wear ties for funerals and job interviews. I would absolutely never take a job that required one and would probably immediately turn in my notice if a company I worked at changed its dress code to require them. Of course, I think most software developers would see a dress code change like that as a sign of a deeper problem within a company anyway.

[Rizon]

I'm not required to wear a tie at work. I find them silly and odd looking. Plus they always get in the way.

[CleBrownsfan]

I use to wear a tie everyday to work but real glad I'm don't anymore!

[Neon_Chaos]

Nope. Thank god.

[DaddyTorgo]

how about options with %'s of the time.

normally no...however if we have clients or meetings...yes

[molson]

Really bizzare that people would actually reject jobs if they had to wear a tie. How much of a pay raise would you people forgo?

I'm in court every day, so I wear one all the time. It's not really a hassle.

[Young Drachma]

Nope. I wouldn't mind a job where I had to dress up and rumor has it, the college President is pondering some sort of "dress code"....but, nope.

[Passacaglia]

Really bizzare that people would actually reject jobs if they had to wear a tie. How much of a pay raise would you people forgo?

I'm in court every day, so I wear one all the time. It's not really a hassle.

I've wondered the same thing -- it's tough to figure, and the hypothetical doesn't really come up -- you never have two jobs that are exactly the same, except for a pay difference and different dress code -- there are usually other factors that come into play. My office has days where a $5 donation to a charity that's preferred by the company will let you wear jeans. I'll probably do that every day I can, but I wonder if that means that I'd accept a pay cut of $5 per day to work in a place where jeans are okay every day.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Really bizzare that people would actually reject jobs if they had to wear a tie. How much of a pay raise would you people forgo?

I really don't think anybody has that much money to entice me to wear one on a regular basis.

Seriously.

[ThunderingHERD]

Ok, I'm all for standing on principle, but what kind of silly principle is this?

"Sorry kids, looks like you're going to a state school--ties cramp daddy's style!"

[Groundhog]

It's optional where I work. I've thought about wearing one a number of times over the years, but I know that if I just started wearing one out of the blue after all these years, they'd think I was out going for job interviews. :D

[MacroGuru]

I wear one when I work..every other week...but when I am at home, it's all shorts, t-shirts and flip flops.

[molson]

I really don't think anybody has that much money to entice me to wear one on a regular basis.

Seriously.

Interesting - why?

[Young Drachma]

I think some folks here are forgetting that a lot of us are in different industries. If someone here was a lawyer saying "I'm not wearing a f-ing tie" that'd be one thing. But if they're doing something else, the way you dress has absolutely no impact on the bottom line or how much money you make working there.

So...it's an apples and oranges discussion.

Plus, you can dress up nice without wearing a tie.

[ISiddiqui]

Usually no (mostly polo shirts), but when I'm on an investigation, it's business attire, including ties.

[RendeR]

I work at a small college in Buffalo in the IT department. So the dress code is very casual, the only real limiting factor is no bluejeans.

Most days I wear a polo shirt and a pair of cargo pants and a Medaille College ballcap. On these days the students tend to get confused and think I'm another student.

On the days I wear a shirt and tie and pair of slacks, I get 10x as many questions/requests for help with something and 9x out of 10 I get called "Professor"

I'm no professor, but having someone offer up the respect of the name just because of my appearance really says something to me.

I would rather wear t-shirts and jeans, certainly, but I LIKE the response I get when I dress profesionally.

Ties? Who cares, if its a better job, you take it. Ignoring a chance to improve yourself and/or your life over a clothing issue seems childish at best, pretty damn stupid at worst.

Oh and they have these things called "Tie clips" they look very classy and they keep your tie out of your way ;)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Ok, I'm all for standing on principle, but what kind of silly principle is this? "Sorry kids, looks like you're going to a state school--ties cramp daddy's style!"

It's not particularly "principle" - I mean, I don't have some incredibly deep moral issue with ties or anything -- I just friggin despise wearing them. And I have more than an ample supply of misery in my life without adding to it via wardrobe.

Money certainly helps buy off unhappiness (the older I get the more I find this to be true) but there's really not any amount of money that I can envision that would buy off the degree of unhappiness that would create. I mean, the best I'd be doing is battling it to a draw - enjoying the benefits of the money during the non-tie hours but being absolutely miserable during the working hours (and the other hours I'm asleep so they're neutral). And there's opportunities to break even on that ledger without bothering with the tie.

And, happily, I've found ways to avoid both state schools & ties simultaneously so it isn't as though there's any sort of all or nothing situation to deal with.

[chesapeake]

My father was a banker, so I grew up thinking that men always wore ties to work. And I've always had a job where ties were required, so I've always worn them. I like the look of a sharp suit and a bold tie. Pat Riley is my fashion hero, although the slick hair look doesn't work for me.

[lungs]

Often times, I end up covered in feces by the time I'm done with work. No ties for me. I wear the grungiest clothes I have to work.

[Passacaglia]

Ok, I'm all for standing on principle, but what kind of silly principle is this?

"Sorry kids, looks like you're going to a state school--ties cramp daddy's style!"

What's wrong with a state school? :p

[lordscarlet]

I would love to wear a tie to work, but we have a laid back developer team and I would be pointed and laughed at.

[LloydLungs]

I'm not required to wear a tie at work. I find them silly and odd looking. Plus they always get in the way.

Societal customs are weird. If you were an alien, and someone told you that in order to look "professional," humans were expected to wear a narrow strip of cloth from their neck that also constricted their throats, that might strike you as bizarre.

Not having to wear a tie (or anything uncomfortable) on a regular basis is worth a great deal of money to me. If I had kids, perhaps it would be different.

[wade moore]

Weird, this discussion came up with me and some other FOFC'ers yesterday.

Anyway - I am a manager of a Help Desk. I choose to wear a tie 3-4 days a week. We don't even technically have a dress code and many people here wear Jeans and a polo or even jeans and a "nice t-shirt".

I just think ther eis something to be said about looking professional. It's probably a factor also that I started young as a manager (and still am pretty young for the position I have) so it helps people to take more seriously.

[Coffee Warlord]

I didn't even own a tie till I bought a suit a few months ago. And that wasn't for work.

[Neon_Chaos]

You dress for the job you want.


Which is why I always pull out the Astronaut suit every now and then.

[Young Drachma]

Living in Wyoming if I dressed up everyday, I'd stand out even more than I already do. I do enjoy the chance to do it when I have a meeting that calls for it. But I never wear suits here. Or even a tie. Only to events related to my business. I used to dress up a lot more and there's no point because I sit in my office the majority of my days and some days see no one.

[Young Drachma]

You dress for the job you want.


Which is why I always pull out the Astronaut suit every now and then.

::claps::

[Eaglesfan27]

I think some folks here are forgetting that a lot of us are in different industries. If someone here was a lawyer saying "I'm not wearing a f-ing tie" that'd be one thing. But if they're doing something else, the way you dress has absolutely no impact on the bottom line or how much money you make working there.

So...it's an apples and oranges discussion.

Plus, you can dress up nice without wearing a tie.

Very true. Even though I almost never wear ties to work, I always wear nice dress slacks and a dress shirt, so it's never been an issue even though one of my past bosses occasionally mentioned that he would prefer I wear a tie.

[miami_fan]

It is interesting that the article seems to talk about people wearing ties to work more for the style aspect as opposed to the "professional" appearance it may present. Being in the military, I don't wear ties at work at all. I do however wear ties fairly often during my off duty time. Most of the ties I wear are not the type that I would wear in a business environment. Maybe that will change when I become a civilian. I am sure that comes from my father having a set of “work” ties and then a set of “going out” ties.

I also have no problem with people who don’t like to wear ties not wearing them. To me, nothing looks more unprofessional than a guy who is wearing a tie in a manner that makes it obvious that they are being forced to wear it.

[Icy]

I work online from home so my working uniform is usually shorts and t-shirt on summer and jeans or jogging pants and t-shirt on winter. I could even work in pajama but when working from home, i believe on imposing some self discipline like shaving and dressing when i wake up, else you can degenerate pretty fast.

I work this informal way because nobody sees me and i'm more comfortable, but i wouldn't have any problem wearing a suit and tie if working in an office or having to meet other businessmen.

[MartinD]

I'm in an office-based job, so I did wear formal business wear (i.e. suit/shirt/tie) when I started working (in 1998). Things are not quite as formal now, though - have not had to wear a tie to work since the start of 2004.

Martin

[gstelmack]

Really bizzare that people would actually reject jobs if they had to wear a tie. How much of a pay raise would you people forgo?

If making a ton of money was my goal, I wouldn't be working for a game developer...

[molson]

If making a ton of money was my goal, I wouldn't be working for a game developer...

We're not talking about how fulfilling or interesting the job is, we're talking about wearing a damn tie.

So if another game developer (exact same job), offered you $10k more, but you needed to wear a tie, you'd say, "suck it, you corporate losers!".

I'm looking at this computer screen wearing a tie. I honestly can't even tell that it's on. You people are nuts.

[Wolfpack]

Ties are pretty much anathema to me. Dressing up in general isn't my bag anyway. It's been something of an adjustment to go from my old university job where I could pretty much wear what I wanted (shorts, jeans, etc) to a bit more of a corporate culture where I'm grudgingly wearing khakis now (though the hot weather has made khakis more palatable as a choice). At least Fridays are more casual. Shorts are still disallowed which irks me, but at least we're heading into the colder part of the calendar now, so I don't have to worry about it for much longer.

I have exactly one suit. I only wear it if someone dies or I have to get a new job.

[JonInMiddleGA]

What's wrong with a state school? :p

Obviously you don't live in Georgia ;)

[I. J. Reilly]

It's not particularly "principle" - I mean, I don't have some incredibly deep moral issue with ties or anything -- I just friggin despise wearing them. And I have more than an ample supply of misery in my life without adding to it via wardrobe.

Money certainly helps buy off unhappiness (the older I get the more I find this to be true) but there's really not any amount of money that I can envision that would buy off the degree of unhappiness that would create. I mean, the best I'd be doing is battling it to a draw - enjoying the benefits of the money during the non-tie hours but being absolutely miserable during the working hours (and the other hours I'm asleep so they're neutral). And there's opportunities to break even on that ledger without bothering with the tie.

And, happily, I've found ways to avoid both state schools & ties simultaneously so it isn't as though there's any sort of all or nothing situation to deal with.

Absolutely miserable; really? Are you sure you’re wearing it right?

[ctmason]

Yeah uh...you know it goes around your neck, right Jon?

[molson]

Absolutely miserable; really? Are you sure you’re wearing it right?

I hadn't thought of that, good point - I think people are just wearing them too tight or something.

[JonInMiddleGA]

So if another game developer (exact same job), offered you $10k more, but you needed to wear a tie, you'd say, "suck it, you corporate losers!".

Nope.

I'd simply respectfully decline the job offer, the difference an additional $10k would make in my life isn't even a fraction of how much aggravation it would cost me. I would, quite literally, have to get drunk every night (and possibly every morning) to be able to endure a job where that was part of the requirement. Between the health issues that could cause, plus the cost of the booze, I wouldn't have the extra money anyway.

Bluntly, I pretty much walk right along the edge of being so miserable I literally can't function as it is, any misery I can avoid is one step that I don't take toward that abyss. And if I topple into it, I'm not going to have the job with the extra cash anyway, so it'd just be a situation that I'd be assured of failure in anyway.

(And that doesn't even get into the reality of how long I would or could tolerate an enviroment where form over function was such an issue in the first place)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Absolutely miserable; really? Are you sure you’re wearing it right?

I'm actually going to take this as a (semi) serious question and say yeah, I'm pretty sure those rare occasions they're on correctly since the misery isn't entirely physical. That part only qualifies as "moderately uncomfortable".

[Logan]

I work in different banks all the time, and the rule is we dress to match the bank. If they wear a full suit and tie, we do. If they go business casual, we can do the same.

I actually prefer to wear ties. For one, I like the more professional look. If I had my own company where wearing a tie would be reasonable (not like a call center where you never see anyone besides your co-workers), I'd require it. No tie in a business setting means that business casual is appropriate. And business casual doesn't mean "dress pants and dress shirt" to everybody. Once you go that route, it opens people up to start looking like shit at work. This is really more a problem with the women I work with than the guys. When it's business casual, they start wearing flip flops, capris pants, tank tops, etc. One chick was wearing short pants and a softball t-shirt the other day (the kind that's a gray base but with different colored sleeves). But the guys end up wearing baggy shirts and pants, and that's not cool either.

Two, I love the ties I have. I probably have somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 of them. All different kinds of colors/patterns, and I genuinely enjoy buying ties. More often than not I'll pick up a new one when I walk through a Macys/Nordstrom/Lord & Taylor. I've grown to appreciate the really great quality ties, and I can quickly tell when someone's wearing a piece of shit one. Yes, I'm vain when it comes to ties, but I swear that's the only time I act like that.

If you really feel constricted when you're wearing a tie, you're either buying shirts that are too tight for your neck or you're tying the thing like it's a rubber hose and you're about to shoot some heroin. I never feel uncomfortable wearing one.

edit: I'm pretty positive we debated this issue a couple years ago. FOFC has moved on to repeats!

[molson]

Nope.

(And that doesn't even get into the reality of how long I would or could tolerate an enviroment where form over function was such an issue in the first place)

I get this part, seeing a tie requirement as a signal of what the overall office culture was going to be like. (Though I'd say that impressing clients IS function rather than form).

But I'd wear a donut box hat to work every work if they were going to pay me $10k more to do so.

[Telle]

Since I'm a woman this issue doesn't directly affect me.. but I would personally prefer working at a company that does not have a dress code that requires men to wear ties. Basically it comes down to what kind of work environment and culture you would prefer. A more formal dress code tends to go hand-in-hand with a more formal atmosphere in general.. and along with that comes things like more attention paid to the hierarchy and seniority and things like that. A less formal environment is more inviting towards working together with your peers in collaboration and the feeling of a "team". You find fewer artificially imposed "unwritten rules" and things of that nature.

[Logan]

Nope.

I'd simply respectfully decline the job offer, the difference an additional $10k would make in my life isn't even a fraction of how much aggravation it would cost me. I would, quite literally, have to get drunk every night (and possibly every morning) to be able to endure a job where that was part of the requirement. Between the health issues that could cause, plus the cost of the booze, I wouldn't have the extra money anyway.

Bluntly, I pretty much walk right along the edge of being so miserable I literally can't function as it is, any misery I can avoid is one step that I don't take toward that abyss. And if I topple into it, I'm not going to have the job with the extra cash anyway, so it'd just be a situation that I'd be assured of failure in anyway.

(And that doesn't even get into the reality of how long I would or could tolerate an enviroment where form over function was such an issue in the first place)

If this was written by anyone but Jon, I would've posted a huge picture of a "Welcome to Overexaggerationland" sign.

But I believe that he really feels this way.

[JonInMiddleGA]

But I believe that he really feels this way.

Bipolar disorder is a real motherfucker.
Trust me on this fact if you never trust me on anything else I say.

[Logan]

Don't worry man, I'm a believer.

[JonInMiddleGA]

But I'd wear a donut box hat to work every work if they were going to pay me $10k more to do so.

Maybe there's a certain amount of relativity in play here too. $10k a year, honestly, wouldn't change the comfort/discomfort level in my life one bit.

$100k probably would ... but it still wouldn't change my answer.

[Logan]

You must make eleventy billion dollars.

I'm gonna have to do it.

http://www.humboldtmusic.com/webpage/graphics/ACF9316.jpg

[AZSpeechCoach]

I usually wear ties for the first week or two of a semester to "establish myself as an authority figure" to the students, and then I move to polos and khakis for most of the rest of the year. Jeans and red shirts are for "Bobcat Fridays." I will wear a tie for important days (parent conferences, important speech tournaments, conventions, picture days, meetings with the admin.).

[Lorena]

Wait... saldana wears a tie?

[Subby]

You guys with really fat necks should have your answers discarded.

[JediKooter]

We have no dress code (as long as 'everything' is covered) here where I work.

[King of New York]

I always wear a tie on days that I teach (3 days a week). On days that I don't teach, even if I am working on campus rather than at home, then I don't wear a tie.

[Radii]

We're not talking about how fulfilling or interesting the job is, we're talking about wearing a damn tie.

So if another game developer (exact same job), offered you $10k more, but you needed to wear a tie, you'd say, "suck it, you corporate losers!".

I'm looking at this computer screen wearing a tie. I honestly can't even tell that it's on. You people are nuts.

I make a very good salary as a software developer. I get to wear jeans and a polo while making my very good salary as a software developer. My level of happiness goes down drastically when I am dressed up. I am not the most comfortable in my own skin type of person in the world, and when I am dressed up I feel even more uncomfortable.

I'd guess 90% of the jobs I would apply for have a dress code of khakis/polo or some less. I am significantly less happy if required to dress up. I'm a more unhappy person in khakis than I am in jeans. i have gotten used to polo shirts, but to be honest, that took about 7 years or so.

I would *definitely* turn down a $10,000/yr raise if I was required to wear a tie. I would probably turn down a $30,000/yr raise if I was required to wear a tie every day. I would probably accept a $50,000/yr raise to wear a tie, and hope that I could do it for a year before I got fed up and quit. I would expect to regret the decision regardless of how much money it was if I ever agreed to take a job that regularly required me to wear a tie.

In my industry, I directly consider it a sign of managerial incompetence if a technical office requires a software developer to dress up to sit at a computer for 8 hours a day, without ever seeing any customers.

EDIT TO ADD: In fact, even if you do see customers, the types of customers software developers are going to see frequently shouldn't require ties either. If you're in a unique situation as a developer where you are consistently meeting with C*O level executives I would understand a bit more. And, I'd never be in that job myself. Not worth it.

[FBPro]

Nope, wear shorts......polo shirt.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Hell, I don't even have to wear pants.

Not quite there yet...but I think I went all summer and tucked in my shirt about three times.

[molson]

What's really weird is that people who don't like ties are all like "why should I have to dress up, it's about substance, etc..", when they're the ones who are the most freaked out about their clothes of all. I don't see a difference between a company that requires ties, and an employee who requires casual attire to work there. You both have your priorities in the wrong place.

I've done both - suit and tie everyday, and jeans and a t-shirt for a .com. My work experience wasn't effected the slightest either way, but if I have to chose, I guess I prefer the nice clothes.

Casual attire has become the uniform of the technolgy workforce, and it's just like any other uniform, since they clearly wear it as a badge of honor, and don't hesitiate to point out to everyone how they wear jeans to work.

[Logan]

molson is the smartest man on this board. Well done sir.

[wade moore]

molson is the smartest man on this board. Well done sir.
+1

[Radii]

Casual attire has become the uniform of the technolgy workforce, and it's just like any other uniform, since they clearly wear it as a badge of honor, and don't hesitiate to point out to everyone how they wear jeans to work.


Perhaps if the original post wasn't asking people what their dress codes were, and one of the posters who dresses up for work didn't reply


We're not talking about how fulfilling or interesting the job is, we're talking about wearing a damn tie.

So if another game developer (exact same job), offered you $10k more, but you needed to wear a tie, you'd say, "suck it, you corporate losers!".

I'm looking at this computer screen wearing a tie. I honestly can't even tell that it's on. You people are nuts.



Then the tone of some responses, especially mine, might have been different. Why are you so fucking offended by this?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Why are you so fucking offended by this?

Y'know, there is a theory about ties cutting off blood & oxygen to the brain, making the wearer a little loopy and even eventually causing permanent brain damage ... ... ... ;)

[dawgfan]

Casual attire has become the uniform of the technolgy workforce, and it's just like any other uniform, since they clearly wear it as a badge of honor, and don't hesitiate to point out to everyone how they wear jeans to work.
Yeah. Interesting twist to this though, is over the last 3-4 years or so I've noticed that, while the dress code is still "casual" (i.e. no suits or ties, slacks almost never worn, shorts, sandals and t-shirts OK), people are starting to at least dress more fashionably. In other words, whereas when I first started there were a lot of people wearing sports jerseys or really goofy t-shirts, now I see a lot of guys wearing very arty, fashionable t-shirts or fashionable button-up shirts and nice sweaters (in the colder months) and designer jeans instead of plain Levi's.

Could just be a reflection of metrosexuality taking hold in urban areas and guys dressing more fashionably in general. Regardless, one could argue that there's not really that much difference between dressing "formally" (button shirt + tie, blazer or suit jacket optional) and dressing nicely fashionable - both are aesthetically pleasing. On the other hand, there is so much association placed between the suit and tie look and being "business-like" that there is still a psychological difference.

Bottom-line though, I like having the freedom to dress (more or less) how I want. I'm not a fan of wearing ties, and I'm glad I don't need more than the 2 suits I own.

[sterlingice]

Hell, I don't even have to wear pants.

Kodos, intergalactic porn star!

SI

[Barkeep49]

I argue that a tie hinders my ability to do my job on a day to day basis. Since I am working with 5th graders, and under, the formality of a tie sends a message that runs counter to my teaching style. I even go so far as to bring a change of clothes on open houses and parent conferences so I can teach in my normal attire but then show the respect that the parents deserve when meeting with them.

However, when I'm coaching a basketball game? Then it's shirt and tie all the way. I find that sends a message that I'm serious about what we're doing.

I'll also add that I'm not one to take super pains to pay attention to my general clothes. I've never been questioned by bosses about what I wear, but when I dress up I display a flair and style that I don't in my every day dress. It always takes people by surprise which is something I like and makes dressing up fun for me, something that wouldn't be true if I had to do it on a daily basis.

[CU Tiger]

I despise ties, mainly because of physical comfort.
I have a HUGE neck (19.5") but not flabby or lose in fact the skin is tight and quite tone thank-you. But Id wear a 16-17" shirt otherwise. With a 17 shirt it leaves (surprise) a 2" gap in the neck line. Those collar extenders are elastic and serve to choke me.

In a previous job I had to wear a tie only on Mondays (I mean WTF full formal on Mondays Bus. Cas t-th full cas on friday) and I found myself without realizing always finding reasons to bee out or off site on mondays...

At this point I probably wouldnt accept a 10k raise to wear a tie 5 days/week.

50K sure
25k Im not sure about

[Logan]

Please post a picture of this neck of yours.

[duckman]

Nope, I'm happily unemployed right now.

[CamEdwards]

I will wear them every now and then, usually when I'm interviewing a politician or someone important in person. But even then my top button's unbuttoned and the tie's loosened. It's just part of my style and has been for as long as I've been in my profession.

I also get to wear my baseball caps with suits and ties. That helps even things out for me (as well as making me look like the world's most unlikely NBA draft pick).

[MJ4H]

I wear ties occassionally, but not often. For reference I teach grades 6-12 (band/music).

[molson]

Then the tone of some responses, especially mine, might have been different. Why are you so fucking offended by this?

Not offended, just incredibly fascinated.

Leaving $50k over 5 years on the table for a tie. Why not wear the tie and donate the money to charity? (Hypothetically)

[Logan]

Cause that's fucking offending.

[Radii]

Not offended, just incredibly fascinated.

Leaving $50k over 5 years on the table for a tie. Why not wear the tie and donate the money to charity? (Hypothetically)

I honestly can't explain the reason for being so uncomfortable dressed up. Maybe I wasn't forced to enough as a kid. I was the kid wearing sweatpants on picture day even in high school. I need to(and am!) lose quite a bit of weight. I get in long sleeves in Atlanta and I sweat when I move. I get dressed up in a suit for a company Christmas party or some other mandatory event, and I find myself adjusting my tie, my collar, my cuffs, every 5 or 6 steps. If I remain literally 100% still, I'm ok. Otherwise, its not too far off to say I'd rather be dead.

I've had people tell me, even at happy events, events where I'm honestly happy for the things going on(a wedding, for example), that I have a scowl on my face constantly, and its b/c of the dress. I don't even realize I'm doing it. I'm just *that* uncomfortable and awkward in a tie,or in a suit.

I know I sound like a total dumbass explaining that. Maybe I have issues, eh? But its not some tech sector counterculture thing. I can honestly evaluate my quality of life I now, and consider how much my mood and actions change when I am forced to dress up, and say to myself that I honestly don't' believe it would be in my best interest to take a job thta requires me to dress up for $50,000 a year, that the impact on my life would be negative.


Now, there is absolutely a feeling, at least among 99% of the tech people I have worked with in the last 10 years that most developers will put in some of the most insane hours that you'll ever see, and I think because that is understood, we expect some leeway in other areas. I'll give you 60 hours a week at the drop of a hat for as long as my body holds up, but I damn well expect the same small perks that everyone else in the industry gets. The two most important are that you leave me alone about what I wear, and you give me flexible working hours within reason. That's really nowhere near the same

[JimboJ]

I'm also a software developer, and I haven't worn a tie to work in 15 years. Is it a requirement that I have a job where I don't wear a tie? No, but I prefer not to wear a tie, and if I were looking for a new job, I would factor that into my decision. But its only one factor, along with salary, benefits, commuting distance, corporate culture, etc.. Everything else being equal, I'll take the job where I can dress casual.

I think alot of us consider being able to dress casually as a badge of honor because its like saying "I have a good job and I am paid well, and I must be good at it because I can dress any way I want and no one cares"

[Logan]

Ok, has anyone ever seen Radii and JiMG in the same thread at the same time?

[LloydLungs]

Ok, has anyone ever seen Radii and JiMG in the same thread at the same time?

I feel exactly the same way as they do. Some people, I would dare say a lot of people, are really uncomfortable in dressy clothes. Some people are not. People are different.

[Radii]

Ok, has anyone ever seen Radii and JiMG in the same thread at the same time?

We've been in IRC at the same time chatting with other people in here, I swear it! (hooray for the Omerta days).

[Logan]

I was referring to how both admitted they have "issues"...all in good fun.

[Marc Vaughan]

Heck no - my choice of career was partially inspired by my dislike of having to wear a shirt and tie at school ..

[RendeR]

Wait... saldana wears a tie?


Oh come on now, chicks all LOVE dressing up in your man's dres shirts and ties (generally with litle else on at the time....):D:D:D:D

[SportsDino]

Other than interviews I have worn a tie once to work, and dressed semi-formally a dozen times in almost a year now(suit pants and good shirt, but as soon as I put on the jacket it doesn't look right without a tie). I'm in software dev, very laid back atmosphere, on a day were I'm being fancy I often get a lot of compliments.

Also noticed that whenever I am trying to get a project involving other people going, it always seems to go smoother on formal days, maybe as others have said they take you more seriously or some such?

I generally get slightly uncomfortable dressing up, my big reason for dressing up... I hate laundary, and cycle through my normal clothes and move on to fancy stuff to stretch it just one more day or two. If you do have comfortable dress clothes, and they don't make you squeamish, even in a casual environment where dressing up is optional I think it could be good to dress up just to get your head into feeling self confident, professional, so on. Most people probably feel that on an average day anyway, but when you dress up and it is an oddity in your routine, it still seems to have some subconcious morale boost, at least for me.

[TazFTW]

Ties do not look good with Aloha shirts, so I do not wear a tie.

[k0ruptr]

Ties do not look good with Aloha shirts, so I do not wear a tie.

lol

[johnnyshaka]

No way, Jose!! Jeans and a golf shirt is my standard attire.

[Logan]

Ties do not look good with Aloha shirts, so I do not wear a tie.

lol

Do you guys think Colt Brennan would wear a tie to a fancy dinner in New York City?

Too bad we'll never find out.

;)

[Butter_of_69]

I have been on both sides, and much prefer not wearing a tie. But if I had to, I would do it without much thought.

[bulletsponge]

Hell, I don't even have to wear pants.


porn star?

[st.cronin]

I like wearing ties on occasion, but have not enjoyed the jobs where I had to wear a tie every day.

[finketr]

i wokr in a culture that you see it all.. casual (jeans and tshirt) for the maintenance staff. business casual (slacks and a collared shirt), blazers, full 3-piece suits, long sleeves and a tie, short sleeves and a tie, polos, aloha shirts (don't forget it's hawaiian shirt day on friday), etc...

I prefer the casual look. If i could wear anything to work it'd be close to what i wear now: non-denim pants and a polo. I have on occasion dressed up by choice. It sets a tone for the office.

I also have worked in a place where i was interviewed and told that ties are not allowed in the building unless you had an Event to attend that day (funeral, date, whatever)...... And there was an interviewer wearing a tshirt that said "Cat -- The other white meat"... that was a fun place to work as you could wear anything you wanted.. and you HAD to be there 11a-5pm and work the rest of your hours before or after. I tended to work about 10-6.30 or so.. others worked 11-9 or 8-5, etc..

[DaddyTorgo]

i've had to suit-up (full suit) the last couple days

[JeeberD]

When I was a server, yes I did. As a bartender, no I don't...

[AZSpeechCoach]

When I was a server, yes I did. As a bartender, no I don't...

Did you have your required amount of flair?

[molson]

Do the raging tie-haters dress up for weddings, when that's the requested attire? Or do you just not show up? (And are you insulted by the request?)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Do the raging tie-haters dress up for weddings, when that's the requested attire? Or do you just not show up? (And are you insulted by the request?)

I've think I've been to two weddings (not counting my own) in the past, oh I dunno, 20 years so it isn't like it really comes up much. One was "tied", the other wasn't. "Insulted" might be a little strong, but it does have an influence on how interested I am in attending (which with weddings is pretty rare regardless of dress code). Let's just say that if you see me there in a tie, I really have to like you a whole lot.

Funerals are a bit more common (unfortunately), but those have also been pretty varied in their formality. I think I've worn one maybe 4 or 5 times in say 20 years worth and even at that I've been overdressed more often than underdressed.

edit (again) to add -- Y'know, one thing that came to mind while answering this question was that when you get outside of the original subject of work, this is probably going to be influenced by the sort of people you associate with. And as I thought about it, I've probably had any social relationship whatsoever with less than a half dozen people in my lifetime who routinely wore ties. Acquaintances sure, but people that I would actually attend their wedding or their funeral? Ties would be likely as scarce in their closet as they are in mine.

And adding even further -- I think the notion of what you grew up around was mentioned at least once or twice earlier in the thread & I wonder how much influence that might have on attitudes about ties too. I was trying to think of how many people I ever knew, or even saw, wearing a tie when I was a kid and beyond a couple of preachers that I maybe saw once a month I really struggled to come up with any. My dad worked in a marble mill when I was really little, for the USPS for the rest of my life after that. My grandfather spent more than 40 years in the mill as well. Very lower-middle to middle-middle class upbringing & the same across both sides of the family really. I only recall one male teacher wearing a tie (a couple of metrosexual ones in HS notwithstanding) and one principal. One baseball coach out of a handful, one elementary school friend's dad (a banker), and darned if I can really think of any others that weren't just faces on TV. It probably says a good bit about how infrequently I even encountered ties before reaching legal drinking age that I can actually single out the people who wore them.

[Radii]

Do the raging tie-haters dress up for weddings, when that's the requested attire? Or do you just not show up? (And are you insulted by the request?)

I'm anti-social in general so I don't end up going to a lot of weddings, but yeah, I'll dress as required. I went to my company's Christmas party last year as well(I work for a startup, it was closer to 'mandatory' than at most places), and a yearly shareholder meeting that required a suit. I will be skipping the Christmas party this year though, though the expected attire isn't the primary reason for that.

[Castlerock]

I work as a software developer. I strongly prefer a 'startup' type company. The culture suits me well. In a startup, there is no "That's not in my job description" mentality. You will see a 'VP' doing menial work if that is what is needed. Corporate politics are not nearly as big a deal. Lots of other things. Sure, I'll work insane hours at the end of a release but if I want to take off early one day, I will and I'll work whatever hours are convienient for me.

I don't have anything against wearing a tie. I enjoy getting dressed up when the occasion calls for it but if I was requied to wear a tie to work, I suspect that there would be a fair number of other components of the corporate culture that do not align with what I want. For me, it's not about the tie. It's all the other things that go along with it.

[finketr]

Do the raging tie-haters dress up for weddings, when that's the requested attire? Or do you just not show up? (And are you insulted by the request?)

as requested..

I've been to two and was going to a third iuntil the car dropped the water pump..

one was suit-up and the one i missed i was dressing up... the third one was jujly 28th and it was hot as hell... I did have a tie with me but their were people there dressed more casuallly than I.