Most offices these days have a dress code.
And we understand that employees can be written up for violating that dress code.
A woman in Edmonton, however, reported losing her job… and the outfit is not even revealing.
Too Far
Caitlin Bernier, who was 20 at the time of the incident, went to social media to express her outrage over being fired unjustly.
She stated, “I walked into work and sat at my desk where I was immediately met by a female staff member.
“She had a sweater in her hand and said ‘do you know your shirt is see through?
“You have to either put this sweater on or go home and change.’
“She then said that ‘the male managers are uncomfortable with what I was wearing and asked me too (sic) tell you to change or cover up.’ As you can see in the photos, my shirt is not see through.
“This even happened to be the EXACT outfit I wore the day I was interviewed and hired by the male management.
“I then said that I was not going to change since I felt that my outfit was appropriate and have worn the top days prior as well as for my interview and no one had said anything to me.”
Bernier added. “I also expressed that I was not going to be told by any male to cover up and follow instruction when I know my outfit is fine just because they are somehow ‘uncomfortable.’
“I went to the HR lady where she agreed with me that my shirt was not see through and is fine for work.
“I was told that when the general manager (also male) got into work then we would have a meeting.
“I ended up going home and asked them to phone me when the GM was in to have a sit down meeting.
“Hours later at home I received a call from the GM and he said ‘I heard you wore something inappropriate to work and were not following the dress code or instructions when you were told to change, so I am letting you go.’ Keep in mind that he never saw what I was wearing.
“I feel discriminated against being the only female sales person and not being given an opportunity to expression my opinion to the GM or for him to even see what I was wearing.
“Working here I have experienced sexually comments from male staff, but my top ‘made the males uncomfortable.’ I am writing this post to show that FEMALE WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION is a real thing!”
The company responded, “It’s only if an employee refuses to comply with the dress code when given an opportunity, if they continued to violate the dress code on multiple occasions or if there were other issues surrounding their performance that we would consider taking further action.
“We have reviewed the situation in question and are confident that our managers dealt with it appropriately given all of the circumstances involved.”
With what we people wear these days, it seems a bit odd that this woman would lose her job over that particular top.
