<p>But SO much better than being let go for some vague reason. We have more problems with women being inappropriately dressed than men. “Business casusal” is pretty easy to interpret for a guy. But for a woman who has worn shorts and flip flops all through college, a pair of khakis and a knit top from the Gap might seems dressed up. </p>
<p>Telling a woman to wear makeup or do something different with her hair does seems sexist, but often appearance does hold them back. Years back, a female lawyer at a big firm in town sued her firm for discrimination when they told her she would not advance unless and until she did something about her appearance. (As I recall, personal hygiene was even an issue). Of course,the suit was settled (and she left the firm), but she really WAS a mess. Again, in college you can roll out of bed, put on jammy bottoms and tie your hair back with a rubber band. As an attorney, not so much (until you’re a very senior partner and can pass yourself off as excentric.)</p>
<p>[I loved the scene in the Temple Grandin movie where her first boss hands her a can of deoderant and she thanks him.]</p>
<p>Talked with a friend of mine who is a principal at a large national accounting firm about the dress code. She said the program at D2’s school is well known and the big accounting firms guarantee internships to the students and reported that several of the companies have a bit more relaxed dress code once you get there. She did say she has had to talk with several young men in her office about the daily shaving and some young women about too much cleavage showing and pants that are too low cut when they bend over!!! :eek: She also reported that a sleeveless top was ok under a jacket but not when you take the jacket off. As far as wearing colored suits or blazer she said it depended on who the client was. Whew! Good thing D2 has good fashion sense and will adapt accordingly.</p>
<p>Sending out energy to all of the '13s who are powering through to the end of their college careers! Good luck to shawson. Hoping he gets some rest.</p>
<p>percussiondad…are you ready for retirement? If not maybe your company will provide outplacement services in your severance package.</p>
<p>It’s very true that corporate employers would much rather find their new hires dressed too conservatively than the opposite. Also, one can’t rely on parents to be able to tell their kids how to dress. Some have no experience in the business world, others wear scrubs or some other uniform, others are entrepreneurs and wear what they want, others should know but don’t. But it would be rather rough on a student’s budget to have to assemble a whole business casusal wardrobe all at once.</p>
<p>Shawbridge: thanks for the comments and I think you are hitting the nail right on the head, I am quite worried about missing the structure of my life. For the past 20 years I have been a a Project Manager and a Health and Safety Officer on some very large projects. My life has always been one of complete structure and even getting up with my dog everyday at 430, taking him for a 1.5 hour walk has let me get my whole day completely planned out, almost to the minute. I will miss the social side of working but I do have friends outside that are retired. Ironically I am the last one standing of the 20 employees that started at the same time. I am literally the oldest age wise and experience wise on the team now. One reason I want to train my dog is to volunteer at schools, senior homes, etc. Where I am from your dog must be certified first. This will give my life after work some meaning as well as bring joy to others. My W is not thrilled because she has to work another 9 years before her pension could kick in. </p>
<p>Missypie: I realize I am one of the lucky ones. I do not take this for granted and am very thankful for what I have and what I have been able to do. My W and I have been able to pay international tuition for our D in the US and if she returns to Canada for her Masters we will also be able to pay for that. She would like to go to NYU but we cannot afford $130K over 2 years.</p>
<p>NorthMinnesota: I believe I am ready for retirement and if I did go back into the work force it would be in a totally unrelated field. I have had a fantastic career and do not regret one minute of it but this will be the end. It can be a very high stress job and I think it is time to put that stress behind me, in a way I am glad my employer is making that decision for me.</p>
<p>ugh…D2’s BF made their flight arrangements for Florida that was supposed to leave tomorrow. When he couldn’t check in he contacted their cheap carrier (Spirit) and found out he had booked for Feb 21 instead of March 21!!! They won’t honor the return flight even though it is for the correct day. They are out over $700. He scrambled for another flight with another carrier and they are leaving this evening at 7:30. D2 is at work and has to get home and pack. I feel horrible for them. :(</p>
<p>Sounds like you’re rolling with it, Percussiondad. But I’m still sorry to see it be their end date and not one you chose.</p>
<p>Weird thing of the day #1: D just ordered her cap and gown. </p>
<p>Weird thing of the day #2: Just did some business with a young banker named…Chris Kraft. Who the heck would do that to a kid? I didn’t ask whether he had a sibling named Hobie. But I sure wonder…</p>
<p>arabrab, I had done business for several years with a guy named Rick Shaw, but it wasn’t until I said his name out loud and someone laughed that I got it. So maybe many people don’t even connect with Chris Kraft. (Or, I may be alone in my dunce-ness.)</p>
<p>So…D2 just texted and the airline just offered her two $400 tickets if BF and she give up seats and fly out on tomorrow’s 7:45 AM flight. They turned it down! They won’t get in to Florida until midnight tonight. I told her they should take it to recoup the price of their other tickets and still have the day on the beach. Said they would think about it but she really doesn’t want to do it. grrrr…</p>
<p>NM, That is surprising they are not taking that deal under the circumstances. It’s funny that she texted you about it but isn’t taking your advice. Kids! (or should I say young adults!). Good luck to them in getting to Florida.</p>
<p>Perc…dad, you sound like a man of action. You already have plans to handle ‘retirement’. </p>
<p>Regarding dress code, I started my internship at a Harvard hospital. I was trying to dress the best I could afford. The Chief used one of our supervision sessions to give me personal feedback. He pointed out that my hair was waist length, and should be clipped half back or worn in French braid. He spoke of the importance of wearing my white lab coat whenever I went on the floors. He did all this in such a pleasant way, that I took no offense.</p>
<p>I don’t understand the thinking behind not taking the voucher or whatever they were offering, but even more baffling is why they wouldn’t recognize this was the “smart” thing to do. I mean obviously, we all have done things for personal satisfaction vs financial return, so I get the part about not losing even a moment of vacation time, but I wouldn’t have told my Mother about it. But it indeed sounds like a fairly expensive mistake to have made in the first place…However, I’ve done similar in that I booked what I thought was a great price into a regional airport and then found out some time later that I had actually booked to the right town, but the wrong state the difference being I thought I was going to NY and this was taking me to SD! Good news was it had been a really cheap flight so that part wasn’t too horrid, but the bad news was I had boasted about the cheap price and then of course had to pay a premium to get to NY, so then everyone gave me crap on top of the financial punch! I’ve also missed a flight because I failed to set my watch to the current time during a three hour layover and missed my flight by an hour and was stuck in detroit for the night. So… not really a great track record myself :)</p>
<p>NM–geez.
My GF once made a reservation at “X” hotel in WA. to take her D college shopping. It turned out she made it for “X” in Vermont. They were very nice when she called to confirm and did not charge her. This was before cell phones.</p>
<p>P-dad–sounds like you have a plan but also know that there is always anxiety when a hole develops in our lives --from kid leaving, job loss, death --it does take 6 months to year to fill the hole. But it can be a good thing in the end. Hang in there!</p>
<p>So Oregon - if you’ve had kids leaving, kids getting married and are selling the house… am I dealing with a huge crater or simply avoiding dealing with loss by piling on more of it? Sometimes I think a therapist would see me as the catalyst for a downpayment to a summer home (or at least provide the finances for an extensive remodel)!</p>
But it indeed sounds like a fairly expensive mistake to have made in the first place…However, I’ve done similar in that I booked what I thought was a great price into a regional airport and then found out some time later that I had actually booked to the right town, but the wrong state the difference being I thought I was going to NY and this was taking me to SD! Good news was it had been a really cheap flight so that part wasn’t too horrid, but the bad news was I had boasted about the cheap price and then of course had to pay a premium to get to NY, so then everyone gave me crap on top of the financial punch! I’ve also missed a flight because I failed to set my watch to the current time during a three hour layover and missed my flight by an hour and was stuck in detroit for the night. So… not really a great track record myself :)</p>