No wonder the FAA wants user fees

[kallend 2,146]

They have to pay for the FAA fashion police:
---------------------------------------------------------

*FAA dress code a ticket to trouble up in the towers*

*By MICHAEL SANGIACOMO*
/Newhouse News Service/

CLEVELAND An air-traffic controller in Oberlin, Ohio, was reprimanded because his aquamarine pants were "not gender-appropriate."

The dressing down came after the Federal Aviation Administration imposed a dress code for controllers, and the two sides have now added a fashion fight to their already-strained relationship. A few male controllers at another facility protested the crackdown by coming to work in dresses. Another wore an all-purple outfit ? save for white pants ? with purple snakeskin shoes.

"In light of all the problems facing controllers and the FAA, it seems silly that the agency has become the fashion police," said Melissa Ott, union spokeswoman for workers at the Cleveland Air Route Control Center in Oberlin.

FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said the agency wants controllers to dress professionally. She said the union is overreacting to a simple dress code that would not raise an eyebrow in the business community.

Ott said the case of the veteran controller admonished about the color of his pants was just one of several incidents nationwide:

? A New York controller was ordered to wear dress shoes, despite a doctor's note saying she needed to wear tennis shoes because of a knee problem. She fell, broke her elbow and injured her knee.

? A controller in Oakland, Calif., was sent home to change because his pants were "too wrinkled."

? In Miami, controllers were told they could no longer wear "tropical shirts," even though they have collars. Management later changed its mind and said tropical shirts with "muted colors" were permitted.

? In Maryland, a supervisor shined a flashlight up and down a controller's pants. The supervisor said the pants had "jeans-like seams" and the controller could not wear them anymore.

Another Oberlin controller was disciplined because he wore an orange shirt that a supervisor said "looked like a highway traffic cone."

The man in the aquamarine pants was warned he would be disciplined further if he wore them again.

"He was angry. He said they were questioning his exuality because of his pants," Ott said. "And aren't there laws against discriminating against someone because of sexual orientation anyway? Does that mean a woman can't wear brown because it's a 'guy' color?"

She noted that controllers work in a dark room in a secure building, far from the public. It's rare that members of the public ever get into the building and even more rare that they would get into the area where the controllers work.

"So, who are we dressing up for?" Ott asked.

The FAA wouldn't discuss specific dress-code violations. The code was part of the new rules imposed in September after contract negotiations
broke down last summer. Since that breakdown, the FAA is enforcing things such as dress codes and a ban on all radios (including weather radios that warn of tornadoes) in towers.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[quade 4]

This never would have happened without first the Reagan Admin and then GWB.

For all their crys about "smaller government" they sure do know how to fuck things up.

It's just stupid.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

This never would have happened without first the Reagan Admin and then GWB.

For all their crys about "smaller government" they sure do know how to fuck things up.

It's just stupid.

Oh, please.... *rolling eyes*

Blaming overzealous management of the FAA on the Republicans is taking it a bit far, don't you think?

Unless you can somehow show how this is connected to Reagan busting the ATC union or Bush supporting the user fees, of course... *rolls eyes again*

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[ryoder 1,590]

If an employee deals with the public on a face-to-face basis, then I don't have a problem with a dress code. If not, then then need to start cutting management headcount until there is enough work for the managers so they don't need to find idiotic ways to create work for themselves.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[mnealtx 0]

Well said!!

Can we do the same with Congress??

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[Guest]

Quote

If an employee deals with the public on a face-to-face basis, then I don't have a problem with a dress code. If not, then then need to start cutting management headcount until there is enough work for the managers so they don't need to find idiotic ways to create work for themselves.

hear, hear, hear!!!

This is nothing but harassment!

Edit to add: I wouldn't care if ATCs showed up for work wearing pajamas and cowboy hats (like I saw at Microsoft once [true story!]) as long as they were good at their jobs.

mh
.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[rushmc 23]

Now that is a hell of a tittle for this article

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[kallend 2,146]

Quote

Quote

If an employee deals with the public on a face-to-face basis, then I don't have a problem with a dress code. If not, then then need to start cutting management headcount until there is enough work for the managers so they don't need to find idiotic ways to create work for themselves.

hear, hear, hear!!!

This is nothing but harassment!

Edit to add: I wouldn't care if ATCs showed up for work wearing pajamas and cowboy hats (like I saw at Microsoft once [true story!]) as long as they were good at their jobs.

mh
.

Right. Maybe if all organizations (including the govt.)looked to the most productive for management tips, we wouldn't have this kind of rubbish going on.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[willard 0]

Employers have every right to establish a dress code for their employees. That includes the FAA. Don't like the dress code at work? Try to get it changed or find another job.
However, what people wear on their own time is their business and nobody elses.

[NewGuy2005 53]

Quote

This never would have happened without first the Reagan Admin and then GWB.

For all their crys about "smaller government" they sure do know how to fuck things up.

It's just stupid.

Right. If Jimmy Carter had been re-elected, none of this would have happened. (Bullshit)

This is typical Federal Government management in action. Remember this the next time a politician wants the federal gov. to get more involved in health care.

[Guest]

Quote

Employers have every right to establish a dress code for their employees. That includes the FAA. Don't like the dress code at work? Try to get it changed or find another job.
However, what people wear on their own time is their business and nobody elses.

I don't think that pestering or otherwise distracting people engaged in such a vital public safety function as ATC is a good idea. Furthermore, I believe that such interference in the performance of their duties does not serve the public interest. Leaving them the hell alone does.

mh
.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[Trent 0]

Quote

This never would have happened without first the Reagan Admin and then GWB.

For all their crys about "smaller government" they sure do know how to fuck things up.

That's almost the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Nice stretch. Did you pull something while typing that??

Oh, hello again!

[willard 0]

Quote

Quote

Employers have every right to establish a dress code for their employees. That includes the FAA. Don't like the dress code at work? Try to get it changed or find another job.
However, what people wear on their own time is their business and nobody elses.

I don't think that pestering or otherwise distracting people engaged in such a vital public safety function as ATC is a good idea. Furthermore, I believe that such interference in the performance of their duties does not serve the public interest. Leaving them the hell alone does.

mh
.

Since when has enforcing workplace rules been considered "pestering"? If the man signing your check says you are to wear plain brown slacks and no sneakers, and you agreed to it when you signed the contract, then you wear what he tells you. Pretty clear cut the way I see it.
If abiding by a dress code makes one unable to safely perform the job then he should make way for someone who can.

[Gawain 0]

Like these guys don't have enough stress. I don't care if they sit in the dark control room in the buff.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Like these guys don't have enough stress. I don't care if they sit in the dark control room in the buff.

Since I know some that work in this job the mental image you just created in my mind will haunt me for months

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[Zing 2]

Giggle ... I'll never be able to talk with ATC again without wondering if this is one of the guys who wore a dress to work!

Zing Lurks

[jpjc2000 0]

The Managers WERE the most productive...the most productive in almost any business usually make very very poor managers...as they expect everyone to be like them!

[kallend 2,146]

Quote

Quote

Quote

Employers have every right to establish a dress code for their employees. That includes the FAA. Don't like the dress code at work? Try to get it changed or find another job.
However, what people wear on their own time is their business and nobody elses.

I don't think that pestering or otherwise distracting people engaged in such a vital public safety function as ATC is a good idea. Furthermore, I believe that such interference in the performance of their duties does not serve the public interest. Leaving them the hell alone does.

mh
.

Since when has enforcing workplace rules been considered "pestering"? If the man signing your check says you are to wear plain brown slacks and no sneakers, and you agreed to it when you signed the contract, then you wear what he tells you. Pretty clear cut the way I see it.
If abiding by a dress code makes one unable to safely perform the job then he should make way for someone who can.

Just because an organization CAN impose arbitrary rules on its employees doesn't mean that it's a good idea.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[willard 0]

Quote

Just because an organization CAN impose arbitrary rules on its employees doesn't mean that it's a good idea.

Whether you or I, or the employees for that matter, consider the dress code a good idea or not is irrelevant and a matter of opinion. The fact is there is a dress code and the employer chooses to enforce it. I have one where I work and signed a legal contract that includes an agreement to abide by that code, and I am sure you did the same where you work.

[kallend 2,146]

Quote

Quote

Just because an organization CAN impose arbitrary rules on its employees doesn't mean that it's a good idea.

Whether you or I, or the employees for that matter, consider the dress code a good idea or not is irrelevant and a matter of opinion. The fact is there is a dress code and the employer chooses to enforce it. I have one where I work and signed a legal contract that includes an agreement to abide by that code, and I am sure you did the same where you work.

There's a dress code for university faculty? Coulda fooled me.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[quade 4]

Quote

Blaming overzealous management of the FAA on the Republicans is taking it a bit far, don't you think?

Did I -say- Republicans? No. I called out two very specific individuals.

If you knew the history of the air traffic controllers and FAA you might understand a bit more.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[willard 0]

Quote

There's a dress code for university faculty? Coulda fooled me.

I don't know..is there? If you don't know I would suggest you find out before going to class wearing a dress that doesn't match your pumps.

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

If you knew the history of the air traffic controllers and FAA you might understand a bit more.

You mean like where I mentioned Reagan busting the ATC union, or Bush supporting the user fees for the FAA, perhaps?

If you knew that other people besides you know how to read as well, and actually know how to look up facts, you might understand a bit more.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[HeadCone 0]

Quote

The code was part of the new rules imposed in September after contract negotiations
broke down last summer. Since that breakdown, the FAA is enforcing things such as dress codes and a ban on all radios (including weather radios that warn of tornadoes) in towers.

It seems like the FAA is just getting childishly petty with the controllers. "You won't accept our terms? Well, your pants have too many wrinkles. Go home and change!"

As others have said, the controllers are stressed enough. They don't need this bullshit.

--Head

--
Turn off the internet! Join Citizens United Negating Technology For Life And People's Safety!

http://www.citizensunitednegatingtechnology.org/

[Zenister 0]

Quote

Quote

If an employee deals with the public on a face-to-face basis, then I don't have a problem with a dress code. If not, then then need to start cutting management headcount until there is enough work for the managers so they don't need to find idiotic ways to create work for themselves.

hear, hear, hear!!!

This is nothing but harassment!

Edit to add: I wouldn't care if ATCs showed up for work wearing pajamas and cowboy hats (like I saw at Microsoft once [true story!]) as long as they were good at their jobs.

because when it comes down to it PERFORMANCE defines PROFESSIONALISM, not PREJUDICE based on appearances.

amazing how many 'upper level managers' focus on things that have absolutely no bearing on the job or the product.

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.