From India, Madras
Things can be sorted out by meeting the people. You know that since you already worked for six years in HR. Have an appointment with top person in HR Department and meet with printouts of the replies posted here. He/She may understand your problem and change the policy also.
Regards,
Muthu Krishnan
From India, Bangalore
From India, Mumbai
Pallavi, I sincerely request you to put this matter to your higher mgnt instead wasting your time here to clarify your point…
Best of luck!!!
From India, Mumbai
From India, Madras
I have noted all earlier posts, some from our learned and senior friends too.
In this case I am with you, and I can see your viewpoint, whereas others are missing it completely.
Please don't get disheartened when you find yourself alone. remember there have been many like Galileo and Copernicus who differed with the majority and for whom Tagore wrote, "Ekla cholo re".
Coming to the issue, Let us examine each option :
Trousers-shirt :
(-) Yes, its a western dress.
(-) Many Indian women do not feel comfortable in it; because -
- It suits females with good figure, whereas Indians are generally fatter and shorter.
- Since it accentuates the female figure, orthodox families may not like it.
(-) It is very expensive and generally available in branded showrooms. Average cost is upwards of Rs. 3000.
(-)The neighbourhood tailor can't stitch it, hence, one is forced to buy branded dress.
A set of dress for daily office use would cost at least 18 to 20 thousand rupees.
Sari :
(+) It is a typical Indian dress.
(+) It is very graceful and formal.
(-) Good sarees can be very expensive.
(-) It hinders motion, so its inconvenient, especially when women have to move around fast on streets, to catch public transport, boarding or lighting from buses or trains etc.
(-) Since, it is open from below, it feels insecure as women always have the fear of insects or rats climbing up their legs.
(-) It feels hot and uncomfortable when worn for a long time.
(-) In plant and factories, women are not allowed to wear sarees for safety reason.
Salwar Kurta :
(+) Like sarees, its an Indian dress.
(+) A colour co-ordinated salwar kurta looks formal and graceful; and suitable for office wear.
(+) It is very comfortable.
(+) Unlike sarees, it covers the whole body.
(+) It is very economical and is availabe in a wide range of prices to suit every budget, and any neighbourhood tailor can stitch it at nominla rate.
(+) Unlike trousers, it does not demand proper ironing every time, and maintains its shape longer till late evening.
(+) It offers more economy and flexibility by color co-ordination of its three components - salwar, kurta and chunni.
It is surprising that your company allows Sarees as office dress but not Salwar Kurta, as generally the opposite is the case, esp. in manufacturing organization, as sarees pose a safety hazard as well.
Whereas trouser-shirt and saree represent the two extremes, salwar-kurta represents the practical middle-path.
Please persist in your efforts and let management see reason instead of imposing its autocratic non-sensical and whimsical wish forcibly on female employees.
Regards.
From India, Delhi
It seems that you are the only one who is facing problem in following the dress code policy.
I belive that your HR have a understanding regarding the problems due to the dress code , Because they had come up with the option in that. It is flexible and good.
One more thing You should not use FEMALES EMPLOYEES as you are the only one who is facing problem.
AS you said you faced some problem. And I am sure that problem was not because of your outfit...
See When you are welling to adopt the change then there are wayouts, you have to adopt change first.
You can ask to your HR and your dept. to allow you to leave early on Monday so that the same problem will not arise again.
N tell me why after Six years you changed the dept. ??????
From India, Mumbai
Thank you for your comment. In fact, you have chosen the right option. It's always easy to convince ourselves than others. Nice to meet you here.
Pallavi: I hope you got enough suggestions from all sides and made up you mind.
Sunny Mathew
From Qatar
I doubt you were in HR for 6 Years. I would say this is an attitude issue. If wearing of saree becomes safety issue then when you would be wearing revealing clothes are going to discotheque, that time safety does not come to your mind. If wearing of suits will not be entertained at your home then its your personal issue not a global issue. So take this matter with your parents and sort out.
I could understand your situation. I would probably ask you to prepare a consensus report that most of the female ( at least 80%) employees are not comfortable with saree as you guys work at late hours. So A genuine HR will never take this personally to mark you down during appraisal. However, as human madness is endless, IF your HR acts contrary, you should ask your co's to speak up and express their concerns to your senior operations manager. Be relax first and decide the best opt for you.
Have a good day,
Srinivas.
From India, Madras