Am I wrong to be annoyed about this workplace complaint?

[Anonymous]

I do some extra support work for my company during staffing shortages. It's essentially overtime, but it's much more flexible than a normal workday. When I'm doing support, I can dress casually, make my own hours, work weekends if I want, etc. Anyone is eligible to do it, and the whole point is to help keep things running.

So imagine my surprise when an unknown colleague apparently complained that I wasn't required to sit in on a meeting and instead was allowed to "leisurely stroll into work in jeans."

My boss called me into his office and told me I should have attended the meeting since I was there. I pushed back and said that I wasn't there in my normal capacity, everyone knows that, and if someone had a problem with it, he should have explained that. His response was basically, "I know that, but..."

At that point I said, "Am I correct or not? Because if you know that, then there shouldn't be a 'but.'" We went back and forth a little. My suspicion is that someone with some influence was behind the complaint, because otherwise I don't think this would have gotten any traction.

Now I'm annoyed. My wife says to let it go, but part of me wants to escalate it because I feel like I got called in and criticized for following an arrangement that management already approved. On the other hand, I don't know if this is worth ruffling feathers over.

Would you let it go or push back?

[Anonymous]

Let it go. You seriously want to complain above your boss about an outfit or a meeting you maybe should have gone to?

Have some perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let it go. You seriously want to complain above your boss about an outfit or a meeting you maybe should have gone to?

Have some perspective.

I understand that, but I also understand the value of the support I have been providing. No one is complaining that their workload is less because I’m there and not attending meetings during that time.

I guess I just want clarification on expectations, because attending meetings was never mentioned, as the purpose of the support is to lessen the workload, not sit in on unrelated meetings.

[Anonymous]

I suspect you're right that your boss was asked to carry the water on a message he didn't really believe in. Did he do it in the best way possible? Maybe, maybe not. But if there's not real consequence, I wouldn't sweat it.

But lesson learned for you. If you're in a work environment, you need to dress appropriately based on the expectations of that locations and time. Nobody cares if you're on some sort of special gig or whatever. If you're there during a time when other people are wearing suits, you wear a suit. Or your image suffers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect you're right that your boss was asked to carry the water on a message he didn't really believe in. Did he do it in the best way possible? Maybe, maybe not. But if there's not real consequence, I wouldn't sweat it.

But lesson learned for you. If you're in a work environment, you need to dress appropriately based on the expectations of that locations and time. Nobody cares if you're on some sort of special gig or whatever. If you're there during a time when other people are wearing suits, you wear a suit. Or your image suffers.

Got it. But it was managements decision to loosen the dress code for this to make it more attractive for people to pop in and offer support.

My main concerns are that I’m clearly being micromanaged by some colleague, and also, for clarification of the expectations when offering the support. I shouldn’t be called to task for doing exactly what I was told to do.

[Anonymous]

I would be annoyed and would try to root out the squealer and make them regret it.

[Anonymous]

Who complained? Worm it out of someone and talk to that person to explain that you were there in a support capacity.

I never dress down at work, OP, because I'm image conscious like that. But after that complaint, I would double down on the casualness, and tell others on those days that it's your support day. After a while, people should know from your dress what kind of day it is for you.

[Anonymous]

Tell your boss that the casual dress was to make the support role more attractive? Are they filling their support roles adequately? Shouldn't the sight of you in comfortable sweats make others want to volunteer as well? Aren't you HELPING here, by advertising the role?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Tell your boss that the casual dress was to make the support role more attractive? Are they filling their support roles adequately? Shouldn't the sight of you in comfortable sweats make others want to volunteer as well? Aren't you HELPING here, by advertising the role?

Right? And to be clear, I was in jeans and a button down with a belt and leather shoes, not sweatpants and sneakers.

[Anonymous]

It really depends who made the complaint - if it was someone in management, you have to tread more carefully, obviously.

I would ask your boss if you can literally wear a special polo shirt, hat, or lanyard that says "support team" to delineate.

I'd also be tempted to email the boss to clarify what the policy is but at this point that may backfire.

[Anonymous]

Huge let it go. You don't want to lose your job right now. Tread carefully.

[Anonymous]

I think you let it go but essentially ignore it and either continue the way you were, or stop doing this whole support thing since it’s too much fuss now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you let it go but essentially ignore it and either continue the way you were, or stop doing this whole support thing since it’s too much fuss now.

I’m feeling petty enough. Though, the extra cash was helping fund a future vacation, so I’ll miss out on the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you let it go but essentially ignore it and either continue the way you were, or stop doing this whole support thing since it’s too much fuss now.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you let it go but essentially ignore it and either continue the way you were, or stop doing this whole support thing since it’s too much fuss now.

OP again. You know what’s funny? Right after I was called in to have that chat, my boss found me and asked when I was planning to come in and offer support again. You can’t make this stuff up.