Stupid Rules: Novelty Socks Are Banned

By Alex in Fashion on Feb 5, 2010 at 2:51 pm

Continuing the trend of posting about stupid rules, how about socks? Can you get into trouble for wearing novelty socks? Apparently so if you’re a paramedic for the North West Ambulance in the United Kingdom:

Uniformed staff have been barred from wearing socks with images of cartoon characters, jokes and garish patterns after bosses branded them "unprofessional".

The strict uniform policy, issued by North West Ambulance Service, also bans wrist watches, visible body piercing, excessive make-up and certain tattoos.

Staff have been warned they could be disciplined and ultimately even sacked if they flout the dress code which forms part of their terms of employment. However, the move have been condemned by critics who have dismissed the novelty sock ban as a step too far.

Link (Photo: ssoosay [Flickr])

What’s your experience with stupid rules?

Tags: North West Ambulance, novelty socks, stupid rules

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SharkMonkey
Feb 5th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Tough to take a pulse with no watch…
thelibrarianne
Feb 5th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Two words: Catholic school. We received an automatic detention if our shirts were not tucked in. Boys were allowed mustaches, but not beards. Girls were allowed to wear 3 inch heels, but no backless shoes. We would receive a letter grade deduction if we didn’t wear school colored-sweats to gym class. Ahh, the “best” days of our lives.
Skipweasel
Feb 5th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
My wife had this, before she was made redundant from the Job Centre – even though she worked behind she scenes and was never visible to the public she still had to adhere to a ridiculously strict dress code. Of course, it got forgotten within a few months – somewhere there had been a new manager who felt like flexing their muscles.
Andrea A
Feb 5th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
What’s the problem? Many employers enforce strict dress codes. It may seem silly, but it’s well within reason.
Skipweasel
Feb 5th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Er – how do you reconcile silly and within reason?
Tigra
Feb 5th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Im an Advanced Care Paramedic in Queensland, Australia (QAS) and its the same here. Facial hair was also banned a while ago as it might interfere in the miniscule chance that we have to done a CBR mask (you know, for the constant terrorist attacks.)

We are drilled to death in DRABC (with D being check for Danger)but if it is a dangerous situation requiring a CBR mask then we are not to proceed into the scene anyway.

Trainers tell us that we use the mask to get away if we detect a CBR insident, but that means that A) we have to have the mask with us already, B) the mask is already contaminated by then and C) if we detect it then we are already in it.
Tigra
Feb 5th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
The issue seems to be that businesses are now using fear or oh&s tactics in order to maintain a strict dress code that it would be against the law to enforce otherwise.
Marge
Feb 6th, 2010 at 4:20 am
The wristwatch thing is supposed to be for hygiene reasons. There’s nothing to stop you having a watch (nurses fob pinned to your top, clip watch on your jacket), just not a wristwatch.

Apart from the socks, that’s basically exactly the same dress code I have as a medical student.
mt
Feb 7th, 2010 at 12:33 am
i work in a hospital in the philippines.. under our white uniform, we can’t wear colored socks or underwear. we can’t wear dangling earrings, rings, necklaces or bracelets

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