So, I’m reading this story about an Obama supporter being told to take off his shirt while working at Sams Club. Even as an Obama supporter myself, I would have to agree with that. I seems to me to be quite obvious that you don’t go into work in a t-shirt with a huge picture of Obama on it. This story has gotten enough attention but I was a little curious to see how others out there feel. The dress code doesn’t even allow for such a shirt to be worn. I don’t think this breaks down to race, even though this did happen in Jacksonville, FL. I have been there before and I never seen any employees walking around in t-shirts with former President Bush’s face on it. I’m all for expression of ones ideas and opinions, but rules are rules. Plus it’s a real turn off for those who don’t like Obama. I mean if I walked into some store and saw an employee with a George Bush t-shirt, that would really turn me off and I’d probably never visit that store. Also, its probably best that politics stay out of the work place. Anyways, heres the report,
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville man who chose to show his support for the new president by wearing a shirt with President Barack Obama’s picture has found himself in the middle of a T-shirt controversy.
Shane Rhiles said he wore an Obama shirt to work at a Westside Sam’s Club on Monday, but was told by a supervisor to take it off.”Basically, she said, ‘Take the shirt off or go home,” Rhiles said.The T-shirt pays tribute to America’s new leader with a simple portrait of Obama. However, Rhiles said something about the shirt got him in hot water at work.He said a supervisor told him a customer didn’t like it, and she told him to change.”I was like, ‘Is it that serious?’ She was like, ‘Yes, because we don’t need any problems.’ I was like, ‘Well he’s the 44th president of the United States of America,” Rhiles said.Rhiles said he was surprised at the order because the T-shirt doesn’t say anything offensive, and he said it’s just one of the shirts, books and other things he owns saluting the country’s new leader.”He’s our president — the first black president. This is an accomplishment for many people, so I didn’t want to take the shift off and I wasn’t going to take the shirt off,” Rhiles said.He said he bought another shirt and wore it over the Obama T-shirt, but he also looked up the company’s policy.According to the Sam’s Club dress code, clothes must be neat, clean and without holes or ragged edges, clothes must fit well and not be too tight and pants must fit properly.One thing specified about T-shirts in the store’s dress code is that “associates may wear solid color T-shirts and denim shirts with logos as long as they do not contain messages that are offensive, crude or otherwise inappropriate.”"His face is not offensive, to me, I don’t know if they may have a problem with it, but I think if you have a problem with his face, you need to reevaluate yourself because he’s our president,” Rhiles said.Many of the Sam’s Club customer with whom Channel 4 reporter Dan Leveton spoke said they would not have a problem with the T-shirt.”I’d say to each his own. I mean heck, he’s our president now,” said one customer.”It wouldn’t bother me. Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion. I mean we can’t all have the same opinion,” said another customer.Rhiles said he just wants his employers to allow him to wear his Obama shirt.”I want them to let me be proud. I’m very proud and very happy,” Rhiles said.A representative at Sam’s Club’s corporate office said the dress policy states employees can wear a solid shirt with the store’s logo.Rhiles said he was never told that, and Leveton reported that when he entered the store he saw employees wearing a lot of different shirts under their Sam’s Club vests.
Agreed. I’m sick of all this ‘loudness’ about who people favor. I support Obama, but seriously… I don’t care what you think or what your shirt says. This election has made me hate people who think their opinion is the only right one. Same goes with religion, I can’t stand it anymore. I’m glad this dude was told to take his shirt off… Again, we don’t care if you love Obama, shut up.
Seriously, some people think they can do whatever they want, but there is a reason there is a dress code in places of business. This is a non-story that the local media will make into a huge deal.
I think that he is following whatever the policy outlines. Therefore, it should not be a problem. Speaking as someone who has a sister that worked for Sams Club, the company is pretty cool when it comes to the dress code. I personally would not where our president on my chest. Yet, that is not my freedom of expression it is his.
If I had a place of business for the general public, keeping politics out of sight would be a nobrainer. It’s like blasting music so loud that people next to you in their car that you can not help from being lambasted with it even with their windows rolled up. Well, maybe not quite like that.
It’s totally appropriate to have your opinions, but it should not be “so in your face and if you don’t like it too bad” when your an employee.
I love talking to people with radically different views as long as they don’t put me down with them. Having different opinions and world views is what makes America. Everything kind of changes when you are an employee however. This guy certainly wasn’t in anyone’s face with his opinion, but at the same time it still was offensive. Thus the reason I’m sure for the dress code rule of only having solid colors.
If you want to be technical, you kind of have to go with what the dress code states. According to the dress code it does state only solid color. The shirt is not in compliance with their dress code. It does seem like dress code was not handled appropriately at other times according to what the young man said in that others were wearing other shirts under their vests being somewhat visible that did not comply to dress code as well and since nobody complained it was not an issue. However, as soon as someone complained it came down to what the dress code states. Of course to make it show like they are not being biased, they need to enforce the dress code broadly to everything that everyone is wearing even if it’s only slightly visible. It wouldn’t have been a big deal if there wasn’t a dress code in place stipulating solid colors.
I would imagine many people are proud of Obama being the President, but that is not the issue at hand. It has to do with dress codes as an employee.
Anyone giving this much attention, is probably a bit too defensive and would probably see it differently if like what Yilian said someone wore a political shirt at a place of business they disagreed with.
I would think any business would stay away from politics. If I walked into a place of to spend my money and they openly advocated Bush at the time he was in office I would walk right out.
It’s pretty simple. You give up some freedom of expression when you’re on the clock. Your employer is presenting itself to the world, and you are the face of that employer. They absolutely can dictate a dress code while on the job. If you don’t like it, you’re free to work elsewhere.
Hi!
maybe that person is fanatic fans of Obama. I agree that you should put aside your political preference when you come to work.
See you around.