Single, No Chaser.

Does dressing down equal growing up? October 31, 2008

I asked my boss if I had to behave like a grown-up today.

He said yes.

I half-heartedly grumbled at him, and he laughed.  At least we get along well, and I know that he’s watching out for me.

So.  Ever since I’ve had an office job, I’ve dressed up for Halloween.  I figured it was my escape from corporate drudgery for one day out of the year.  Anyone who knows me could tell you that Halloween is, and has always been, my favorite holiday.  The Count on Sesame Street was my favorite Muppet – even though I’ve always hated math.  I’m just that kind of girl.

I dressed up the first year I worked at my company (that’s me, below, as Medusa).  I was the only one who did and no, that didn’t bother me.

As Medusa in 2006

Apparently, however, someone in corporate was taken aback.  My boss asked me very nicely last year not to dress up.  I wore a shirt with jack-o-laterns on it instead and had people asking me all day why I wasn’t in costume.

I really wasn’t planning on it this year, but I couldn’t resist asking.  I wasn’t really surprised that (1) my boss knew what I was talking about and (2) said no.

It’s not that I deal with customers – my company manufactures products that go directly to distributors, and go to market from there.  It’s the corporate culture.

One of my co-workers is took the day off  to keep his children out of school, as his family does not do Halloween at all.  They think it’s evil.  He had no problem getting the time off for that very reason.  I know a lot of people share that view – sometimes I just don’t care.

Part of me knows that it’s not very grown-up, and certainly not very professional, to pretend to be someone else for a day.  But, really, what’s the harm?  I’ve always been careful to select costumes that were neither explicit nor revealing.  I’ve always brought candy in so people can trick-or-treat my desk (and I am talking chocolate here). I bring in fun little decorations for my office.  I still get work done – it just adds a little fun to the day.

I know it’s in my best interest to tone it down.  But part of me hates to give it up.