3 ms·

How about when you're actually in the White House to meet the president you wear a suit, but when you're at your desk in some other building (aka: not the WH) y

by hugs 12y ago

How about when you're actually in the White House to meet the president you wear a suit, but when you're at your desk in some other building (aka: not the WH) you don't. That was our policy last year on the hc.gov turn-around: Bring a suit (just in case!), but don't plan on wearing it everyday.

smacktoward 12y ago
Good idea. It tracks with my experience working on the Hill years ago, too -- business casual (maybe with a tie) was fine in the House & Senate office buildings, but if you were going to the Capitol, you put on a suit. True story: I worked for a while in the office of a Midwestern Senator who felt very strongly about this rule. He'd actually fired people in the past over it, apparently. But at one point my boss (his communications director) needed someone to help with a press conference he was holding in the Capitol, and I, who was not wearing a suit, was the only one available. My boss decided I would do because the Senator wasn't going to be at this particular press conference, so he'd never know. So off we go to the Capitol. Then, halfway through the press conference, the Senator ambles into the room, unannounced and unexpected. My boss' faces turns white as he realizes that if the Senator realizes I'm from his office -- I was too far down the totem pole for him to recognize me immediately, thank God -- we're both screwed. So to protect us both, he does the only thing he can do: he physically grabs me, pushes me into a wiring closet, and closes the door. This was surprising, but at least I was smart enough to stay in there and keep quiet until he opened the door and let me know the coast was clear...
eastbayjake 12y ago
That seems like a reasonable compromise. Where are the 18F and US Digital Service offices? I'd imagine you could be more low-key at some nondescript office park in Bethesda versus working in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building or some other all-suits federal agency HQ in the center of the city.
- greggersh 12y ago
  18F is at GSA headquarters (1800 F St NW); USDS is across the street from the White House, next to the White House Conference Center on Lafayette Square. GSA has a very reasonable informal dress code. Khakis and button down shirt would not at all be out of place; shorts would stand out. A big part of this job is interfacing with other government agencies, which means you're going to visit their offices.

by hugs 12y ago

smacktoward 12y ago

Good idea. It tracks with my experience working on the Hill years ago, too -- business casual (maybe with a tie) was fine in the House & Senate office buildings, but if you were going to the Capitol, you put on a suit. True story: I worked for a while in the office of a Midwestern Senator who felt very strongly about this rule. He'd actually fired people in the past over it, apparently. But at one point my boss (his communications director) needed someone to help with a press conference he was holding in the Capitol, and I, who was not wearing a suit, was the only one available. My boss decided I would do because the Senator wasn't going to be at this particular press conference, so he'd never know. So off we go to the Capitol. Then, halfway through the press conference, the Senator ambles into the room, unannounced and unexpected. My boss' faces turns white as he realizes that if the Senator realizes I'm from his office -- I was too far down the totem pole for him to recognize me immediately, thank God -- we're both screwed. So to protect us both, he does the only thing he can do: he physically grabs me, pushes me into a wiring closet, and closes the door. This was surprising, but at least I was smart enough to stay in there and keep quiet until he opened the door and let me know the coast was clear...

eastbayjake 12y ago

That seems like a reasonable compromise. Where are the 18F and US Digital Service offices? I'd imagine you could be more low-key at some nondescript office park in Bethesda versus working in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building or some other all-suits federal agency HQ in the center of the city.

greggersh 12y ago
18F is at GSA headquarters (1800 F St NW); USDS is across the street from the White House, next to the White House Conference Center on Lafayette Square. GSA has a very reasonable informal dress code. Khakis and button down shirt would not at all be out of place; shorts would stand out. A big part of this job is interfacing with other government agencies, which means you're going to visit their offices.