Autism and Issues with workplace dress code

I've once gone through closet-changing issues just for the office. In the beginning, I thought that it will be a disaster but I learned to make the most out of it. I decided not to spend all of my budget just for new office looks but to use what I have in my closet with some small new additions. I used [removed by Mod] for my online shopping and I tried to buy just the most important clothes. If you need some help with this, let me know and I'll help you. And don't worry, with a little bit of inspiration and a keen eye for details, your looks will be as required but with not a lot of trouble.

This is exactly what it feels like to me.

today I sweat so much my shirt turned see through. I had to change half way through the day. 

When I’m uncomfortable I sweat and it affects my concentration. 

I eneded up buying a polo shirt and wearing it under a jumper.

It can be hard to explain but it like kryptonite to me. It drains me. There is no other way I can put it.
It good to see that I am not only one with this issue and it not me making this stuff up.

There was no consultation with employees. I have heard a few of them speaking and they hate it. 

I wonder what consultation your employer has made with the employees about this.

It is very difficult to argue with the decision of an employer, but there should always be some sort of consultation as to how the employees think about this.  This is after all a change in the terms and conditions of employment, and one which could involve you in considerable expense (both in buying a suit for workplace use and in keeping it looking smart). 

There are people who will be able to look untidy in whatever they wear, whether it is a suit or not, and not in a deliberate manner.  Likewise 'casual' clothing can look very tidy, and in my opinion it would be better for your employer to say that what you wear should be tidy and clean rather than impose a 'uniform' or 'corporate identity' on its employees seemingly at the expense of the employee.

I try to look tidy at work, where I work we are not required to dress in a corporate way  Unless it is a particularly formal occasion I never wear a suit.  I find a bow-tie far more practical than a normal tie, it doesn't get caught in things, or dangle into my cup of tea.  It also expresses my individuality and most people would have no idea how to tie a bow tie.  But others very rarely wear any sort of tie in my workplace.

The only reason they have for the change was they have a vision.

The good thing is they realised how irritating this is to me today as they noticed my stats go down and allowed me to relax a bit. All I have to wear are the trousers (Which I still find  restrictive but bareable)

After they allowed me to relax I beat all my targets.

I’m exactly the same!  I’ve always had issues with clothes, and dressing smart and feeling restricted and uncomfortable can literally leave me unable to focus or do anything.  I can sit completely motionless for hours because I’m physically too uncomfortable to move, and I can’t think about anything other than how uncomfortable I am. 

I’ve had difficulties in the past with employers telling me I need to dress smarter, and to stop rotating the same two tops throughout the week and buy some more or lose my job, etc.  

I don’t have any advice I’m afraid, but following with interest.  Maybe contact access to work as they can discuss what you would like as reasonable adjustments? 

I wonder why your employer is moving from casual to formal in dress code if nothing else has changed about the work you do.  Have they given reasons?

I used to work in an office at a law courts - a very strict and formal place, as you might imagine - and as part of my job I had to deal every day with members of the public.  When I started there, all the men wore either suits or formal jackets and trousers - and shirt and tie was the norm.  However, over time, staff increasingly asked if clothing could become less formal and restrictive.  It was a bit of a gender issue, too, as women were allowed to wear less formal clothing (at the time, F C U K clothing was the fashion, and several women wore those tops - which even I didn't think was appropriate when dealing with members of the public!)  In the end, management decided that it would be alright for everyone.  Men could wear casual shirts or polo shirts, just as long as they had a collar.  Black jeans were also accepted.  It made no difference to the work we did.  If anything, it improved matters as people felt more comfortable.  I liked wearing a suit, but I preferred looser clothing.  I still occasionally wore my suit, but it was nice now to have a choice.

What do other staff think of this move?  Presumably, some of them are going to have to fork out for a new wardrobe, which won't please them - unless your employer is prepared to subsidise it, which only seems reasonable to me.

As they have your diagnosis, I think you have every right to tell them that this change won't suit you (sorry for the pun!) and that they should make some allowances for you.  If they refuse, it could be classed as discrimination.  It's not as if, from the sounds of it, the dress code is an essential aspect of doing your job.

Some employers are more flexible than others.  I recently went for a job at a local FE college, where I was told I could wear pretty much what I liked (hoodies, trainers, t-shirts) - but not jeans.  I only have jeans, so asked if black jeans were okay.  They said yes to those.  They just didn't want to see any blue denim.  Strangely, though, you could wear a blue denim shirt if you wanted!