A Necktie

For years, men have struggled to knot their ties. Thy have wrestled with the weighty decisions of which tie to choose, which knot to select and whether to use a tie pin. Many men, I suspect, curse the day that a necktie was invented. It's a symbol of making an effort or belonging to a certain inner circle. There's a protocol to wearing a necktie, especially in the world of business.

There is a haulage firm in the UK which insists on it's truck drivers wearing a tie at all times. I feel sorry for them when I pass one of them on the motorway if it's 80F and they're in their cabin sweating away. The company actually encourages anyone who sees one of their drivers without a necktie whilst on duty, to report them. I know it's better than the dirty, string vest look which used to be all the rage.

The British have always been very keen on proper grooming in the workplace. Company representatives across the British Empire were still expected to be properly turned out. Standards had to be maintained, so there they all were in Singapore, Malaysia and India with a necktie firmly knotted in the tropical heat. I think they all had a permanent ring around their necks.

I remember sitting in my office one day when an announcement came over the tannoy to say that special permission was given for male members of staff to remove their ties, due to the excessive heat. My boss was the first to take advantage of this sudden break with formality. I never saw a necktie come off so fast. Recently, in the more modern industries of IT and advertising, the rules have been relaxed. There is a younger workforce who want a bit more creative freedom. Those nerdy guys in Silicon Valley in California probably started it all. They even work in tee shirts!

Many companies have dress down Friday. It's supposed to be a generous indulgence given to the staff as a reward for their hard work. It's also supposed to create a feeling of well-being and liberty. I think a boring tedious job is a boring tedious job whether you're wearing a necktie or a pair of pajamas.

There is a trend for novelty ties these days and my children bought my husband a necktie with pictures of Homer Simpson on it. He loved it and wore it to the office, much to the annoyance of his boss. He didn't actually tell him not to wear it again but his disapproving look said it all.

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