Dear Colette,
My company thinks it’s fun to dress up on Halloween. I, on the other hand, have no interest in doing so and don’t want to. However, I’m afraid I’ll be looked at as not being a team player or harassed that day if I don’t. What should I do?
– Not Into It
Dear Not Into It,
I need you to know upfront you’re asking a biased person when it comes to Halloween as I love to dress up. Keep in mind it all started in college when our campus went over the top with creative, home-made Halloween costumes that looked like a small Mardi-Gras. I’m even dressing up next week myself, but having said that…..
When we’re asked to do something that makes us uncomfortable, we have to look at the price we’ll pay for being true to ourselves rather than sucking it up and making it happen.
Rather than solely consider your co-workers, what does the C-suite think about this practice? Will they be dressed up as well? If it’s a smaller office, will the boss show his/her Halloween spirit? If people at the top dress up, it couldn’t hurt to play along. No one enjoys a buzz kill. At a minimum, be creative: –Wear a professional suit to work and when people ask who you are, name a local figure or newscaster or simply say, “A business person” or whatever your title. –Wear a dressy outfit, slap a card around your neck that says, “I’m sorry” and when people ask, tell them you’re a Formal Apology. –Wear a suit, stick a stuffed monkey on your shoulder, carry a banana and say you’re “Monkey Business” –Slap on a sweat suit, running shoes and grab a toy microphone. Who are you? “Band on the Run.”
Either way, wear a smile. That’s the best costume of all.
