Inappropriate attire for work

[p.dath]

I work in the IT field, and travel from customer premise to customer premise quite a bit. About half the time I don't need to take any "freight" bigger than what can fit in a back pack, so I ride my motorbike.
I have a work uniform, and wear Cordura pants over the top of my dress pants, and a leather jacket over the top of my shirt (just a t-shirt at the moment as getting a bit warm in my leather jacket). My work uniform is all nicely logo'd, clean, and I think pretty presentable.

Typically when I get to a customer site I just take the cordura and jacket off, and stash them in a corner somewhere, along with the helmet and gloves.

Well blow me down, for the first time in 10 years, I had someone complain at my office that my "attire" was not suitable for their workplace. A site I've been to half a dozen times before. They implied they had a problem with the look of my motorcycle gear.

I told the client the motorcycle provides a greener alternative for using a larger vehicle like a car to transport such a small load (being me), and that the gear I wear is for my personal protection and safety.

I also told them I would not be changing my safety gear. And I'll interpret their decision by weather they call to book further jobs or not.


Really. Some people do have a personal perception issue.

[slofox]

Yerrrrr....ya get that...

[puddytat]

You'dve been O.K if you had had a tie on....those ones with the elastic.
Some people are just plain anal.

[Fatt Max]

Does happen that,

It's just people, let them get on with it matey

[DarkLord]

Part of my job as an Outbound Sales Rep involves traveling to meet clients. I always take the bike as I have no other way to get there. No one has complained about it yet, in fact some seem to prefer it.

I'm not going to get a car just to make them happy.

[Mom]

:lol: I just read the tags. I guess if you have been pinged for it you need to take some steps to ensure that you meet and exceed the clients expectation next time.

[p.dath]

:lol: I just read the tags. I guess if you have been pinged for it you need to take some steps to ensure that you meet and exceed the clients expectation next time.

If they have a perception issue about my attire then that is their personal issue. I wont return unless I am accepted as I am. I wont be changing for other people.

[cowpatz]

Why are they complaining about your attire when you say you take the jacket and Cordura off and presumably have your uniform on underneath? Cant see an issue with this in the workplace.

[CookMySock]

I also told them I would not be changing my safety gear. And I'll interpret their decision by weather they call to book further jobs or not.Yeah I reckon mate. Good on you for standing up for yourself, and LUCKY you being in a position to be able to.

Steve

[Mom]

I wont be changing for other people.

You sound like the optician I have been a client of for the past 30 years that I gave the HUGE flick to on Monday :D Inflexible, set attitudes will cost you dearly, trust me on this.

Still it is only one client eh?

[YellowDog]

You sound like the optician I have been a client of for the past 30 years that I gave the HUGE flick to on Monday :D Inflexible, set attitudes will cost you dearly, trust me on this.

Still it is only one client eh?
He fixed your sight and you can now see how ugly he is :)

[JimO]

tell them to fuck off and next time they have a problem call someone else

[YellowDog]

I work in the IT field, and travel from customer premise to customer premise quite a bit. About half the time I don't need to take any "freight" bigger than what can fit in a back pack, so I ride my motorbike.
I have a work uniform, and wear Cordura pants over the top of my dress pants, and a leather jacket over the top of my shirt (just a t-shirt at the moment as getting a bit warm in my leather jacket). My work uniform is all nicely logo'd, clean, and I think pretty presentable.

Typically when I get to a customer site I just take the cordura and jacket off, and stash them in a corner somewhere, along with the helmet and gloves.

Well blow me down, for the first time in 10 years, I had someone complain at my office that my "attire" was not suitable for their workplace. A site I've been to half a dozen times before. They implied they had a problem with the look of my motorcycle gear.

I told the client the motorcycle provides a greener alternative for using a larger vehicle like a car to transport such a small load (being me), and that the gear I wear is for my personal protection and safety.

I also told them I would not be changing my safety gear. And I'll interpret their decision by weather they call to book further jobs or not.


Really. Some people do have a personal perception issue.
Honest truly, you should wear appropriate attire however I doubt that it is your attire that is the problem.

I had a similar issue a couple of years back. I was wearing a business suit and always well presented for meetings however it was the image thing and changing in and out of leathers that was the problem with one senior member only.

[vifferman]

I used to work for a fairly conservative software company. It amused the hell out of some people there when I turned up all dressed in leathers and miraculously transformed into conservatively-attired cubicle drone.

Current employer is much more casual (although head orofoce isn't) so I wear whatever I like.

Got shit from the owners on the first day in the building though, when I considerately parked in a non park (to save full-sized parks for car drivers) right outside the entrance. Now I park wherever the hell I feel like.

However (but!) the important thing to remember when you're on a client's site is you're representing your employer, not yourself, so what you think or feel doesn't matter. I always bear that in mind, regardless of personal feelings.

[Oakie]

Might have been the bike parked outside their place that they objected to. I've struck that before when dropping off my daughter at her work on the bike.

[Firefight]

.

However (but!) the important thing to remember when you're on a client's site is you're representing your employer, not yourself, so what you think or feel doesn't matter. I always bear that in mind, regardless of personal feelings.[/QUOTE]





not debating the right or wrong of this, but yes this is a very valid point

and should be considered.


F/F

[scracha]

Really. Some people do have a personal perception issue.

They're the paying customer. If they expect you to turn up wearing a suit, tie and dress shoes instead of a leather jacket and boots (or even request you turn up in a clown outfit) then that's their prerogative. If you don't want to meet their requirements or simply can't then its your prerogative. What's the problem?

Apologise, get a set of Givi hard panniers or arrive at this customer in a car and you'd be sorted. Remember to charge them a hell of a lot extra travelling & parking time though. Otherwise if you've got shitloads of happy customers, then indeed thank this customer for their time and suggest they get themselves another suit wearing monkey.

I kinda take your point about perception though. Sometimes I find this country very conservative with a 1980's view of motorcyclists though.



ps. dunno what IT you do but I carry an SUV load of $hit with me and still find I've not got the parts I need half the time.

[Mom]

He fixed your sight and you can now see how ugly he is :)

Not quite. He has always been a challenge for me on the attractiveness scale :D

It was more about his attitude to a good client, in fact I actually said to him something along the lines of, well *name removed* please disregard my letter informing you the reasons I have taken my business elsewhere, I only wrote it so you knew what your staff were saying to your clients. It is your business afterall. If they are telling you it never happened and you believe what they are saying, that makes me the liar. Good luck to you!

Simple fact for sucess no matter whether you are an employee trying to impress your boss, or a business owner wanting to retain his customers, or a boss that wants to keep good staff, or a....

Exceed peoples expectations, dont simply say...."get fucked" I am doing it this way/wearing what I like. Earn a bit of respect and then bend them rules :sunny:

[caseye]

p-dath, I can't remember the time I've actually agreed with something you've posted, but this time I do.
I've travelled the entire North Island representing the few companies I've worked for, I too used to take the bike ( way back in the dark ages, 1980's) naturally with my employers permission and blessing as back then it definitely cost far less to operate a bike than the co car.
I never once encountered this sort of attitude and in fact constantly got told, what a great idea.
It is the attitude that needs to change, you were/are doing your emplyers a favour and if they'd only acknowledge it your clients. You are there faster, sooner and better mentally able to deal with their problems.
I can say confidently that had I encountered such an attitude I'd have deal't with it pretty much the same way knowing my employers would back my call.
Course I was a relatively good salesman and could afford to lose the odd oddball client.
While it is always advisable to try to please/placate your clients on occassion their whinging can be less than tolerable.
I'm in the camp of, if they don't like it, call someone else.

[sunhuntin]

I
However (but!) the important thing to remember when you're on a client's site is you're representing your employer, not yourself, so what you think or feel doesn't matter. I always bear that in mind, regardless of personal feelings.

same goes for work uniforms. i refuse to ride showing my uniform simply for the fact that i will then be representing the business, and some of my actions while riding may come back to bite me on the ass. i can count on one hand the number of times i have ridden in uniform, and all times were while at bp and commuting between sites for whatever reason.

[ynot slow]

I went for an interview in Napier today,had been organised,and she who needs to be obeyed had her appointment with car.So on with leathers and take the bike,not the best attire for management position granted.When I arrived I explained my attire,HR lady said no problem,glad you made the effort from Palmy.And also asked how the ride went,and a nice day to cruise.She said clothes to her mean "jack shit"it's how you present your ideas,obviously when you work with us we expect proper clothes under riding gear,or change at work.

[TerminalAddict]

role on summer when we bust out the board shorts and singlets in our office. (I must work for a different type of IT :) )

Had a guy today (loud shirt day) wear his fluffy purple three piece suit, with walking cane and high top shoes, and a purple top hat.

I wore my electronic "wifi" t-shirt

[mynameis]

Well tell them to pay your Taxi fare or shut up, problem solved.

[Drunken Monkey]

Yes, interesting position. As an IT team/operations manager, my (and the co. I work for) policy is effectively "wear the co. uniform OR at least dress to the standard of the customer". This means the co. shirt and/or co. polo and plain business trouser (I cheat and wear cargos) at a minimum. We have some accountant and lawyer customers to which we wear (and I enforce) this standard, as opposed to shirt + tie or suit (which would be that customer's standard). No complaints there. Most of my accounts are in construction, manufacturing or transport/logistics, so even our minimum is fine. Wear jeans regularly, as do most of my customers, but again, that's because it's acceptable for them, rather than specifically for us as an outsourcer.

If I were your manager, I'd probably pass a word to the customer it's in their best interest to let it slide, being a (former) biker myself, but other managers wouldn't be so lenient. In saying that, 2 years ago we were so busy we were telling troublesome customers to find new vendors, these days we take what we can get, to the point that the sales team are bringing on customers I'd normally tell to (proverbially) fuck off, so who knows, the GM might override my leniency on you and enforce a different clothing standard.

Erm, did any of that make sense? I think I've had too much to drink...

[Mystic13]

lol. You think that's bad. I have a business that distributes product for another business (Business A). A new manager arrives from New Plymouth at business A and is disgusted by the attire of the his own delivery people. Neatly dressed with dress shirts and pants. Completely unacceptable. He insists they all wear ties. They were all upset and explained they'd never heard of delivery people wearing ties.

This character insists that's the way it's done in New Plymouth and the rest of NZ and he needed to deal with this Auckland attitude. New ties appeared all round and slowly disappeared over the next 12 months. The twat also dropped his tie.

The winner for me was when even though I own my business and employ people he advised me that he felt my hair length was inappropriate and he felt that I too should wear a tie when calling into his business because he didn't want his delivery people getting the wrong idea.

My first thought was he was joking but no New Plymouth man was deadly serious. My second thought is "what?, are you going to ensure every person your delivery people come into contact with are sanitised to the New Plymouth model."

I doubt this is a New Plymouth thing just a twat trying to stamp his authority in a ludicrous manner.

There are some nutters out there. But in your case. These people are the clients. So the decision is do you want them or not.

You could always de-gear outside or a bit back from the building. Throw it in a black plastic bag and cart that in. I would check what they have a problem with. They may not appreciate your gear dropped in a corner.

Here's me thinking they would be more focused on whether you did the job well or not.

[Mumbles]

I work in the IT field,

You said it all in that first sentence.... I’m Living in Palmy and from what I've seen of the IT guys around here your whole arguments mute…. You see IT and respectable/professional dress just don’t work for me! :girlfight:
IT and dress codes however do … IT guy wearing trench coats long haired no time for a shower slight BO with morning Red-bull breath being the the dress code… cause I’ve been playing online with my buddys in _____ (insert their country here)
Ok I went off what I was thinking but the long and the short of it has sort of been along the lines of... most Co don’t care what you look like, what you smell like as long as :mad:YOU fix my fkcun computer! Find my lost files and most importantly show me how to protect or backup all of my porn!:angry2: If you doing your job right treating the customer as what they are, important to your job security (lets face it if we didn’t do this sort of :brick:stupid stuff that’s real easy/hard to fix then you’d more than likely be out of a job.
Ok its late what was I thinking…. Yeah man don’t over think it that’s their job!
(P.S this isn’t a dig as such just an observation and yes I can’t wait for all the :wacko: Palmy Jokes to roll in)

[mstriumph]

i'm doing some work for a family company at the moment

they are exclusive brethren

i have to wear a long skirt, cover my arms and be demure ...

not me, true - but they are paying me and, as far as i'm concerned, if they want to impose a workplace dress code they have a right to do so...

just as i have a right to accept it or walk away

[Askelon]

man thats funny shit.. I run around on my bike for IT work all day, every day.. Never once had a complaint - I dont exactly dress to impress, but I dont dress like a slob either.. Oh and I have long hair to boot. Then again I try not to get the stuffy up themselves type customers - advantage to being your own boss, dont like a customer, give them the phone number for an idiot down the road that charges half the price.. :)

[sinfull]

Did he go to bed ????

[SMOKEU]

Tell them to get fucked mate, there is no need for this kind of discrimination. Those people can't tell you what you can and can't wear, you can show up wearing a turban on your head if you want. Arabs choose to wear turbans because of their beliefs, and bikers choose to wear leathers for our beliefs. It's not really and different is it?

[StoneY]

i'm doing some work for a family company at the moment

they are exclusive brethren

i have to wear a long skirt, cover my arms and be demure ...

not me, true - but they are paying me and, as far as i'm concerned, if they want to impose a workplace dress code they have a right to do so...

just as i have a right to accept it or walk away

Be demure?
Thats outright discrimination- bet the menfolk do not have to 'be demure'
Couldnt pay me enough to accept that bullshit

[Bronson]

Tell them to get fucked mate, there is no need for this kind of discrimination. Those people can't tell you what you can and can't wear, you can show up wearing a turban on your head if you want. Arabs choose to wear turbans because of their beliefs, and bikers choose to wear leathers for our beliefs. It's not really and different is it?

Damn straight! The asshole probably wants a bike but his missus won't let him so he's dog on anyone who has one.

[StoneY]

If they have a perception issue about my attire then that is their personal issue. I wont return unless I am accepted as I am. I wont be changing for other people.

While I agree with your point on taking the bike and your green stand (i too work in IT as a Customer Support Coordinator and travel nationally) BUT in the IT world there are simply some clients who wish a higher level of presentation- and fair enough

I worked in a palmy warehouse all week training some clients and testing a rollout - jeans and t-shirt SWEET i win win win that week

Monday I am at MFAT- suit and tie needed big fuckin deal

If they said you need a haircut thats discrimination- if they say your atire is unsuitable thats thier privellege and to some extent your customer is always right, that is NOT a cliche its a business requisite in some factors and appearance is everything

I have 5 clients that are "Suit Only" and hence in thier cases I take the cage (where dress and freight allow -eg no suit and only the laptop i tak the bike)

Its a reallity of our trade PD buddy, some sites are just more 'upscale' than others and if you get offended being asked to dress up a little go find a new job as a builder or such where the suit will never get aired

What was the business anyway to put in persective this t-shirt issue- a warehouse- retail outlet - govt office- WINZ counter? What?

[scracha]

customers - advantage to being your own boss, dont like a customer, give them the phone number for an idiot down the road that charges half the price.. :)

Or if you REALLY don't like them, give the phone number for an idiot down the road that charges twice the price.

[p.dath]

...
What was the business anyway to put in persective this t-shirt issue- a warehouse- retail outlet - govt office- WINZ counter? What?

Government lobby group.

I've spoken to the company that did their previous work. They told me refused to do any further work for them because they were too hard to work with.

[Dodgyiti]

Been commuting between several companies on the bike for years. The only problem is winter rain. Turning up sopping wet is not a good look so as previously mentioned- hard luggage, strip off the squelchy gear before entering the site.
Because I worked in the environmental field it was as I said to them "Walking the walk" plus the cash payout for providing my own transport as opposed to a company car and combined with the $$ per Km I was really creaming it money wise, oh, and good for the environment too :lol:

[cowpatz]

same goes for work uniforms. i refuse to ride showing my uniform simply for the fact that i will then be representing the business, and some of my actions while riding may come back to bite me on the ass. i can count on one hand the number of times i have ridden in uniform, and all times were while at bp and commuting between sites for whatever reason.

Yeah but maybe wearing your French maid uniform and fishnets whilst riding your bike was an issue for everyone...........wow that paints a nice mental picture really.......:crazy:

I thought most IT geeks were renown for their bad taste in attire. They usually smell of last nights pizza, have long greasy hair and glasses held together with a band aid. Sort of a Wayne's world meets The Big Bang Theory type. It is unreasonable of this client to try to change that....shame on him.

[crazyhorse]

The last member of parliament here in HB rode a motorcycle. They used to have adds in the local paper - one with him in his suit and tie, the other standing next to his motorcycle in his leathers.

Jo Public has a perception of power and wealth, and it does not come from turning up to a job on a motorcycle, but arriving in a vehicle wearing a suit. This is a common misconception, but quite obvious if you think about it.

Clearly they see motorcycles as leather patched people, despite what you do for a job, or how much money is in your account.

Just a fact of life really. If you want a better customer relationship with this client of yours, you may need to conform when visiting their site. Unless business is booming for you. Then take the "who cares" attitude. That's what I'd do.

[StoneY]

Government lobby group.

I've spoken to the company that did their previous work. They told me refused to do any further work for them because they were too hard to work with.


Thats the wheel of commerce- decide- is their money WORTH the pain?

And would you really take a competitors word for it? They may have a vested interest in you turning this lobby group away so they can weazel back in- 2 sides of the coin son, maybe the other lot got binned for wearing boardies to the board room?

Bottom line- Do they pay the invoice on time?

If gettin on a collar and tie = pain you should change career right now dude coz thats NUTHIN, and a lobby groups tame by comparison to an actual departmental contract or a meeting with the board of Fujitsu etc

[Squiggles]

I wears Ripped jeans + hoody to work, what are these "standards" you speak of?

[MarkH]

If they have a perception issue about my attire then that is their personal issue. I wont return unless I am accepted as I am. I wont be changing for other people.

:2thumbsup
I work in IT also and have recently sold my car, after barely using it for a year.

I visit customers wearing black Dragin' Jeans, a denim shirt, shorty m/cycle boots & a Dainese Leather Jacket (plain black). When I arrive I remove my helmet & gloves and put them in my top box. If it is raining I also remove my rain pants and jam them in the top box.

I have only had the occasional comment about my attire (maybe 3 or 4 times) and it was the same comment in each case - "ooh, that's a nice jacket". These were customers in the clothing industry.

The only complaints I ever get are along the lines of: "my computer isn't working properly, can you fix it!". If some uptight twerp has a problem with me not driving a car and wearing a suit then fuck 'em! I don't even own a suit and I don't wear ties.


Here's a quick joke you can tell the customer:
What is the useless piece of material that hangs from an arsehole called?
A tie.

[R6_kid]

When I worked at TelstraClear you could tell who the tech guys were. They were the only people in the building apart from the cleaners who could wear pretty much what they want. Everyone else was in 'tidy' workplace attire - men had to wear dress pants, shirt and shoes. Women had a wider option of things they could wear but all had to be of a suitable nature.

[mstriumph]

Be demure?
Thats outright discrimination- bet the menfolk do not have to 'be demure'
Couldnt pay me enough to accept that bullshit

mmm - mebbe YOU haven't been out of work for nearly 3 months ...

but, to be honest, it doesn't bother me - yes - the blokes have to tow the line too [except for the skirts, of course]and he who pays the piper calls the tune ... and all that.

[AlpinePossum]

Well blow me down, for the first time in 10 years, I had someone complain at my office that my "attire" was not suitable for their workplace. A site I've been to half a dozen times before. They implied they had a problem with the look of my motorcycle gear.


I bet you did what I do... Park bike, drop key into pocket, start walking whilst taking off gloves, fumble for door key / pass, whilst working on helmet strap, open door whilst taking off glasses, take off helmet....

..whoops, you just appeared in some timid souls view wearing a bulky jacket AND FULL FACE HELMET and SCARED them.

Try getting at least your helmet off before moving. :-)

[Insanity_rules]

I'm the managing director of an IT company. I not only encourage bikes as a mode of transport among my employees but I also defend that position to my clients (not that I have had to often). Normally its by the angle of "on a motorcycle you get a faster site response time".

Its a very shallow company that hires their IT support based on a crisp suit and tie. You'll find that the best IT people aren't ironed conformists. I guess I garner respect from my staff because half the day I go out and do exactly what they do and I do it on my bike mostly. Sure dress tidy and be respectful on a clients site but I would point out that the standard of your work is not dictated by what your are wearing.

Maybe a nice suited buffoon who makes quite a few mistakes on their site might make them appreciate you a little more?

[Brett]

I used to work in a very upmarket corporate consultancy and I used to struggle with maintaining a professional image when using the bike to commute to meetings. I always felt that I was not suitably professional for some reason...gear for one is a bugger, I mean at minimum you are trying to deal with a helmet, Jacket, glloves and a backpack for the laptop, minutes etc.
In hindsight, I should have just used the cage more because the times I did, I actually felt more on my game.

[Muppet]

I work in the IT field, and travel from customer premise to customer premise quite a bit. About half the time I don't need to take any "freight" bigger than what can fit in a back pack, so I ride my motorbike.
I have a work uniform, and wear Cordura pants over the top of my dress pants, and a leather jacket over the top of my shirt (just a t-shirt at the moment as getting a bit warm in my leather jacket). My work uniform is all nicely logo'd, clean, and I think pretty presentable.

Typically when I get to a customer site I just take the cordura and jacket off, and stash them in a corner somewhere, along with the helmet and gloves.

Well blow me down, for the first time in 10 years, I had someone complain at my office that my "attire" was not suitable for their workplace. A site I've been to half a dozen times before. They implied they had a problem with the look of my motorcycle gear.

I told the client the motorcycle provides a greener alternative for using a larger vehicle like a car to transport such a small load (being me), and that the gear I wear is for my personal protection and safety.

I also told them I would not be changing my safety gear. And I'll interpret their decision by weather they call to book further jobs or not.


Really. Some people do have a personal perception issue.

Tsk tsk you silly boy, you should have mentioned the magic words to those people- "Health and Safety". Watch them crumble with fear as the words leave your mouth, throw in "liable" and "risk management" for good measure oh and don't forget "lawyers" and "lawsuit".

[Voltaire]

My Boss rides a Harley to work and goes on it to meetings.
He's always on to me to go with him on the Duke.
I rode the Duke to a job at a Hospital in Hamilton on Friday, parked out the front and walked in....no one even gave me a second look.
The only 'problem' is I clocked up nearly 400 kms there and back.... via Miranda..... and the west side of the W(h)aikato
I used the BMW Touring suit as you can pull it up over your day clothes....full leathers look a bit out of place in a HVAC plantroom.

[caseye]

It's only 100K's down SH1 Volly.You obviously took the long root, ah sorry route.

[AllanB]

HA - I laughed. Personally I'd be happy for you to arrive in bike gear at my work.

Mainly because all the IT people I have ever had in there usually arrive in clothing that looks and smells like it spend a week in the bottom of a dirty laundry basket (mums on strike?) and the wearer thinks that masking BO with cheap cologne is acceptable. :sick:

Having said that - when your computers are down you don't give a shit what the fixer looks like as long as they fit it!

[YellowDog]

I used to work in a very upmarket corporate consultancy and I used to struggle with maintaining a professional image when using the bike to commute to meetings. I always felt that I was not suitably professional for some reason...gear for one is a bugger, I mean at minimum you are trying to deal with a helmet, Jacket, glloves and a backpack for the laptop, minutes etc.
In hindsight, I should have just used the cage more because the times I did, I actually felt more on my game.
Yes, on my last bike, I got the biggest Givi box available. I could fit my helmet and jacket (just about) and then show up at meetings in business attire.

It was quite funny once as I struggled to get the box lid shut after quickly getting changed by the bike; I arrived in the meeting room to find that I was parked outside its window. So I had a nice audiance whilst getting changed.

Embarrassed or what :o

[MaxCannon]

I've been to just about all our clients sites in my bike gear and no-one cares.

I've even walked around a very flash PR client's office in my socks, short shorts (which I wear under my bike pants) and paint stained T-shirt.
It was too hot to keep my gear on and it was an emergency call-out straight from home.

The only thing the people at site (most of whom look like they spend 3 hours dressing for work) cared about was when the systems would be back online.

I needed to get back to the office for parts and in a car it would have taken me about 25-30 minutes each way.
Called ahead and had the kit waiting at reception. 10 minutes there - 10 minutes back (in peak morning traffic).

Client was very pleased - minimal downtime for them -and I didn't take up any of their visitor carparks.

[Ixion]

Nowdays, if the Service Delivery Manager actually managed to get me onto a customer site, he (and they) would be so astonished that they wouldn't care if I wore a loincloth and nose bone.

But, back in the day when I had to make customers happy (instead of telling them their complete system is trash and needs to be replaced immediately ), I didn't have a problem going by bike.

If you just need to wear a tie, well thats easy. Dress slacks, business shirt, tie. Boots, jacket over etc. No, I'm not into ATGATT.

If the requirement is full formal type business suit, the jacket's a bit of a pain. Either carry it in a top box (rest as above), or, what I used to do , was put the suit jacket on, then put a one piece Cordura suit over all. I dunno if you could get such a suit now, it was like one of those one piece rain suits with a zip right down the front, but in Cordura.

[Mumbles]

You guys pretty much said what I did.... and thanks for no Palmy jokes