So the brainless manager at work has suddenly announced we're all to store our non work clothes that we turn up in/coats/bags in this tiny pokey little room out back.
As I've nowhere else to store my coat and such (He's said he'd fire anyone who uses the old room to store their stuff in..which was basiaclly just me using it) I have to use this new room.

The uncomfortable bit is the fact that when I finish in the kitchen I'll be finishing the same time as the chef, as we close down the kitchen together. So we'll both be heading off to this little tiny locked room together, which freaks me out enough as it is.
As I was putting my cardigan and coat on the other day the Chef was there casually stripping off his whites and getting naked before pulling on his normal clothes, and that made me uncomfortable too.

I dont know if this makes me prude, but I'm not comfortable dressing/undressing in such close proximity to someone, who whilst I like very much, I dont particularly want to see naked.
I dont like the idea of being semi-clothed in such a small room with a stranger. I dont like how it feels, if I'm heading to the room and following the chef it might look like I'm being creepy, if I'm heading there and the Chef is following me I can imagine people making crude comments.
I dont like how uncomfortable this whole situation makes me feel and in some ways I feel bad for my boyfriend, how would he like it if he knew I was undressing in a small room with a semi-naked guy?

Regardless of the fact that I'm not attracted to my kitchen buddies, it doesent make the situation any less stressfull or difficult for me.

I'm self-concious yes, but I dont see how the manager can just expect us to suddenly be baring all to each other in this crappy stupid little room, and I'm fucking furious that he'd put me in such a personal uncomfortable situation.


And I know this rant sounds insecure and silly, which is why I'm asking you lot, is there anyway I can express how I feel about this to my manager without just sounding mad and silly?


Sorry,but changing in what is hardly bigger than a cupboard with a sweaty young chef or two doesent exactly fill me with joy or a sense of wellbeing.

Is the manager allowed to force this sort of situation, is that not somehow wrong?
I'd consider going home in my kitchen uniform,allthough the risk of getting beaten up by a chav increases by around %70 (They fear and despise anything that looks different).. but even if I do that I still have to go into the tiny room with the naked Chefs to grab my coat and stuff.


Gah..
I dont want to quit over something seemingly so silly,but..

I'm lost at this whole thing. Can't you just grab your change of clothes and head to the ladies bathroom????

Womens rights are so overpowered that you shouldn't really have a problem in this matter. Just explain to him clearly that you're not comfortable changing in a unisex room and that he has a legal obligation to provide women with seperate facilities. He probably doesn't, i'm not a lawyer. But he'll almost certainly give in to not find out and deal with all the drama that accompanies women.

If that doesn't work, just go over his head and talk to his manager.

WRONG!

The minute she starts talking about "laws" or complaining to higher management, she might just as well start looking for another job. This is real life, not some A & E or Law & Order episode.

I can grab my clothes and change in the ladies toilets, sure. It still means I have to go in there and into the mass of nakedness though.
The staff here are bitchy,cruel and troublemaking. As the Chef was showing me the code to the room and we were going in last night I could see some of them sneering and giggling.


It seems odd the manager cares so much about where his staff change, but there are customers snorting coke off the toilet lids in both the male and female toilets which is totaly fine in his little world.
Yet we're not allowed to change in those toilets because staff members taking too long in there would "be a bad impression".

I can deal with this..not sure how yet, but I was wondering what totse actually thought of the managers actions.

We all know women as silly dithering and insecure creatures for the most part, so I wonder why he's setting this situation up as though he really just wants trouble.

WRONG!

The minute she starts talking about "laws" or complaining to higher management, she might just as well start looking for another job. This is real life, not some A & E or Law & Order episode.

WRONG!

Don't bother correcting people unless you've done some research and have something more substantial then a tv reference.

There are actually law offices that specialize specifically in discrimination in the work place.

WRONG!

Don't bother correcting people unless you've done some research and have something more substantial then a tv reference.

There are actually law offices that specialize specifically in discrimination in the work place.

BULLSHIT! Go see how successful you are in winning a discrimination case. And exactly who is going to pay those bills while you are going through YEARS of litigation? Oh, and if she DOES get a new job quickly......is the new employer going to give her all of those days off for the litany of court appearances? Is she going to even discuss her ongoing lawsuit with a past employer with a new one?

Yoyo.....ignore this fool. The sad state of the affairs in this world is that it is an EMPLOYERS market nowadays. They can pretty much do whatever they like, and if you cause a stink......they'll forever put you under a microscope to find a legitimate reason to fire you. And if they want to fire you, no matter how good an employee you are they WILL find something, no matter how petty. And once you are fired, you'll be replaced within days by someone making $1/hr less than you. THAT is reality. The mindless babble from SilentMind is idealistic nonsense.

Just deal with the situation and start looking for a new job. Or not. But understand as soon as you start making waves with management policy, you are opening up the door to the gates of hell. Unless you are related to or sleeping with the owner.

Maybe you and the men could take turns going in there?

It seems odd they make both females/males change in the same room, that shouldnt be allowed so obviously this establishment must be below the lines of what rules should be followed. Taking it to the higher ups will probably result in them saying tough luck or saying to find a alternative if it bothers you that much.

If its really that bad, go in there after hes done, or go to the ladies room or better yet dont change until you go home that way u can just go in there grab ur purse or w/e and leave.

Try talking to your manager about it in a civil way. Don't demand anything, just present the situation the way you see it.

You're not comfortable being in a room with semi-naked men, and you'd like to be able to store your stuff somewhere else so you don't have to be there.

Also mention that if anyone sees a male and a female walking there together, rumors are bound to spread, and imagine if a customer saw that. Or even worse, what if a customer (for whatever reason) followed the two of you and saw you both getting undressed? What kind of message would that send out about the restaurant?

If you put it that way, it sounds like you're more concerned about the restaurant than yourself.