Employer Partnering With Spanx

Charlene____

Do you think an employer who promotes (not requires) the wearing of Spanx under a work uniform is participating in body shaming? I will not disclose my industry or employer though I will mention I am not in the modeling line of work.

frogmommy

If I got a discount on said Spanx, I would love the partnership Seriously, though, it depends on how it is worded. I know that some airlines encourage Spanx for their flight attendants but do not require Spanx. I don't think it is body shaming if it isn't worded in a condescending manner and not required.

I personally think that Spanx help me have a "neater" appearance with certain clothing, and I look at spandex undergarments no differently (for myself) than ironing/pressing my clothing. I am not obese but I like the look and feel (again, personally for myself) of keeping my backside up where I think it belongs on myself.

janejellyroll

My job of not public-facing (and doesn't have a uniform), so it would consider it to be extremely weird if I was required to wear Spanx.

I wouldn't consider it inappropriate if an employer had me wear a uniform and generally expected us to look as if we were wearing appropriate undergarments underneath. Specifically requiring a certain body-shaping garment, and requiring it by brand, seems like overkill to me.

Is there a size limitation for your work? As long as larger people are still hired and required to wear Spanx, it sounds like they want more of a "clean lines" look than actual shaming of fat people. Yeah, it's saying your natural body isn't quite acceptable, but employers are pretty much saying the same thing when they require us to wear a bra, right?

SuzySunshine99

Do you have any male co-workers? Are they also encouraged to wear Spanx or just women?

cmriverside

Is there some sort of disclosure or agreement in place at the time of hire that you have to present some sort of "smooth" image?

Seems sketchy to me unless it's part of a dress code.

jlemoore

yes. I think this is body shaming.

kimny72

I would just like to second two points that have already been brought up that I think are important:

1. Are there male employees and are they also encouraged to wear Spanx?
2. The wording to me would be critical. So not knowing the industry, it's hard to say, but something like "Now that we're partnered with Spanx, we'd love it if you'd "live the brand" by wearing Spanx to work. Then forward your testimonials!" I think would be fine.

urloved33

Charlene____ wrote: »

Do you think an employer who promotes (not requires) the wearing of Spanx under a work uniform is participating in body shaming? I will not disclose my industry or employer though I will mention I am not in the modeling line of work.

yes!

Charlene____

Sorry for my delayed reply, I was gathering info:

1) Male employees were not part of this partnership. It was only offered to female employees and those who identify as being female.
2) I am not bound to a certain weight or size for my position; and there are many who are tiny and many who are large.
3) My employer requires the use of undergarments but specifically does not say what is acceptable and what is not. I for example wear a slightly padded low impact Under Armour Sports Bra most days instead of a traditional styled “regular bra”.

I ask because sometimes it’s nice to have a perspective from others outside of my workplace who may view it differently.

Thank you for your replies.

janejellyroll

Charlene____ wrote: »

Sorry for my delayed reply, I was gathering info:

1) Male employees were not part of this partnership. It was only offered to female employees and those who identify as being female.
2) I am not bound to a certain weight or size for my position; and there are many who are tiny and many who are large.
3) My employer requires the use of undergarments but specifically does not say what is acceptable and what is not. I for example wear a slightly padded low impact Under Armour Sports Bra most days instead of a traditional styled “regular bra”.

I ask because sometimes it’s nice to have a perspective from others outside of my workplace who may view it differently.

Thank you for your replies.

I'd look at it more like a "perk" (way to get discounted or free Spanx if I wanted some) than a problem. That's my take, anyway.

As long as I could opt out (and it sounds like you can), people who don't want to do it are free to ignore it.

SuzySunshine99

Ehhhh...if it were just a discount program and there was not the added factor of encouragement to wear to work, then I'd be okay with it. I think that's the sticking point for me.

tbright1965

Define promotes. It's hard to answer without knowing what you mean by promotes.

hesn92

It's really hard to comment on this without knowing what you do for a living and what type of business it is, and also what it means when you say they "promote". Like did they put out a communication saying they prefer women to wear spanx?

I can only think of this in terms of my work environment. I work in an office. If my company sent out a communication saying they encourage us ladies to wear spanx then yes I think that's a little disrespectful. What does a woman's stomach pooch (or whatever jiggly bits she may have) have anything to do with how they perform their job? And why would a company think it's appropriate to suggest a woman needs to keep that concealed?

Just my initial thoughts.

Lounmoun

Charlene____ wrote: »

Do you think an employer who promotes (not requires) the wearing of Spanx under a work uniform is participating in body shaming? I will not disclose my industry or employer though I will mention I am not in the modeling line of work.

Are they providing it as part of the uniform? Do you work for Spanx or a place that sells Spanx?
I don't know if it is body shaming. It seems like it is crossing a line for most work places.

The job I worked at that required a uniform had the same uniform for men and women. The uniforms were provided by the employer and fit varied. If they had suggested to anyone that they wear particular undergarments of a particular brand I would have found that intrusive/icky.

Packerjohn

Somewhere a contingent fee 1-800 lawyer is working on this now.

Gisel2015

I would quit if I had to wear Spanx, because those things suck the air out of me. Tried one for a special occasion long time ago and it was a waste of money. I couldn't wear it and I couldn't breath, and I was not overweight or fat. It is still hanging in the closet.
I don't know about body shamming but I would like to know why they would like the females to wear those medieval torture thingies.

Keto_Vampire

Well, big difference in promoting vs. making mandatory work attire (promoting still has awkward written all over it).

I don't even want to know...things you don't talk about during work: political views, religious views, sex, personal finance/worth/$$$, and power

Charlene____

My company has no business relationship with Spanx; I do not work for Spanx or any clothing retailer but I do work in a customer facing position. The company has said that Spanx was a way to promote confidence in our uniform.

I once wore some sort of torture hosiery once before and it was an awful experience. I wear normal control-top pantyhose which is acceptable (all women must wear hosiery that matches their skin tone). I just personally felt that the promotion of Spanx which markets its brand on flattening the tummy and lifting the butt to be a little in the gray area.

Ed_Zilla

I once had a triple inguinal hernia (lower abdomen). Surgery was scheduled but was a few weeks out so the doc suggested I consider Spanx (or similar) for support until then. I do recall there were various levels of "support." I do also recall that Spanx should be spelled as $panx. BTW - it worked well for this application.

Doesn't Spanx have some minimal support level that will allow you to follow the rules but not "push things where they don't belong?"

smolmaus

Charlene____ wrote: »

The company has said that Spanx was a way to promote confidence in our uniform.

Hmmmm, no. Spanx are marketed as making you look thinner, that's where you're supposed to get your "confidence" boost from (blegh). Why do you need to look thinner for your job? For customers? Are you being used as decoration as well as functional employees?

For me it falls under the same scope as making women wear heels to work. They lengthen the legs, supposedly make you look slimmer and are generally seen as "sexier" than flats. They're also uncomfortable and can be expensive. And women have no obligation to look sexy as part of their job unless that is actually explicitly their job. There have been court cases where making women wear heels is ruled discriminatory.

jjpptt2

That seems like an exceptionally slippery slope... exacerbated by what can be seen as financially and pragmatically reasonable vs what is socially responsible.

100_PROOF_

It's really impossible for me to draw any conclusion without knowing what you do for a living but I also understand why you wouldn't want to disclose that type of info online.
I know some show girls and they are required to wear undergarments and are permitted to wear Spanx or shapewear if they wish as it's considered an undergarment.

CatchMom11

I personally LOVE my spanx! I don't wear them everyday, but I think they're wonderful no matter the size! I don't feel as though they're marketed to make you look "slimmer" but rather to give you cleaner lines. This is the exact reason that they exist in an array of sizes - because no matter the size, we all have moment or ensembles that we may want to feel that extra security of just a cleaner line look.

CatchMom11

smolmaus wrote: »

Charlene____ wrote: »

The company has said that Spanx was a way to promote confidence in our uniform.

Hmmmm, no. Spanx are marketed as making you look thinner, that's where you're supposed to get your "confidence" boost from (blegh). Why do you need to look thinner for your job? For customers? Are you being used as decoration as well as functional employees?

For me it falls under the same scope as making women wear heels to work. They lengthen the legs, supposedly make you look slimmer and are generally seen as "sexier" than flats. They're also uncomfortable and can be expensive. And women have no obligation to look sexy as part of their job unless that is actually explicitly their job. There have been court cases where making women wear heels is ruled discriminatory.

I have to disagree. I don't think Spanx are marketed to make you look thinner - Sarah Blake doesn't need that. They're marketed to give you cleaner lines in clothing that isn't always forgiving (dress slacks, linens, etc.) Spanx have nothing to do with looking sexy. It simply about cleaner lines. There's also no requirement per the OP.

CatchMom11

Ed_Zilla wrote: »

I once had a triple inguinal hernia (lower abdomen). Surgery was scheduled but was a few weeks out so the doc suggested I consider Spanx (or similar) for support until then. I do recall there were various levels of "support." I do also recall that Spanx should be spelled as $panx. BTW - it worked well for this application.

Doesn't Spanx have some minimal support level that will allow you to follow the rules but not "push things where they don't belong?"

I wear the Assets brand by Spanx that's sold in Target. Works just as well and I'm spending less than $20 for a pair.

djjeffa

I consider Spanx false advertisement but hey what do I know I'm a dude 🤣

salleewins

Charlene____ wrote: »

My company has no business relationship with Spanx; I do not work for Spanx or any clothing retailer but I do work in a customer facing position. The company has said that Spanx was a way to promote confidence in our uniform.

I once wore some sort of torture hosiery once before and it was an awful experience. I wear normal control-top pantyhose which is acceptable (all women must wear hosiery that matches their skin tone). I just personally felt that the promotion of Spanx which markets its brand on flattening the tummy and lifting the butt to be a little in the gray area.

I agree on the Spanx and since it involves females and not males as well. It is not right sounding.

smolmaus

CatchMom13 wrote: »

I don't feel as though they're marketed to make you look "slimmer" but rather to give you cleaner lines.

Yes that's the "official line". We all know what that means in reality.

jjpptt2

For me, as a middle aged white guy, I don't have a problem with it as long as...

(1) it's not a requirement

-- or --

(2) if it is a requirement (not spanx specifically, but a certain type of appearance), that that requirement is made known very clearly at the time of interview/hire --AND-- that there are equal opportunities for people who choose to not follow that requirement.

urloved33

im so weirded out that your employer has an UNDERWEAR OR UNDERGARMENT policy...what does that even mean?

solieco1

Is this the only discount offered? Spanx may have done some effective marketing and be approaching businesses. As long as you and your heavier colleagues are treated equally in saying no thanks without pressure I'd ignore it.