GovernmentExecutive.com

Once you get past issues of basic pay and benefits, nothing raises the ire of federal employees faster than dress codes -- especially those involving uniforms. The Air Force waded into this tricky area last summer by moving to require all of its air reserve technicians to wear uniforms on the job. The technicians technically are civilian federal employees, but they're required to be in the reserves as a condition of their employment. They always have worn uniforms while in military status, but they used to have the choice of deciding whether or not to suit up while working in their civilian capacity.

The shift to required uniform wear has drawn the ire of Joel Perry, vice president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1764 at Travis Air Force Base in California. In a letter to the editor of the Vacaville, Calif., Reporter, Perry ripped the new approach, noting that air reserve technicians have served well under the old policy since 1958. "To have them play dress-up soldier to please the Air Force Reserve commander is a waste of taxpayers' money and a detriment to the welfare of the ART employees who serve this nation," he wrote.