Chapter 12
Sir had recently announced some new policy changes at SirTech due to recent events. Firstly he had demanded that all employees return to the office full time so he could better monitor their productivity, and secondly he had introduced a strict dress code. Employees were now expected to wear colour coded outfits to indicate what roles they had and what areas of the building they were allowed to be in. The email from Sir said these changes were necessary to improve safety and security on site but some employees had their doubts.
That morning Fern was queuing at the stationary store to collect her new uniform when she met Tanya in the line just in front of her. Tanya's uniform would be blue as she worked in the offices, and Fern's would be a dark shade of green. Tanya collected a blue latex office suit and a pair of blue patent leather heels from the hatch.
Then it was Fern's turn to collect her uniform from the stationary hatch. Fern wrote down her measurements and passed the note through the hatch and waited while the man in the stationary store hunted around in crates of fresh uniforms.
"How tall are you?" asked the man in the stationary store.
"Just under 5'10" replied Fern.
"Uhh well we have some of your size but only in regular, none of the longs" replied the man as he passed a bundle of clothes though the hatch.
Fern unwrapped the clothes and held them up to herself to gauge the fit. There was a green blouse with an embroidered SirTech logo and a short latex skirt. "Umm... are you sure you don't have anything longer?" asked Fern while holding up the skirt that barely reached her knees.
"Best I can do Miss. You'll be alright as long as you don't bend over" chuckled the man in the stationary store.
Fern who only ever wore trousers was unimpressed. "At least my lab coat will cover it" she replied.
"Oh yeah... we got some new ones in" said the man as he passed a brand new green latex ESD lab coat through the hatch. Fern tried it on and it was a snug fit and also barely reached her knees. She wondered what about this lab coat made it safer than her old one.
"Don't forget your safety shoes" said the man.
He passed though the hatch a green pair of heels that each had a small yellow ESD symbol on the toe. "You've got to be kidding!" said Fern who wondered how this was suitable work-wear in a factory.
Fern headed to the locker room carrying her uniform in her arms with the shoes balanced on top and accidentally bumped into Tanya as she opened the locker room door. Tanya who had picked up her uniform moments before had already changed and had been practising wobbling back and forth in the locker room wearing her new heels. Fern who had carelessly opened the door had not seen Tanya on the other side of the door and had knocked into her. There was a sudden snapping sound as the heel of Tanya's left shoe snapped and Tanya stumbled into a nearby locker.
"OH NO I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" exclaimed Fern who rushed to see if Tanya was hurt.
"I think it's just a sprain" replied Tanya who was now sitting on a stool in the locker room rubbing her ankle.
"Well we better call occupational health" said Fern as she rushed towards one of the internal telephones on the wall nearby.
A few minutes later two SirTech nurses from occupational health arrived at the locker room pushing a padded stretcher.
"It's fine, really" protested Tanya but the nurses weren't having it.
The nurses lowered the stretcher to the ground then helped Tanya on to it.
"We'll have to strap you in for safety" said one of the nurses while tightening the stretcher straps around Tanya's arms and legs.
Tanya suddenly had a worried expression as she recalled that in all her years working at SirTech she had never seen occupational health. Being that she worked for Sir she wondered where these two attractive nurses would take her, but it was too late now as she was thoroughly strapped in so would just have to wait and see.