A civil servant in the Scottish Government has caused significant anger among colleagues by attending work dressed as a cat, complete with a visible tail. The incident reportedly took place at the Victoria Quay offices in Edinburgh.
Employees have voiced outrage over the individual's attire, with some calling for their dismissal. However, officials have declined to comment on whether any disciplinary action has been taken.
Reports circulating on social media and confirmed by current and former civil servants describe the employee as a man who identifies as a woman. The nature of the tail, whether attached internally or externally, remains unclear.
One former civil servant, who is a member of the Scottish Sex Equality and Equity Network (SEEN), stated that the employee had been a problem and that the situation felt like 'gaslighting.' Social media posts also alleged that the employee's 'fetish was seemingly enabled and others forced to participate' in a training event while the individual was dressed as a cat, wearing a dress and cat ears.
Former civil servant Murray Meikle commented on the situation, suggesting that in the current Scottish Government environment, commenting on such matters could be career-ending and described the organization as 'utterly dysfunctional.' He attributed the situation, in part, to recruitment practices, implying that individuals who followed former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon were hired without sufficient regard for professional conduct.
The Civil Service Code mandates that staff 'always act in a way that is professional and that deserves the confidence of all those you deal with.' This code is understood to extend to standards of dress and appearance.
Scottish Conservative public service reform spokesman Murdo Fraser called the incident 'scarcely believable' and suggested that individuals who behaved unprofessionally could be a starting point for any job cuts. Susan Dalgety, a former political communications adviser, stated unequivocally that a civil servant should never be permitted to dress as a cat while at work.
A Scottish Government spokesperson stated, 'All civil servants are required to dress appropriately for work. The dress described in this claim would not meet that requirement.' The government declined to provide further comment on specific disciplinary actions.