Civil servant provokes fury from colleagues by showing up for work ‘dressed as a cat’
A civil servant at the Scottish Government's Victoria Quay offices in Edinburgh has sparked anger among colleagues after reportedly attending work, including a training event, dressed with cat ears and a visible tail. The employee, said to be a transgender woman, is alleged to have caused distress among staff, prompting calls for dismissal, though officials have declined to confirm whether any disciplinary action was taken. The row has drawn wider criticism of the Scottish Government's professional standards and recruitment culture.
Claims first circulated on social media, with one account alleging the worker's "fetish was seemingly enabled" and that colleagues were "forced to participate." A former civil servant said the incident angered members of the Scottish Sex Equality and Equity Network, while ex-official Murray Meikle described the Scottish Government as "utterly dysfunctional" and said criticising the matter could be "career ending." Scottish Conservative spokesman Murdo Fraser called the episode "scarcely believable" at taxpayers' expense, and a government spokesman said only that all civil servants must "dress appropriately for work," declining to say if the described conduct met that standard.
In short
- Scottish civil servant allegedly wore cat ears and tail to work
- Colleagues demanded sacking; officials won't confirm any action taken
- Incident fuels wider criticism of Scottish Government professionalism, culture
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Colleagues and critics could argue that public servants should follow clear, consistently applied dress standards, particularly at training events where staff need to feel comfortable and able to participate. If the outfit was experienced as disruptive or distressing, they may see a proportionate response as necessary to maintain a respectful workplace and public confidence in the civil service.
The case against
A fair assessment should distinguish a verified breach of workplace rules from claims circulated on social media, and establish what happened before calling for dismissal. The employee’s gender identity or unusual clothing alone would not show misconduct; any response should rely on clear standards, evidence of actual disruption, and a proportionate process that treats staff consistently.
Explained simply
The Scottish Government runs devolved public services and employs civil servants in offices such as Victoria Quay in Edinburgh. Civil servants are expected to carry out their work professionally, and government guidance says they should dress appropriately for work.
The claims about the employee circulated on social media and have prompted comments from former officials and a Scottish Conservative politician. The government has not confirmed whether any disciplinary action was taken. The dispute has raised questions about workplace standards, staff concerns and how the government handles complaints.