Bah! Humbug! Letter carrier barred from wearing Santa suit

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Santa is ‘going rogue.’

For the last 10 years, letter carrier Bob McLean has delivered more than just parcels and packages each holiday season. He also hand-delivers holiday cheer by wearing a Santa suit as he makes his rounds in Bellevue, Wash. He even grows a snowy white beard each year to round out his festive look.

This year, however, McLean has been banned from wearing his Santa suit after a co-worker complained that McLean wasn’t in compliance with the U.S. Postal Service dress code. That complaint led a supervisor to tell McLean he had to leave his cheery get-up on a hanger at home. The flap has captured the interest of media, even in the United Kingdom.

Now, it’s Santa vs. the U.S. Postal Service.

And if the hundreds of comments pouring into the Bellevue Reporter are any indication, Santa’s got ‘em beat.

Santa Claus -- er, McLean -- is refusing to budge. He insists he’ll continue wearing his Santa suit through Christmas Eve. (Actually, it’s just a Santa cap and jacket with traditional white trim atop his postal uniform pants.) It probably goes without saying that folks on McLean’s route love it, especially at the local senior center. So McLean is going to continue making a special delivery of his holiday cheer.

‘I’m kinda going rogue; I might get in trouble,’ said McLean. He acknowledged that he could lose his job. ‘It’s possible,’ he told the local media. ‘[But] I don’t think they are going to win. Whatever comes, comes.’

Perhaps Santa has spoken with his union rep.

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-- Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch