Workplace of Choice

With the weather turning warmer and our thoughts of summer not far off, now is the time when many employers find they struggle with their company’s dress code and employee’s inappropriate dress.  A business casual dress code is an employee benefit and HR policy that may help to increase employee morale and communication.  While the employees love it, many employers find they spend more time policing the policy than it is worth.  Offering guidelines to employees will help to alleviate potential abuse before it happens. 

Consider the following as you develop your dress code policy:                                                                                                                      

When may employee dress more casually?  Many companies offer a casual dress code just in the summer, just on Fridays or only on a certain day of the week.  The casual dress code may be year-round or just in the summer.  Be clear about when employees may dress casually and when they are expected to adhere to your more formal guidelines.

Are there any safety or health concerns you need to be aware of?  We often don’t think that how we dress can pose a safety or health risk but, in some settings, it may.  For example, it may be unsafe for employees to have exposed legs, making shorts or skits inappropriate in a manufacturing setting.  A food service business there are guidelines around pulling hair back that must be outlined. 

Do you have clients, customers or visitors coming into the office?  The typical rule of thumb is you’ll want to be more formally dress than any clients or customers.  You may not know what their typical dress is, so may need to be more conservative.

Define the specific guidelines.  Don’t expect employees to know what you mean when you say “causal dress” or “business casual.”  Wikipedia defines business casual as “a shirt with a collar for men and a tennis shirt or trousers from women.”  Your company’s definition might be very different.  Typical dress code policies include the following guidelines:

• Are blue jeans or colored denim allowed?
• Outline what need to be covered (i.e. shoulders, midriff, legs) and define skirt/short length, where acceptable.
• Frayed or clothing with holes is inappropriate.
• Hats or other head coverings (except for religious purposes) are inappropriate.
• Clothing should be neat and clean.
• Are slogans or logos on clothing acceptable?
• Outline acceptable shoes (i.e. flip flops, open toe, sandals, sneakers, etc.)
• Give examples of suitable dress. 
• Inform employees that abuse of the policy may subject them to disciplinary action.

Setting out specific guidelines around the dress code policy will eliminate the unknown and help to standardize appropriate dress across the company, making the policy more effective and easier for all to follow!