Dress Codes in the Workplace

As a business owner, along with having an employee manual, you may need to establish a dress code. This is something that should be in place before you hire employees so that workers do not accuse you of picking on him or her specifically. You may think that it will not be a problem to institute a dress policy as you go, but it is easier to have a policy in place to begin with, as you may otherwise face an uphill battle. In some businesses, such as a franchise, you may not have the liberty of deciding what dress code to follow: someone else will have already decided that for you and you will simply be following the rules already in place.

I have seen a shift in appearance, such as workers in some stores with facial piercings other than their ears. I personally feel that the displaying of piercings and wearing improper clothing can get out of control fast if someone does not draw the line somewhere. There are certain laws that have to do with people's rights in a work place. Offensive clothing that violates individual civil rights should not be worn in any work environment. This includes clothing with graphic images or language that is sexual, hate-oriented, depicts illicit activities, or promotes ideas that offend others. Such ideas may include, but not limited to, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or religion. In addition, for safety reasons or health codes, certain types of dress are also not allowed in the working environment.

In some businesses, employee uniforms are either available or mandatory. Uniforms help instill a sense of unity and comradeship among employees. Uniforms also serve as an object of recognition. In places such as a store, where customers are milling about, personnel in uniforms help people identify employees so that they know who to ask when assistance is needed. Uniforms save employees (whether the employer is paying for the uniform or not) money and time by not needing to purchase work clothes, keeping them in repair, and laundering their work clothes. Many companies that offer or require employees to wear uniforms meet the employees half way by paying for half of the rental charge. It saves the company the trouble of dealing with a dress code, in that employees will always be wearing a clean and pressed set of clothes on any given work day.

If you decide that a uniform approach is right for your business, you may wish to compare companies when deciding which company works best for your particular business. It is a competitive market but you may get special package deals and incentives depending on the needs you wish to fulfill and the location of your business.

In conclusion, if it is your business and you are not a franchisee, you have the right, within the law, to decide upon a dress code. It will also be your discretion as to how you wish to enforce your company rules, as long as you do it the same way for everybody. It may be a good idea to contact an attorney before taking any action, to ensure that you are not violating any federal, state, or local laws.