Employers wrangle over dress code policies

September 1, 2003

Employers wrangle over dress code policies

Despite reports of the death of “dress down” days, the business suit is increasingly unpopular – and now forms the basis of dress codes in fewer than half of the country’s offices, new research claims.

But employers are becoming increasingly strict about what is or is not acceptable – with half of employers setting dress guidelines for staff, according to an IRS survey of 85 HR departments.

Despite this, there remains confusion about what (not) to wear at work, with the status of denim, chinos and t-shirts hard fought over. The confusion was highlighted recently by HR Zone’s lively community debate about dress codes.

Key survey findings include:

A third have regulations or guidelines in a staff handbook forming part of the employment contract, 26% rely on written guidelines that do not form part of the contract and 12% write regulations directly into contracts of employment.

More than half the organisations taking part said that their dress codes were either “smart casual” or “relaxed” – relegating the formal business suit to minority status.

Health and safety, hygiene, and reinforcing culture were cited as the main reasons for adopting a dress code policy.

18% of respondents reported that they had dealt with one or more cases in which employees were disciplined for failing to comply.

Employers were often prepared to give exemptions or relax the rules under some circumstances such as religious grounds or for medical reasons.

28% of respondents reported that their policy had changed over the past three years.

32% reported a change in attitudes.

British Airways London Eye, reported that it had dealt with more than 10 disciplinary cases concerning dress codes in the past year. The company’s extensive dress policy, set out in a glossy A5 booklet, details not just what items of uniform staff should wear, but how they should wear them, and even how they should clean them. The company regards its dress and appearance code as an important part of its brand image, and even lays down rules on dental hygiene, personal grooming and make-up.