How to Write an Employee Dress Code

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Developing a dress code may seem like a simple task but it is actually quite complex.  From anti-discrimination laws to a change in the culture of business determining, designing a dress code can be tough. Did you know that Employer Solutions Plus can provide you with a resource who will design a code for you that aligns with your culture and needs?

If you choose to go the self-service route we have outlined some guidelines below:

Things to consider:

  • Your business’ public image
  • The type of work your employees perform (suits and ties might not go so well if there’s manual labor)

Steps to take:

  1. Identify your culture. Are you a polo and khakis or slacks and tie business?  Do you want to host casual Fridays?  You need to determine what level of formality you expect from your employees on a day to day basis.
  2. Assess your workplace. What is the type of work being performed?  Is it reasonable to expect a business casual dress code in a manual labor environment?  Do your employees work long shifts where formal attire would be uncomfortable?
  3. Learn the laws. There are multiple laws around employee discrimination that could be impacted by dress codes.  These include religious discrimination, racial discrimination, disability discrimination, gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
  4. Develop the code. Time to write the dress code – you need to be sure that it is clear, concise and doesn’t leave room for interpretation and also hits all of the requirements of the above laws.  Identify exceptions and be clear with your terminology.
  5. Identify code violations and how to handle them. What’s your policy? Three strikes? Will an employee in violation be expected to go home? Will they lose pay? There are many variables in this – the most important thing here is that it needs to be consistent.

These are the types of questions and considerations you need to make. The challenge of designing a code that fits your culture, aligns with laws and has the right procedures and outcomes for measuring adherence can be confusing, time consuming and stressful.

You don’t have to go at it alone though – contact Employer Solutions Plus today to find out how we can address this business challenge!