Model conservative business dress Office Dress Code?

[J. Cogburn]

Fellas, I'm now the boss and, in the course of getting my new business off the ground, I want to provide a written dress code. Because this is a white collar office dealing with Washington political types, I need my employees to embrace conservative business dress. Has anyone produced a good written dress code (for men and women) that I might appropriate? I could write it myself of course, but I'd rather not reinvent a wheel.

Poking through old posts revealed that Manton was working on something for a business journal nearly a decade ago. Did anything come of that?

 

[ter1413]

(Company Name) expects employees to dress appropriately in business attire. Because our work environment sees frequent visits from customers, clients, and the public, professional business attire is essential.

Business attire for men includes suits, sports jackets and pants that are typical of business formal attire at work. For women, business attire includes pant and skirt suits and sports jackets appropriate to a formal business attire environment.

Employees are expected to demonstrate good judgment and professional taste. Courtesy to coworkers and your professional image to clients should be the factors that are used to assess that you are dressing in business attire that is appropriate.

Employees who wear business attire that is deemed inappropriate in this workplace will be dealt with on an individual basis rather than subjecting all employees to a more stringent dress code for appropriate business attire.

 

[Claghorn]

Maybe include some examples of what does and does not constitute acceptable to go along with that, as well as explanations as to why some outfits wouldn't qualify.

 

[ter1413]



Maybe include some examples of what does and does not constitute acceptable to go along with that, as well as explanations as to why some outfits wouldn't qualify.

I mean you can, but this isn't rocket science. If someone reads that and doesn't know what works or doesn't, they need to get their head examined.

What I would add is that if anyone has any questions/issues with the dress code, please free to discuss them with the OP.

 

[12345Michael54321]

Here's one example: http://www.dba-oracle.com/dress_code.htm

 

[badchad]

Be as specific as possible, especially if you plan to take disciplinary action for individuals not meeting your standards.

What if someone comes in wearing a horrendously fit suit? This sounds like a can of worms IMO.

 

[ter1413]

The dress code should reflect the company and the current employees. if the OP feels as if the standards are not being met at all times, be more specific. If he just wants to put something in writing just as a reminder, he can be a little less specific.

The OP sees his employees every day. Base the code on that.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

UBS Had a great one a few years back: http://thefinanser.co.uk/files/ubs-dress-code.pdf

 

[Viral]

why not just have a uniform?

 

[chogall]



why not just have a uniform?

only if OP is opening up a new big box retailer shop like best buy.

 

[Claghorn]

If someone reads that and doesn't know what works or doesn't, they need to get their head examined.

Never underestimate the ability for very smart people to be very stupid in specific areas. He's probably not hiring these people based on their clothing common sense. So he may have some very good accountant who thinks that a polo tucked into khakis with a blazer on top of it is perfectly acceptable.

Plus, some examples of what the OP has in mind might be fun.

 

[Viral]



only if OP is opening up a new big box retailer shop like best buy.

not necessarily true.

For example, the uniform could consist of the following:

TOPS: collared button-down shirt in white, blue, pink, or stripes/checks in any of those colors

BOTTOMS: dress trousers in either navy, grey, black, or khaki

done.

 

[Big Texas]

I'm not a lawyer, but a long time ago, I worked at a very conservative financial services company that was the focus of a dress code-related lawsuit. Dress codes, especially when they come to dictating what women can and cannot wear, have become something of a minefield these days. Dress codes are totally defensible, and you're within your right to mandate one. But I'd steer away from the Scylla and Charibdys of overly specific prescriptions and overly vague proscriptions. (See: PB's example of the UBS memo, dictating what color underwear women should wear.)

 

[ter1413]



not necessarily true.

For example, the uniform could consist of the following:

TOPS: collared button-down shirt in white, blue, pink, or stripes/checks in any of those colors

BOTTOMS: dress trousers in either navy, grey, black, or khaki

done.

So the man at that firm who is already rather well dressed would not only be limited to those options? That's silly.
Black trousers? Really?

 

[Big Texas]



So the man at that firm who is already rather well dressed would not only be limited to those options? That's silly.
Black trousers? Really?

Plenty of businesses mandate black trousers. For instance, TGI Friday's and Chili's. Pieces of flare are optional, but encouraged.