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Original poster

To ask help wording a dress code policy for our office?

183 replies

OvertiredandConfused · 01/10/2015 15:21

I am in despair of the dress code at work and want to change it so that it gives a reasonable idea of expectations but isn't a ridiculous list of dos and don'ts! We're all intelligent adults for goodness sake!

The aim is to have what I would call a smart casual / business casual environment. So that would allow for tailored jeans with a shirt or jacket and smart shoes, for example. Your favourite tour t-shirt, ripped jeans and trainers is not ok.

We currently have what reads like a very prescriptive dress code and yet half the staff still look scruffy even thought they technically follow the guidelines whilst the other half are irritated that the jeans example above is not allowed.

I was thinking of a statement along the lines of "we expect employees to present themselves in clean and smart attire that is appropriate for their role and an office environment." However, I think that is a little too open to personal interpretation.

Has anyone got any useful suggestions, or great policies that they're willing to share?

OP posts:
BackforGood · 01/10/2015 23:22

Lol Cockadoodledooo - I like that Grin

Scremersford · 01/10/2015 23:23

wasonthelist Just to be clear, I am not a lawyer. But it is ridiculous that anyone has to wear a tie in 2015. If thinking that is vanity, I am vain -not something I have ever been accused of before but there it is.

Why? Its a very easy, simple and affordable way of appearing smart and fitting in.

Why are you picking on ties? Why not pick on blouses, or shirts? Or trousers? Maybe some people would prefer to be barefoot, so why not pick on shoes?

tbh I wish women wore ties more often, since they are such a quick and easy way of appearing smart. Its so much effort for women.

Neddyteddy · 01/10/2015 23:32

Aim to state what they can wear

Jeans maybe worn if smart and paired with a smart shirt/jacket/ shoes

ALassUnparalleled · 01/10/2015 23:34

I used to wear a white shirt with a skinny black tie and a tailored black skirt suit with black patent shoes. I don't think I could carry it off now, but it was super-smart and the tie made a huge difference to the suit.

Not all work places are the same but there are workplaces where suits and formal wear is required for all the reasons set out here.

antimatter · 01/10/2015 23:37

Luckily we can wear jeans and t-shirts at work!

littledrummergirl · 01/10/2015 23:58

I wear a H cup bra and plain t-shirts. These are much smarter than blouses which seem to gape, unbutton, pull, are too low (tarty), too high (matronly) no matter the size/style.

I have had uniforms in the past that have been uncomfortable, unattractive and scruffy.

I love my workplace which has no dress code, allows me to be comfortable and trusts me as an adult to dress appropriately.

ALassUnparalleled · 02/10/2015 00:01

I actually prefer formal wear. I don't own any jeans or t-shirts.

One of the things I like about my job is it gives me a reason for buying and wearing formal clothes. I probably don't have any clothes that would cause breaches of an office code, just that my work clothes are especially smart and tailored.

BackforGood · 02/10/2015 00:04

If you are going to state specifics, then it's difficult to start "grading" how 'smart' they are though..... I think that's why it's easier to state 'no jeans' or 'no denim' if you want a more tailored look from staff, or you end up with people having to 'judge' why one pair of jeans is smart and another not.

This SO much depends on the industry you are in and the role played by the staff - both from a 'what they are doing all day' pov and also a 'do the 'face the public / customers' pov, but if you are having to write a dress code, then it normally happens because there are people out there who can't be trusted to dress appropriately, like an adult.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 02/10/2015 00:18

Cockadoodledooo Thu 01-Oct-15 23:04:54
Dh teaches at a 6th form college. Their dress code is "no one should be able to see up it, down it or through it."

I love this! Excellent.

limitedperiodonly · 02/10/2015 00:25

One of the things I like about my job is it gives me a reason for buying and wearing formal clothes. I probably don't have any clothes that would cause breaches of an office code, just that my work clothes are especially smart and tailored.

ALassUnparalleled My job and lifestyle have changed and I've had to adjust to a whole new world of trainers and jeans.

They are reassuringly expensive.

But fuck me, I miss those Casadei snakeskin shoes.

IceBeing · 02/10/2015 00:26

Boffin I think you mean there is no plaid in academic dress yet.

I love that my science department contains people paid 6 figure salaries who wear short and nothing on their feet, have visible armpit hair (including women) and sometimes even wear plaid....

because screw you society and your stupid stereotyping assumptions on what successful, professional people look like.

ALassUnparalleled · 02/10/2015 01:19

IceBeing Even if I worked in your department I'd still dress the way I do.

magnificatAnimaMea · 02/10/2015 04:22

IceBeing I think I want to work in your department. I loved being in an earth sciences department in the UK where I fitted in if I wore tevas/ birkenstocks & woolly socks, torn jeans or shorts, handknitted jumpers & polypropylene thermal tops... now, even better, I live in a country where that's normal clothing and people in suits look very untrustworthy Grin

One place I worked - all the normal people wore trainers, jeans or shorts, tshirt, fleece or jumper. One guy with no interpersonal skills whatsoever dressed like Tony Blair, and actually put on a boiler suit over his shirt & tie, after carefully removing his jacket and hanging it on a special padded hanger if he ever had to get his hands dirty. Which meant he was constantly changing his clothes and wasting everyone's time. He thought it made him look professional & smart - in reality it made him look incredibly out of touch and a bit of a wanker.

Scoobydoo8 · 02/10/2015 04:49

I was people watching at an airport recently and suddenly wondered why all the men were in comfy jeans, shorts, tee shirts, trainers ie relaxed and comfy - whereas many women were in strappy, skimpy, clingy, high heels ie cold, uncomfy, revealing.

True many women were also jeans, teeshirt comfy but it was 50/50 with the less comfy dressed.

The rules people are quoting mostly seem to be aimed at women ie no strappy, low cut tops, ultra short skirts, flip flops. Why don't women wear shirts and trousers - easier, comfier.

Sidetracking here. And yes, men will wear shorts and trainers which can be scruffy. But why don't women just go for comfy too?

Burnet · 02/10/2015 07:01

No logos
No holes
No pictures
No loud patterns
No dirt
No neon
No visible underwear

Toes, knees, and shoulders to be covered, except in July and August, when you may have any one of the above three visible per day.

Scremersford · 02/10/2015 07:58

I was people watching at an airport recently and suddenly wondered why all the men were in comfy jeans, shorts, tee shirts, trainers ie relaxed and comfy - whereas many women were in strappy, skimpy, clingy, high heels ie cold, uncomfy, revealing.

I was also people watching on the tube last night but I came to a slightly different conclusion. People also wear clothes for what they feel themselves to look good and presentable in. For someone short, high heels can make them feel taller and less likely to squashed perhaps. Men tend to be taller than women, so less men might feel the need to wear heels. And some heels can be more comfortable than unsupportive, squidgy trainers. Wedge heels for instance. Wedge boots you can hide under trousers.

The rules people are quoting mostly seem to be aimed at women ie no strappy, low cut tops, ultra short skirts, flip flops. Why don't women wear shirts and trousers - easier, comfier.

Again, if you are short and fat, squidging around in jeans or trousers that stick to your legs might not actually be that comfortable. I was next to some tourists yesterday on the tube and one woman was not sitting down despite her partner urging her to and plenty of spare seats. She was wearing jeans and trainers. Maybe her jeans dug into her if she sat down? Anyway, she looked really scruffy for a person in her forties or fifties, not like a young person wearing comfortable well worn jeans with a smart jacket and shoes. It did inform my opinion about her, tbh I was slightly surprised someone would go out of the house looking that scruffy and not bother to wear proper shoes. She wasn't the only one dressed like that, and most of them looked neither comfortable nor casual-smart.

sashh · 02/10/2015 08:00

Shoulders, midriff, and knees must be covered. Clothing is subject to a 'suit jacket test' is if a suit jacket can be added and the outfit pass as suitable for a job interview it is suitable.

This allows for dresses and smart jeans but not ripped jeans

Original poster
OvertiredandConfused · 02/10/2015 08:43

IceBeing I actually have a lot of sympathy for our views and do find it depressing that so many judgements are made based on what we wear. However, I also know that it does make a difference and my organisation would face detrimental consequences if staff didn't meet the conventional view of well turned out!

It would be easy to have a long list of strict rules but that's what I'm trying to avoid. I want to let people be as comfortable and as individual as they can whilst also meeting business needs. That's why I'm finding the policy so hard to draft!

OP posts:
ALassUnparalleled · 02/10/2015 09:38

actually have a lot of sympathy for our views and do find it depressing that so many judgements are made based on what we wear

That's quite funny coming after all these judgemental posts criticising any one who
doesn't want to wear jeans, trainers etc.

givemushypeasachance · 02/10/2015 10:43

Our dress code used to make specific reference to corduroy being banned - not quite sure if there was an "incident" that led to its inclusion or someone in the senior staff had a loathing for it or what!

These days there are general references to the professional office environment, then a list of acceptable minimum standards (e.g. "smart tops designed to be worn under a suit jacket") and unacceptable standards (e.g. "leggings worn as trousers"). It then covers itself by summing up: "The above lists are not exhaustive. All colleagues are expected to adopt a sensible, professional approach to maintaining a clean, tidy and professional appearance, and to seek advice from their line manager if they are unsure."

SolidGoldBrass · 02/10/2015 11:41

I bought some 'work clothes' from a charity shop when I had to start dressing like an office worker (up until last summer, my job was leaflet distribution so I wore whatever the weather demanded). Luckily it's easy to pick up boring clothes quite cheaply, if you really have to.

I still think that a lot of dress codes are more about putting staff in their place and indulging the egos of petty little sods who need to make themselves feel like they are in charge, though.

tobysmum77 · 02/10/2015 11:49

Fgs you need it to be smart office wear, sorted. No jeans, tshirts and leggings. It's perfectly clear, I used to work for a company with that dress code its not hard. I now work somewhere I can wear jeans but if it doesn't work for whatever reason its not a big deal. Wtaf are 'tailored jeans' Grin

reni2 · 02/10/2015 12:42

Take pictures of yourself and willing friend of opposite sex in a variety of acceptable outfits.

Take pictures of yourself and willing friend of opposite sex in a variety of unacceptable outfits.

Make a poster YES/NO poster.

IceBeing · 02/10/2015 12:53

Thanks OP and I don't think it is contradictory to say you wish it were different but it isn't so there will have to be judgements made...

On the other hand it is only a matter of time before people in suits, ties and anything else that looks obviously uncomfortable are generally considered to be slightly strange and untrustworthy...

role on that day!

ALassUnparalleled · 02/10/2015 13:23

Luckily it's easy to pick up boring clothes quite cheaply, if you really have to.

Like jeans, t- shirts and trainers which are the most boring clothing imaginable.

Icebeing What a ridiculous statement - yes I get it you think shorts and t-shirts are cool but why you should assume anything other than your preferred slob lab gear must be uncomfortable is bizarre.