Dress Code

[DinkyGT]

I'll try to keep it as brief as possible!
Started work in June for a company who had a dress code of 'smart dresses or skirts' for women. I challenged this prior to accepting the role and was assured hat the policy was being reviewed shortly and the dress code would change.

A few months in and we move offices. Prior to the move, one of the directors told me that when we get to the new offices the new dress code would be implemented meaning women could wear trousers also if they wish.

We are in the new offices now, nothing has been mentioned about dress code and when I e-mailed the director covering HR about whether there was an update he quite abruptly wrote that when I started i was 'informed about the dress code which everyone complies with' and they will write a review when they have time.

My main issue with all this is that the company directors/owners are part of a religious group and the dress code is a reflection of their beliefs. These are not my beliefs and I would like a choice, but women do not get a choice in their particular group. Also, all of the directors are men, are part of the same family and all hold these beliefs very strongly.

Am I in any position here to push this further? Are they allowed to have such a strict dress code which, in my opinion, unfairly discriminates against female workers? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks Belinda : I’ve never heard of that!

namechanged Plymouth brethren

The expectations of us who are non bretheren in the workplace are to wear 'modest' clothing and to 'differentiate' between males and females I.e. Women wear skirts and/or dresses, men wear trousers suits etc. Also, we are not to swear, use foul language or blaspheme.
No TV, Radio or 'unclean' literature is allowed on company premises or in company vehicles.

The only issue I have is not having the choice of what to wear! I'm all for smart dressing but to do so I want to use some of the many pairs of work trousers I have sat in my drawers

Ok not the ONLY issue... I take many issues with the ways of the PB church....

It's also ridiculously difficult to remember not to keep saying 'Oh my God!'

It's funny, I was brought up never to say oh God and even now it grates on me.

Are you allowed your mobile at work? I know a bit about the church but didn't realise it extended itself to the work place.

Do you really want to work there? Sounds very culturally difficult if you aren't a member of that religious group.

We had a situation where a very evangelical local religious group was becoming prevalent at work and it all had to be very carefully dealt with. They started targeting the more vulnerable members of our workforce to recruit.

If the directors are all involved, you really have to go with it or move on I think. It's a shame if you like the job though.

Easy OP, just tell them that from now on you self identify as a man 😁😁😁 it'll go down brilliantly. And you are protected by the law with that one 😁

The PB are a batshit crazy cult. I'd get out of there ASAP.

Right so here's my take on it
Worth absolutely nothing but anyway

Is it legal to employ staff without informing them that organisation as a whole follows a particular set of religious rules? It shouldn't even be legal to advertise without informing applicants of that?

I'm honestly shocked and flummoxed and wonder employment law says about that part.

I think It's legal slim - it would be illegal to only employ someone of the same faith where there is no occupational need.

Arguably dress code isn't religious and tv/radio are often banned in the workplace anyway.

Belinda, I see your point but what I'm getting from the op is that the organisation is asking for a particular set of religious rules to be followed, not just that X number happen to be of that faith.

Point of clarification please OP?

Re self identification, I'll bet it gets religious exemption in some way.

slim - once I started my job and was given the handbook it was made very clear that these rules were part of the directors' religious beliefs and staff were being told to respect that.

They take the blaspheming and language element very seriously too and employees have been 'talked to' about excessive use of the words God, Hell and Damn etc.

Company cars come with no radio and computer access to the internet is heavily restricted.

The company don't attend or host networking events or similar due to their beliefs and as a member of sales team I find this rather difficult!

As the company ethos is based on these religious values then it is what we are being asked to follow.

OP you're not being asked to respect it, you are being asked to follow certain rules because of it.

I would consider that a con if I wasted time even replying to an ad. Maybe it just comes under "hiding the real company culture" but I'd be really interested to know the law on this. Can't believe on MN no lawyers have seen this.

Are you going to stay? It sounds awful.

No I'm not looking to stay - as soon as I found out more about the company ethos my ultra sweary, feminist, trouser wearing side started twitching.

It surprises me how these rules appear to be pretty untouchable, it's so archaic.

I'm baffled. Got a brethren background myself but I feel very strongly you can believe what you want but not impose such things on others.

Glad you're not staying but what a terrible waste of time. I guess there a lot of holes in employment law and proper information on something like this is one of them.

Be interesting to know what the legal issues board would say.