As summer draws closer, and the temperatures outside start rise, so do hemlines, shirtsleeves, and blood pressure of human resource managers in many workplaces. Setting summer dress codes can be tricky especially when fashions conflict with professional dress.
Dress Codes: Some Good Ground Rules
Employers implementing casual dress code policies should provide specific guidelines. For example, many employers that permit casual dress draw the line at torn blue jeans (or any blue jeans), flip-flop sandals, cut-off shorts, halter tops, sheer garments, or T-shirts with sayings or slogans. Whatever the prohibitions are, they should be equally applied and clearly communicated to all employees, preferably in writing.
Employers should bear in mind that EEOC guidelines warn employers not to treat certain employees less favorably because of their national origin when implementing a dress code. The guidelines specifically caution employers against prohibiting certain forms of ethnic dress, such as traditional African or Indian attire, while otherwise permitting casual dress in the workplace.
Feet, Midriffs, and Other Body Parts: People Are Talking
Most of us can agree that overexposure in the workplace is a bad thing. But, how much is too much? Where are HR professionals drawing the dress code line for summer attire?
One participant in BLR's HR Forum (http://community.blr.com/hr/forums/thread/787.aspx ) said this about the quest for the perfect summer dress code:
"The clothes that some people consider acceptable attire for an office environment never ceases to amaze me. Is it really asking so much for men to wear a collared shirt and clean shorts or slacks? Or for men and women to leave the flip-flops at home? There's no beach here and no keg party that I've heard about...."
Another added:
We banned flip-flops under safety, not the dress code. I must say I don't miss seeing employees' bare feet! On Fridays in the summer, we are pretty loose about the dress code. So far, we haven't had to discipline anyone for too much "exposure."
Relaxed Dress--Good For Your Health?
Considering banning the relaxed dress code? Perhaps you should first consider the results of the ACE study, led by researchers Katie Zahour, M.A., and John Porcari, Ph.D., from the University of Wisconsin , La Crosse .
Study participants walked 491 steps on Jeans Day than on normal business attire days at work. That translates to 2.85 miles on the casual dress day per person as opposed to 2.64 miles on normal attire days. Based on these statistics, the study results report that if employees wear casual clothing every day for 50 weeks of the year, they will burn an additional 125 calories per week and 6,250 calories for the year.
Not bad for a change of dress.