New Office Dress Code

[logongra]

Three years ago our company changed its office dress code to business casual, however they have now decided they want to return to formal dress so they have issued a new formal dress code. For male employees like me, this will mainly mean a return to wearing a collared shirt and a tie. Female members of staff have been advised of other clothing restrictions, the code is not intended to be less favorable to either gender. We have all now been communicated to about it and given a copy of the new office dress code.

I find it a little disappointing having got used to wearing more casual attire for work, though it has not been said officially, we have a very good idea that the change back to a formal dress code has come about due to a minority of staff taking advantage of the "business casual" dress that was allowed and unfortunately this minority have spoiled being allowed to come to work in the more casual dress that many staff have enjoyed.

When we previously had a formal dress code, our previous manager was never over strict about it, however the manager we now have has told us that she will be making sure that the new dress code will be strictly enforced at all times, no period of grace will be allowed and she will be formally disciplining any member of staff if they attend work inappropriately dressed in anything outside of the dress code.

She is a very good young manager, she tends to go by the rule, but to me it seems rather strong of her to say she will formally discipline an individual member of staff rather than just reminding them.

Do you think she is being harsh or is she perhaps doing the right thing by making sure we are all aware of what will be expected? can she just discipline a member of staff without reminding them first?

[whiskeryron]

I have been retired for many years, but I must say that I would be horrified to have to be regimented at work. Having been in my work days both a Milkman & various van & lorry driver I was always clean & tidy at all times but never ever in a position where I was told to wear someone else's dress choice.

[Garaman]

Personally I hated it when that American trend of dress-down Friday appeared in the City. I much prefer formal dress. Sadly some people's idea of smart casual leaves a lot to be desired.

The OP wasn't about whether we think it best or not though, but about whether the boss if being harsh by promising to take disciplinary action without first first reminding the offender. I suppose she could have said that she would issue a warning, but that might well be what the discipline is anyway.

[petal54]

this is where a job that has uniforms avoids these 'problems'.I was glad whn care home I worked at allowed trousers for female staff,as alot of bending.

[RobNorth]

The "new broom" has to make her mark and dress code is as good as any - it will be visible, but comparitively innocuous, unlike some new bosses who may seek to reduce the wage bill by 10%......
For a man working in administration of any sort I think a shirt and tie is literally a no-brainer as it does away with all discussion of what's right or acceptable etc. Many millions have worked with ease for hundreds of years without even thinking about it.
I witnessed the "dressing down" era, initially on Fridays, where some people rolled out of bed into the office, unshaven and unwashed. This for some quickly became the daily norm but it was too late to start disciplining folk..
"Public Facing" is a red herring - all workplaces are visited at times by customers or potential customers, whether external or internal and the old saying still stands, "first impressions count".
Untidy people inevitably leads to untidy workplaces - if you doubt me, find out where the IT people are in your workplace and pay them a visit.....they are the ones that started all this because they could - they had to be left in peace to practice their black arts, so geeks workplaces are just like geeks bedrooms...

[logongra]

Garaman, you are certainly right that some people’s idea of smart casual leaves a lot to be desired, I am sure that is why the company are reintroducing a formal dress code. Like you, we have some staff who do actually prefer formal dress, I much preferred smart casual and always kept well within the boundaries with that, to me it is a shame that some others have spoilt and put an end the smart casual dress that most staff enjoyed.

You are almost right about the disciplinary action being a warning though it is a step up from that. Our manager stressed that the new formal dress code will be strictly enforced at all times and that she will be formally disciplining any member of staff who does not comply.

She was asked to clarify the discipline, and she said it will be a warning which will be recorded on the person’s HR record. I don’t know a lot about discipline procedures but I think that the warning will be recorded on the HR record so that if there is any repeat, then more severe discipline can then be taken against that member of staff. Someone on here with HR experience might be able to clarify that.

[mikey4444]

I personally don't have a problem with companies having a "smart" dress code, as "smart casual" is almost indefinable.#, as least for chaps.

But making people wear "corporate clothing" made from cheap man-made fibres is a very different concept.

I have never worn 60/40 Poly/Cotton shirts in my life, nor will I.

[logongra]

RobNorth, when you witnessed the "dressing down" era, where some people rolled out of bed into the office, unshaven and unwashed and in any old attire, which for some quickly became the daily norm. I think you are right that it was too late to start disciplining the staff.

I wouldn't say I have witnessed anything quite as extreme, but the dress of some staff in our company has certainly fallen well below what I would call 'business casual'. I can remember some staff being told to improve their dress, but I don't recall anyone ever being taken through any disciplinary procedure.

I think this is the reason that our manager has told us now that the formal dress code will be strictly enforced at all times and she will be formally disciplining any member of staff who attends work dressed in anything outside of the formal dress code.

It still seems rather harsh to me, but I'm sure that with our company introducing a return to formal office dress attire, they obviously want to ensure that dress standards don't slip at all like they did with casual dress as it then becomes much more difficult to bring it back into line.

[Islay]

Your manager may have been told that she has to enforce the rules. After all she did not change the rules the company did - she is an employee too.
If you don't like being told what to wear look another job.

[logongra]

Islay, I'm sure you are right that my manager will have been told that she has to enforce the new dress code by her own managers.

Obviously I will have to comply with this as will any other member of staff who wants to keep their job with the company. I like the job I do, but I just think it is a really pity that because of some others, we are going to be denied the privilege of being able work in casual dress as many staff have enjoyed this over the past three years.

Also as I pointed out, I don't recall any of those who stepped outside the boundaries of business casual dress ever being taken down any formal disciplinary procedure though that could have been to do with the previous manager we had.

Our present manager is a very pleasant young lady, she is easy to get on with and has a good relationship with all staff. I'm fairly sure that she too fully supports the decision to return to a formal dress code and I respect that.

I am just saying that it comes across as being a bit harsh that she has informed us that she will be formally disciplining any staff who don't comply. On the other hand I can appreciate the view that some may have in by informing us of that, she has absolutely done the right thing in letting us know where we stand. Thank you for your view on this.

[Lynn_M]

Never mind. Like they say, if you can't sell yourself, how are you going to sell to other people?

[logongra]

A valid point Lynn_M!

[baza]

How will the warnings work, first warning on HR file, second warning written, third warning goodnight Vienna ? Seems a bit extreme to me, however, if you are happy to conform then let the others make their own choices.

[logongra]

baza, yes the warnings will be like that, my manager was asked to clarify how she will discipline any staff who don't comply and she said the procedure would be very much like you describe.

It is my point exactly that this seems a bit extreme, particularly as I can't recall any member of staff being disciplined when they clearly stepped outside of the boundaries of the casual dress code we had.

So the situation now is that instead of being able to come to work in a casual polo shirt or plain T shirt, I'll now be required to wear a formal long sleeved shirt and a tie at all times even though we are not public facing. If I don't, I'll quite clearly be disciplined, so obviously I have to comply with this.

Not all staff are against this change though, there are some who never liked the casual dress policy. they actually welcome the return to formal office dress as they feel it sets a standard and gives the feel of a professional place of work.

It's not my view, but I can see that side of it, and it is interesting to hear the different views anyone has on a working environment and the discipline that can be imposed on employees.

[logongra]

Petal54, I take your point about uniforms, just don't mention uniforms to Mikey4444 as he takes a different view on them!

[logongra]

Whiskeryron, thanks for your comment. It is good to hear that you always kept yourself clean and tidy in your working days even though you weren't subject to a dress code.

In years gone by office dress was very regimented, it has got more relaxed in recent years, but unfortunately because some have taken too much advantage of this, my company has decided to return to the more formal office attire.