How to Write a Workplace Dress Code

Employees won’t know how to dress for work if they aren’t given clear guidelines. At the same time, you can’t write a dress code that has a list of everything an employee should or should not wear. A good workplace dress code has guidelines, clear expectations and consequences.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Decide what dress is best for your workplace. Do employees have to be professionally dressed in suits and ties? Are jeans OK? You may have different requirements for different groups of employees based on the kind of work they do.
2. Clearly state expectations. This is an opening statement. “This is a creative organization where clothing worn for work can express employee individuality” or “As a financial institution, our appearance represents the formal trust that our customers place with us to manage their money.”
3. Write a section about dress for men and one for women. “Men who interact with customers must wear a shirt with a collar, tie, jacket and neat slacks during work hours.” “Women who work in back office functions are permitted to wear casual clothing that is free of excessive wear, tear and frayed edges.”
4. List any specific items that will not be allowed in your workplace. These may include shorts, shirts that bare bellies, flip-flops and tank tops. This list should end with the statement “or any other article of clothing that does not meet the expectations set out in this policy.” If buttons that light up in neon colors become a new fashion craze, you want to be able to exclude those.
5. Decide on and write a procedure for what will happen if an employee violates the policy. This may include sending them home, asking them to wear a jacket or some kind of disciplinary notice.
6. Clearly communicate the dress code to all employees. It is helpful to give them a copy and hold one or more meetings to answer any questions.

Tips & Warnings

• Think about and include items that relate to job safety. If you have an area where there is equipment or items on the floor, you may ask that all employees wear closed toe shoes.
• When you list specific items that are not allowed in Step 4, be careful not to list anything that could be considered discriminatory because it may be dress that is specific to one religion or ethnic group. For example, don’t put head scarves and dreadlocks on the list.
• Before you send an employee home for a violation check to see if you have to pay them for the time. Some state wage and hour laws may require this.