They say that the clothes we wear are an expression of our individuality. Many people find it stifling when they visit places that have dress codes. Still, some dress codes could be vital if it adds to a place’s ambiance and environment. Some high-end restaurants, for example, would often impose black-tie attire to evoke high-quality and luxury.
At work, imposing a dress code usually means you want your employees to look smart, dependable, and professional. But before you think about why and how you should draw up a plan for a dress code at work, here are the things you need to consider.
The Nature of Your Business
What field are you in? If you’re the owner of a law firm, you want to look professional and reliable. Most people perceive law firms as places that are serious and that the people working there are well-qualified for their roles. So everyone must be on the same page when it comes to office attire at a law firm. If you have a receptionist that comes to work in casual clothing, potential clients might think you are not qualified to meet their needs.
It’s the same principle if you’re a physician in private practice. Although, in this case, what would make your patients trust you is if your staff wears scrubs while you and your fellow doctors wear the white lab coat to help assure your patients that you have the authority to give advice about their health and well-being.
Impose a Dress Code Without Discrimination
As an employer, you have to ensure equality in your workplace, that regardless of their gender, race, or religion, you will treat them fairly. So when you’re crafting your dress code policies at the office, keep in mind that you have a diverse workforce, and you’d want to create one that is as fair as possible.
You might also consider having uniforms for specific departments in your office. Say, you have a sales and a delivery and logistics department. Having them wear company-provided attire would eliminate the need to impose a dress code for their departments.
This is especially helpful when you’re in manufacturing since it not only provides clothes for your workers, it can also help in brand awareness. If you’re thinking of doing this for the entire company, look into investing in solutions to manage your uniform inventory to make it easier for you to keep track of who needs what kind of uniform.
Who Pays for the Uniform?
If you’re considering going the uniform route, this is a question you might get from your employees. There isn’t a direct answer. However, as an employer, you cannot deduct the cost of the uniform from their pay if it would make their net income fall under minimum wage. If you have a retail business, you cannot force your employees to buy your clothes to promote your store’s looks. They could potentially sue you for such a move.
Crafting a dress code policy for your business should also be something you and your employees decide on. You might have an idea of what you want, but you should be prepared to listen to the people who will be wearing your brand.
