Dealing with Dress Code Violations

Have complaints or notice that an employee’s work clothing is inappropriate, keep a few important things in mind:

Keep it in Private

If you notice that an employee’s work clothing is in violation of company dress codes policies, address the issue in a private setting. You don’t want to cause a scene or embarrass your employee in view of their coworkers. Additionally, make sure you keep to the dress code issues. Never question an employee’s taste or fashion sense.

Can the Issue be Fixed Immediately?

If the dress code violation is something that is offensive or potentially hazardous, you should see if there is something that can be done to fix the problem without any loss of time or work. For example, see if an offensive tee shirt can be turned inside out, or if the improper work clothing can be covered with a jacket or sweater. If the employee needs to go home and change, it’s up to you whether or not you want to cover nominal wages or transportation costs while they do so.

Consider Uniforms

Today, more and more companies are turning to uniforms as their work clothing of choice. Using uniforms for all employees eliminates dress code hassles and confusion over what is and isn’t acceptable to wear on the job.