City adds underwear to dress code
July 16, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: Uncategorized
A Florida city recently made some drastic changes to his employee dress code. Two new items worth noting:
Employees must now wear underwear and deodorant.
The dress code is part of a new, three-page policy the city council of Brooksville hopes will increase professionalism, Tampa Bay Online reports. Revealing clothing and body piercings are now expressly banned, and employees are told to observe “strict personal hygiene,” including the deodorant clause.
Written under the heading of “unacceptable attire”: “the observable lack of undergarments and exposed undergarments.”
The underwear mandate and the other rules were approved by a council vote of 4-1, with the city’s mayor, oddly enough, as the lone dissenter. He said the requirement “takes away freedom of choice.”
July 17th, 2009 at 10:20 am
So –what you’re saying is — if you need a bra — you must wear one (but we don’t want to see it).
We cover this under “professional appearance”.
July 17th, 2009 at 10:27 am
How are they checking to see if people are follwing the policy? I am not sure I really want to know the answer to that!
July 17th, 2009 at 11:30 am
I am reminded of a lovely engineering intern we had a few years back that came in wearing very tight black stretch pants with no visible panty line (I was told by another female employee). I guess she had on one of those string bikini panties underneath and was sent home to put on something more appropriate because the men on the floor were too distracted. I had seen her in similar outfits and did not think anything of it, but I understood why it was deemed inappropriate because she had to work with mostly men in the field and the office. When I reviewed the dress policy in the manual I could see that it was something she should have been sent home to change. I am certainly glad it wasn’t me that had to tell her so. That would have been a challenge. She was a nice kid and did good work too.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Part of this issue is a generation gap. What I consider an appalling display of cleavage or tight pants shows up at our office regularly on the young women. Their clothes are as tight as the young men’s clothes are baggy. I’ve heard no complaints, not from management or general staff. As our average age is 35, I guess they’re all used to it. I’ve trained myself to look away.
Grandma in the HR Dept
July 17th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I have to send out the dress code reminder every summer because every year employees seem to forget. It’s easy to forget as we’re in AZ in 116 degree heat.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
This is typical government control by legislators who live with their head half way into the sand. I do research in the medical field and am well aware of the fact that over 90% of all deodorant compounds on the market are toxic. They make people sick and miss work without anyone knowing why they are sick. They also sicken other people around them who have to smell it. Smelling someones deodorant is no different for many people than having a person smoking while sitting next to them. This city will eventually have to increase taxes to pay for all the medical bills on the horizon.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Although I agree with the “Please Gawd use Deodorant…-” and “Nobody wants to see what color you are today.” I do have a particular problem with the “Are you wearing underwear…”
When I get cold – my “headlights” are on. point blank. period.
I don’t wear a bra..never have worn a bra. I don’t EVER want to be forced to wear one OR any undergarment I feel is uncomfortable – including underwear (if I so chose to go “Commando”) Just like pantyhose – UCK!
I dress professionally not provocatively – I own and use a suit jacket.
BUT… I also expect the men (and women) around me to be, at the least, professional in their outer dress as well as their demeanor…yea, look me in the EYES when we speak.
I have not had any problems with sending a person home to Change because what they are wearing is not the company image I want projected to the public. I usually get a stomp of the foot and a pout face but usually that (and being taken off the clock to do so) stops the inappropriate “behavior.”
I do not like the casual dress of the “Kids” these days – but that IS what it IS – casual…not professional. Who is at fault for this “casual” office attire? In my opinion – we adults are…
The “Kids” need to be oriented to what is and is not acceptable – peer pressure – not policy.
-just my humble opinion.
August 10th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Jackie,
Have you considered how it makes others feel to realize that your “headlights” are on…I wouldn’t feel comfortable working around you if that were the case…I understand that you don’t prefer to wear a bra but I wouldn’t prefer to see that either. And don’t assume anyone wants to look at that…but when you are uncomfortable it’s hard not to look at the thing making you feel that way….Just food for thought…
February 16th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
This string is several months old now but I keep seeing dress code issues in various emails and seminars etc. I HATE dress codes… Yes we need them but I take great issue with dress codes that are different for men and women. They say its legal, I totally disagree.
Long hair and earrings, as a quick example. Forbidding men to have either because of the assumption that only women traditionally have both is sexist. That assumption, creating different dress codes based on sex, translates to an expectation that women should groom and adorn themselves in such a manner. Discrimination goes both ways, pure and simple.
Is this making any sense at all?
Other than flashing body parts and directly offensive symbolism/writing, frankly, if my customers don’t like the way my employees look, they can go elsewhere.
I am just basing this off of how I feel as a consumer. If I am buying something or eating somewhere, I could care less who serves and what they look like as long as I get what I pay for.
February 16th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Josh, it’s obvious that you don’t own a company. Companys need business and customers in order to survive. If an employee that is representing your company is looking less than professional it’s better for your employee to clean up their act as opposed to you losing business. Have you read up on the psychological impact on a person when they “dress for success” than when they do not? Those who dress professionally are more confidant and successful. Additionally, workers who dress professionally are more apt to gain the confidance of the customer. Like it or not, there is a social standard of appearance for both men and women and that will reflect directly on your bottom line if you are not careful.
If you had your choice when selecting a (male) doctor and you didn’t know thier background…all you had to go by was the way they presented themselves…would you go with the one with long hair and earrings or the one who is well groomed and professional looking?
February 16th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Well, to clarify, I totally agree… I just think dressing confident and professional doesn’t necessarily exclude some trivial details like earrings. I also realize it depends on the industry you are in.
Advertising firms may have more “creative” looking staff, whereas a lawyers office may look super convservative. But again, I know where I spend my money isn’t directly related to looks.
As for the doctor, my experience is that the long hair/earrings my be more personable and someone I could open up to…. the more professional looking one (by experience) might be better suited working an assembly line somewhere.
Just thoughts… thanks for the interaction!