Employment Law: The ins and outs of dress codes

What should employers consider when introducing a dress code policy? Employment Law solicitor Olivia Lawrence explores in more detail.

There is nothing inherently wrong with organisations having a dress code policy, and indeed such policies are commonly used to present a corporate image and to be clear about what is, and is not, appropriate attire in the workplace. However, there are employment law issues that organisations need to be aware of. In particular, when devising a dress code policy, employers need to pay careful attention to the content of the policy to strike the right balance between meeting business needs and not creating issues in the workforce.

As welcome as the summer months are, employers might start debating the legalities of summer dress codes, which can pose issues regarding what is appropriate for the workplace.

Importantly, while dress codes can form a valid part of employees’ terms and conditions, employers need to ensure that any code is non-discriminatory and applies equally to both men and women.

This article was originally published in People Management on 22 July.
You can read the full article in People Management here.