How your employees dress and look in the workplace, can be a difficult issue to manage. There is a myriad of reasons as to why you may decide that you need a dress code policy

In many situations, it is decided for you, as there are standards imposed through regulatory bodies, such as the Health & Safety Executive, Food Standards Agency or the Health Service. For some employers it may be to promote a brand image and ensure that staff are easily recognized by their customers. In all cases you need to be cognisant of a number of considerations when implementing a Dress Code policy in the workplace.

Some key considerations with Dress Code policies are

• Do ensure that it applies to both men and women, although they may have differing requirements
• That there is no unlawful discrimination of any kind
• That your workers are properly protected in their environment
• Suitable allowances are made for people with disabilities
• Allowances are made for certain occasions

LOVE them HATE them (tattoos and piercings)

One area that always divides is that of tattoos and body piercings, which have become increasingly more popular over the past years. Again it is vitally important that you set out clearly what you deem acceptable and not acceptable in this area.

Protecting a brand image when dealing with clients is vitally important, here you may ask your employees to cover up tattoos or remove visible body piercings at work, in other circumstances it is from a Health & Safety perspective to protect your employees or those that they may interface with.

Additionally, we live and work in a multinational, multicultural society in the UK and consideration must be given to those with different ethnic and religious beliefs. This is an area where you need to tread very carefully, as you can open yourself to conflict and discrimination if you get the policy wrong.

If this is an area of your HR activity that requires either implementing, or stream lining, then do contact Charlie Lloyd who has a wealth of experience in this aspect.

You can reach Charlie via email  or call 01737 336336.