What best practices are recommended for employee dress codes?
In general, an employer’s most prudent approach is to limit dress codes to health and safety concerns and to those workers whose jobs require them to deal with the public on a face-to-face basis. Employers should also look closely at the potential impact of a dress rule on minorities, women, members of religious groups, or people with disabilities. If the proposed rule is likely to have a disparate impact on one or more of these groups, employers should be prepared to show a business reason for the rule and make reasonable accommodations for employees put at a disadvantage by it. Common business reasons include sustaining a positive public image, promoting productivity, and complying with health and safety standards. Once an employer has developed a policy that is appropriate for its business, the policy should be clearly communicated to employees. In order to ensure that the employees have a good understanding of what is appropriate under the new policy (and what is not), employers sh
