subject: Establishing A Dress Code For A Company: The Office Environment [print this page] It can be simple asking employees to wear a uniform as most of the time they will simply want to fit in with the rest of the workers; however there are those that take certain liberties and try to change or accessorise in ways that do not comply with the guidelines.
When drawing up a company dress code, it is important to structure is clearly and correctly, leaving no room for people to take the mick or change it around "" so this article will explain the key facets of a uniform for a smarter environment"
Footwear:
In an office environment, employees should always wear smart, clean and polished footwear. The old adage is that you can tell a lot about a person from their shoes rings true particularly for clients or those who have come to inspect the workplace. Combining a dirty pair of trainers with a smart suit will simply destroy the whole outfit, so bear this in mind when writing up the code.
To ensure that employees do not bend the rules with slightly more outgoing footwear, you could even restrict it to simple pumps or short heels for women and black smart shoes for men "" whilst brown is acceptable, scuffs and dirt tend to show more prominently against the colour.
Trousers/Jeans/Skirt:
Dependent on the dress code, you can alter this to your choosing; however it is important that workers wear smart legwear "" the most obvious choice is a simple pair of black trousers, whether male or female. These are practical, business-like and complete the look of a suit perfectly.
Some offices, however, encourage a more relaxed and creative atmosphere by allowing the workers to wear jeans or skirts and this can prove effective "" however you should watch that the jeans are not scuffed and the skirts aren"t too short! It isn"t hard to be fashionable in a workplace, but it"s not a night out "" workers should dress smartly and conservatively.
Shirt/Top/Jacket:
Finally, the employee should wear comfortable, form-fitting and clean upper-wear. For men, it is advised to wear an ironed shirt with a stiff collar, fastened with a tie and completed with a smart suit jacket; whereas women may have freer reign to wear a blouse or suit dress, ensuring that the colours remain neutral and acceptable for business.
Whether you have a more informal feel to an office or are strictly formal, it is important to ensure that all employees are following the code "" this is easy to tell as anyone who isn"t will likely stick out like a sore thumb "" if you notice this, approach it immediately to prevent any other employees trying to break the code in any way they can.
