appropriate attire or rather (unappropriate)
pecohr
150 Posts
We have an ee who dresses in a very provacative manner i.e. sheer blouses with dark undergarments, short shorts, etc.
I have just completed Sexual Harassment seminars for our employees and during these sessions we addressed appropriate attire in the workplace (we are a manufacturing facility). This ee is clueless that her attire falls into the inappropriate category. She is often a regular topic of the day with staff through out the company, example: have you see Judy's (not real name) outfit today???
Our dress code pretty much just addresses safety related items like safe shoes.
How have you handled this issue in your workplace?
thanks,
I have just completed Sexual Harassment seminars for our employees and during these sessions we addressed appropriate attire in the workplace (we are a manufacturing facility). This ee is clueless that her attire falls into the inappropriate category. She is often a regular topic of the day with staff through out the company, example: have you see Judy's (not real name) outfit today???
Our dress code pretty much just addresses safety related items like safe shoes.
How have you handled this issue in your workplace?
thanks,
Comments
I would suggest revamping your handbook in this area. Then when you redistribute make sure everyone gets a copy along with a form to sign (again, to be kept in their personnel file) stating they have received the revised copy of the handbook and will familiarize themselves with any new policies. It would be a good idea to hold a meeting (or several meetings if a large comp.) addressing "all" of the changes to the handbook.
Or you could simply pull her aside and tell her that although the company wants to promote individual expression when it comes to dress code, that her current attire is distracting others in the workplace and thus decreasing production, maybe even offending other workers, etc. Focus on WORKPLACE ISSUES her attire is affecting. This can really get out of hand if another employee comes to you stating seeing "Judy's" undergarmets through her shear shirt is sexual harassment. Best to do something as soon as possible.
Cinderella
falls into the inappropriate category.
Sure she's clueless. I'll open myself up for stoning by the crowd and say that I've found that a dress code can only work when a female is in charge of enforcing it. A woman snatching another aside to counsel her about inappropriate attire works every time. It's no-man's land for a male. The killers are 'appropriate attire', 'expected to dress in good taste', 'not too revealing', 'cannot be suggestive', 'in line with customer expectations', etc. Not to mention sandals being appropriate for ladies but not for men in offices.
I'd rather poke my own eyes out with lead pencils than have to tell a female employee that her skirt is too short, or her blouse is too sheer. At least, that's my excuse for not telling them!
I once worked for a facility where their dress code policy stated that "male employee are not allowed to wear earrings". The HR Professional (I use that term loosely) didn't see anything wrong with it.
I had a female employee who wore white stretch pants with a thong. The tongues were wagging that day. I had the pleasure of having to sit this person down and explain to her the importance of full panties. I sent her home to change.
I post the dress code every Spring . . . that seems to be the time of year when clothing (or lack of it) becomes a problem. My current dress code policy states no sheer clothing, spaghetti straps, and proper undergarments must be worn. (I felt it important to add the "proper undergarments" statement after the above incident.)
It's amazing to me that some people don't know the difference between work and a night club.
I am a female HR Manager, but can feel for the male HR people who have to counsel female employees about proper dress.
Cinderella
>I am a female HR Manager, but can feel for the male HR people who have
>to counsel female employees about proper dress.
Not on your life, Lady! Not today, no way. Unless there's videotape rolling and 3 witnesses, one of them my wife. This is where I put my 'enforcement mentality', as Gillian called it, on pause.
Rule #2 I have found that you have a certain segment of people who are "clueless" about dress (ala Britney Spears' influence), but then you have the ones that "push the envelope" to see how far they can go without anyone saying anything.
In the absence of a formal dress code policy, I would simply take the employee aside and advise that her address is inappropriate for a professional setting and she needs to go home immediately and change. I would also advise her if she came to work again dressed inapproprately, it would lead to further disciplinary action.
This is the type person who would be the first to scream sexual harassment if a male made a "lewd" comment to her (even though that is probably what her motive is to begin with).
Good luck. This is not a fun thing to deal with.
Fortunately, most of our employees are clinical and they wear scrubs or labcoats - it's the admin employees who are specially told they cannot wear certain items i.e., jeans (we had to specify "jeans" not "blue" jeans. People would wear black jeans.; they are specially told they cannot wear skirts shorter than a certain length; non-clinical employees cannot wear sneakers unless they have a medical reason to do so.
We do actually have a specified dress code "policy" and if supervisors or managers feel an employee has seriously "violated" these "rules", they are usually counseled first not to wear certain items and if they persist, they can be sent home without pay.
Sorry I wasn't clear on this.
Our dress code is clear but that doesn't mean everyone will abide by it.
[email]paulknoch@hotmail.com[/email]
However, I personally feel that if I can see a woman's "T back" when she bends over to file something then either her low riders are a little toooooo low or her shirt is not long enough!
Cinderella