Dress Code Change

[BikeMan22]

We have a written old-school style dress code at the offices where I work. By old-school I mean things like male staff members are expected to wear a collared shirt and plain tie, female members of staff have similar rules to abide by.

The thing is that although it is a written dress code, it hasn't been enforced at all in recent years so we have been able to dress quite casually. This is because the manager who has just retired did not enforce any of it. I will admit that he was very lax and far too lenient in the way he managed. We now have a new manager, she is young and very enthusiastic but this is her first manager role. I don't at all mean to put her down because of this, credit to her for making it into management.

She has told us about some changes she will be making and a thing she wants to make an immediate change to is the dress code and to enforce this as the written dress code states. She has given a three week period of grace for us to make changes where she says she will be reminding anyone she sees not complying that after the graced period she will then be enforcing it as written.

She has made it clear that once the grace period is over, if she sees anyone not complying with what is written she will discipline them. I'm one of the older guys in the office and have never had any disciplinary issues at work. Though from what she says, if I'm seen for something like not wearing a tie, I'll be disciplined.

I'm not thinking of changing jobs over this, I'll just go with it but it really seems like going from one extreme to another. Do you think she is going about this harshly and should show some leniency rather than working to the letter or do you feel this is justified?

[rowanwitch]

Perhaps diplomatically suggest as it has not been reviewed for many years it might be worth having a management and staff working group to see if it is fit for purpose in the current climate. New manager ticks box for co-operative working, you maybe get to relax it slightly.

I managed to break a uniform policy in one workplace.... Item 23. Hair should be a natural genetic colour..... It didn't say human genetic. I was a positive peacock and there was nothing they could do eventually the policy was 're written but it had to be done with the union involved....

[BikeMan22]

Thanks for replying, you make some good suggestions and I'll look into these. The problem might be that although she is a young manager, she likes the idea of a more formal dress code and seems set on enforcing it as it is meant to be.

[brainiac]

What sort of work do you do? Lots of workplaces are now relaxing their dress codes - for example the BBC and their reporters and presenters. Maybe you could instigate a discussion about revising the written rules?

[Peter Pedant]

can this be summed up as
They are changing the dress code and I dont like it ?

It doesnt seem like a thing to lose sleep over

[MissTerious2]

I'm just interested. Do you work in an environment where you and your colleagues are meeting face to face with customers or other people? If not , I would see no reason for enforcing the long forgotten dress code. Clean and tidy and suitably dressed (ie modestly dressed) would be a sensible thing. People work better if they are dressed comfortably.

[MissTerious2]

Ps I have found young female bosses to be the worse bosses to work for. They seem to delight in having power. ;0)

[roadman]

i do not think it is justified she is messing with office culture here and that is not something she should do lightly is she new to the role or to the office maybe she wants to dress smart because it is what she wants to do but she shouldnt make others dress smart when they are used to casual we are in 2023 this isnt 1990 wall street plain tie what a load of old farts get a nice bright silk tie to make a statement whilst complying to the new manager

[brainiac]

^^ Does your keyboard not have capitals and full stops? I reckon the new manager would have a thing or two to say about that!

[roadman]

smarter clothes are more expensive and harder to maintain you have to iron shirts and press trousers well i do anyway else i look a scruff but in tshirt and jeans much less effort and time i think your new manager is showing her true colours or true values as it seems thing she is tackling is the dress code who is she the fashion police lol yes she is is there not more pressing issues she could tackle or is she bored and finding something to do

[rowanwitch]

Plain tie.... This company could provide suitable material to push the boundaries
https://www.tiesplanet.com/ties-c1/skinny-ties-c7/plain-bright-yellow-super-skinny-tie-p1795?wgu=6072_57172_16799180480744_cd6d96db2e&wgexpiry=1711454048&;source=webgains&siteid=57172

[roadman]

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[douglas9401]

I'd probably just wear a tie and keep taking the wages.

[rowanwitch]

The next option is to ask for uniform.....due to the expense ...or dry cleaning vouchers, or even a clothing allowance, if they want to tell you what to wear try to convince her the company should contribute to the costs as it is a change to custom and practice, also is it across the whole organisation or just her department. If it isn't universally enforced HR might be able to have a word with her...

[Tuvok]

Everybody has 1 uniform suit - their birthday suit!




Sorry - couldn't resist it!!!!

[BikeMan22]

Brainiac, I work in retail and in a back office (not customer facing). Yes I'm aware that many work places have been relaxing their dress codes for some years which is why it seems odd to be returning to a dress code that has been done away with in many offices. I'm thinking we might just have to go with this for a while and then try and then see if we can start discussions on revisiting the rules.

[BikeMan22]

Hi Peter, you could be right and maybe I'm getting worked up over nothing!

[-SharonA-]

I remember one hot summer, a girl turned up to work in our office in very short shorts & she was sent home to change whilst many lads were wearing cargo shorts.
She was given a warning.

[jackthehat]

The more things change........etc.

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Culture/Question1542979.html

[BikeMan22]

SharonA That's very unfair treatment that you describe and I hate to see that. When our manager explained to us that she will be enforcing changes to the dress code she quoted a couple of examples such as if she see any girls wearing shorts or any guys seen without a tie, she will discipline them.

I do at least hope that she keeps to her word and applies this to both males and females.

[BikeMan22]

Jackthehat, that's interesting! Though in our situation, they are not making any actual changes at all to the dress code, what they are wanting to enforce has always been written in the company dress code but hasn't been adhered to. I think like some others who have replied have suggested, we can probably only try to start discussions with the management to hopefully update the dress code to more casual. So it is us as employees who a wanting to change the dress code!