The “Why” Of Dress Codes

Ugh. Dress codes. Most people cringe at the thought of someone telling them what to wear. The real world isn’t a private Catholic school, after all. But should the real world and real businesses – namely yours – have dress codes established?

Dress codes have a bad rap, unfortunately. The reality is, however, that dress codes don’t have to be bad. Sometimes a dress code is exactly what a business needs to help establish a brand look. Other times they provide direction for the not so stylish to follow. And often they simply provide a foundation as a list of do’s… not just don’ts. Whatever the reason, dress codes can actually offer a positive addition to various types of businesses. From fashion forward boutiques to trend setting furniture stores to baby focused shops to service focused bizs, dress codes offer direction on how employees should represent the business in which they work for.

If dress codes are something you currently have in place, consider reviewing how your policies are set in place. Are employees told not what to do, or rather do you set the policies with a tone of yes’? Additionally, how do your employees react to the dress code? There are sure to be whispers if things are not to their approval. But better yet – hopefully you have heard first hand their thoughts on your dress code policies.

If dress codes are something you do not have, consider how your business may be responded to differently if they were in place? One example of this may be if you believe the dress of some of your employees does not represent your store environment very well. If their dress was better suited to your business, do you think customers would respond to this employee differently?

It’s important to always respect each person’s unique character, style preferences and budget. Asking employees to buy clothes specific for their work is not always ideal, however sometimes a necessary evil (hopefully discounts can apply here). It’s important to also remember not everyone enjoys getting dressed the way you may, so a dress code could provide them with relief to the question mark of what to wear everyday. Whatever the reasons, simply remember to be fair and aware of what your policies – or lack of them – do for your business, your customer impressions and your overall brand identity.