In its simplest terms, workplace attire is about how the employee should or can dress during working hours. There are countless formal and informal requirements for workplace attire, and it's often a matter of opinion - unless you have to wear a specific uniform. Below we'll dive much deeper into workplace dress codes, employer-paid workwear and different types of workplace dress codes.
If there are specific requirements for a certain type of workplace attire, this should be stated inthe company's employee handbook so that it is clear to both new and old employees.
If there are no specific workplace dress code requirements, it is up to the company to decide if they wish to have these requirements written down in the employee handbook. In some cases, the workplace dress code is self-explanatory, but it can still be a good idea to write it down as it makes it easier to enforce. Especially if the company has a specific workplace dress code - we'll come back to that later.
When there are uniform requirements
As a company, you can set specific requirements for what employees must wear in the workplace. If these requirements are not adhered to by the employee in question, it can have employment law consequences, and this can lead to both a warning and grounds for dismissal. However, this is in the extreme case where the employee has repeatedly ignored the company's requirements for a particular attire in the workplace.
When there are no uniform requirements
When there are no special requirements regarding dress in the workplace, it is up to the individual employee to decide. However, the employee is still representing the company, and it will therefore be expected that the employee dresses appropriately.
The employee should always be:
Presentable and neutral in their attire
Well groomed
If an employee works from home, it is of course up to them to decide what they wear in their own home. However, as a company, you can set requirements for their attire if they are going to participate in an online meeting with a customer or their other colleagues. Even if the employee is working from home, they still have a responsibility to maintain a professional appearance.
If you require employees to dress in a professional manner when working from home, it must be justified and preferably clearly stated in the employee handbook. The company can also require the employee to participate in the online meeting with the camera on and what the background should look like.
As a general rule, it is always the company's responsibility to provide the necessary workwear. It is also the company that has to foot the bill for your workwear when it needs to be maintained, cleaned or replaced. Employer-paid workwear is workwear that your employer must be able to provide. Whether you are entitled to employer-paid workwear depends on occupational health and safety legislation and what is agreed in the collective agreement associated with the specific work area.
As an employee, you cannot deduct clothing expenses. If you need to buy special clothing for the workplace, such as a uniform, you may be able to deduct this expense. However, you cannot deduct clothing as an expense simply because the company has special requirements for workplace attire.
The worddress codemay bring to mind festive occasions where the hosts have special requirements for their guests' attire. In this case, however, we are talking about dress codes in the workplace.
There are no specific rules regarding dress code in the workplace, but as we have touched on throughout this text, employers and companies can set requirements for their employees' attire during working hours. For example, some companies choose to do this when it comes to shorts and sleeveless tops in the summer.
If you work in a company where you have a lot of customer contact, the company may well require a specific dress code. In most cases, it will simply be a matter of dressing neutrally and presentably. Workplace dress codes vary from company to company, so it's a good idea to make a note of any workplace dress code in your employee handbook to avoid misunderstandings.