The Dress Code Debate – What do you think?

PWC’s HR department must have been kicking themselves for appearing to support what over 130,000 people have since called a sexist and ridged dress policy in the recent petition to make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work. Especially considering the criticised policy didn’t come from PWC themselves, and did not apply to their own staff, rather from outsourced agency Portico and the ladies they employed via this organisation.

In the last few days, PWC have moved to abandon their own compulsory dress code to help staff to become more innovative and creative. Read more about the change below:

http://www.humanresourcesonline.net/j-p-morgan-pwc-skirt-away-formal-dress-codes/

I’m fairly certain we’re not the only business owners who would be a little scared for our lives if we tried to insist our female receptionists/front of house staff wear 2-4 inch heels all day, every day, and re-applied their make up regularly in order to “look their best”.

This case is a prime example of just how important it is to ensure that your company policies are well thought through and that fairness is taken into consideration, especially if there are different rules between the sexes.

It also raises the question of where the line sits between ensuring that your staff dress policy meets your client’s expectation of a professional organisation, and enforcing rules that put you at risk of stepping into the dangerous territory of an employment tribunal.