With the days heating up, it’s pretty typical to see hemlines rising and necklines plunging. And who doesn’t love to throw on their favorite pair of flip-flops when summer hits? But just because clothing styles usually become a little more laid back and revealing in the summertime doesn’t mean your company dress code should melt away like your ice cream cone.
It’s important to make sure you have a policy in place for work-appropriate dress before the weather gets too steamy. As the days turn hot and hazy, the question becomes: “What is an appropriate summer dress code?”
In short answer, that depends on the workplace.
However, maintaining some general human resources guidelines in establishing a dress code policy can help keep everyone cool as the temperature rises.
Here are some tips on creating your summer dress code policy and keeping your workplace free of summer fashion faux pas!
Make sure you don’t fall back on the “use common sense” argument. Without specifications to the summer dress code policy, employees will rely on previous experience in other work settings to determine what is appropriate. The same policy may not apply to your workplace. Especially during this time of the year, the lines of what is and isn’t appropriate can easily blur.
Put the dress code in writing and deliver it to employees. Place it in the employee handbook and in an easily seen location such as heavily trafficked hallways, meeting rooms, break rooms or restrooms. It may also be a good idea to cover the summer dress code in a team meeting. You could even go as far as asking all staff members to sign a copy of the code. You want to be certain that no one can say they weren’t aware of the rules.
The summer dress code should have definite parameters, and should supply specifics regarding what is not acceptable. Keep in mind that depending on the type of business you are running, the dress code may have to be more or less strict. Here are some considerations and suggestions to get you started:
Your summer dress code policy needs to state the consequences for failing to adhere to the dress code, and it must be applied equally to all employees.
If there are special events or circumstances that would alter the dress code, your policy should also state this and that employees should be advised accordingly.
As with any policy, the key is that if employers don’t communicate the details of what is permitted, employees simply won’t know. So you better stop reading this and get to posting your summer dress code policy before someone has a major summer fashion faux pas!
Want to learn more about how to explain work appropriate clothing to your employees? Check out our previous video blog here.
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