Piercings, Tattoos and More: Dress Codes For the Workplace - Legally Compliant Policies and Guidelines

Setting a dress code is not as simple as it used to be. This 60-minute workplace dress code training explains your reasons and rights as an employer to set one as a condition of employment, and how to design a policy that fits your business.

You'll define business, business casual and casual dress, and work through professionalism in customer-facing roles, safety in office and manufacturing jobs, uniforms, piercings, tattoos, hair, fragrance and hygiene.

The session also covers cultural and religious considerations, younger workers' preference for informality, court cases on sex, gender, religion and race discrimination, and when dress affects performance for better or worse.

• Explain your rights and reasons for setting a workplace dress code
• Create and implement legal policies on clothing, jewelry, tattoos, grooming and religious expression
• Define business, business casual and casual standards for your workplace
• Handle religious attire requests and balance them against safety
• Decide when different requirements for different employee groups are lawful
• Identify the legal risks of unlawful dress codes

Building the policy

• Reasons to have a dress code
• Your rights to set a dress code as a condition of employment
• What to include in your dress code
• Defining business, business casual and casual
• Professionalism in customer contact positions
• Morale and respect among coworkers
• Safety in office and manufacturing positions
• Uniforms and logo wear
• Piercings, tattoos and hair
• Perfume and cologne
• Hygiene
• Designing a policy that fits your business

Exceptions and legal risk

• Cultural and religious considerations and other exceptions
• Younger workers' preference for informality
• Court cases on dress: sex or gender, religion and race discrimination
• When dress helps or hurts performance
• Whether employers can strictly enforce dress and appearance rules
• Whether employers can require make-up for women or short hair for men
• Handling tattoos and body jewelry among younger workers
• Responding to requests for religious attire or headwear, and when safety comes first
• Different dress requirements for different classes of employees
• Legal risks of unlawful dress codes

A well-designed dress code promotes a professional, safe and comfortable workplace that reflects your culture, while a poorly designed one can lead to legal claims. This session helps you set clear guidelines, explain the reasons behind them and handle religious and other exceptions properly.

It suits HR professionals, supervisors and managers, recruiters, training professionals, affirmative action officers, consultants and business owners.

• Human Resource Professionals
• First line Supervisors and Management
• Recruiters and Employment Specialists
• Training and Learning Professionals
• Affirmative Action Officers
• Consultants and Business Owners

Dr. Susan Strauss is a national and international speaker, trainer and consultant. Her specialty areas include management/leadership development, organization development, communication, and harassment and bullying. She is an expert witness for discrimination and harassment lawsuits. She trains and consults with business, education, healthcare, law, and government organizations from both the public and private sector. Dr. Strauss has authored over 30 book chapters, books, and articles in professional journals. She has been featured on 20/20, CBS Evening News, and other television and radio programs as well as interviewed for newspaper and journal articles. She has her doctorate in organizational leadership, is a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human services, a master’s degree in community health, and professional certificate in training and development.