Is your dress code outdated?

Question:

Is my dress code outdated?

Answer:

We can’t assume the guidelines we wrote 10 years ago are fine for today. Nearly 40% of millennials have at least one tattoo, according to Pew Research. It is much more acceptable than it was 50, 20 or even 10 years ago. Employers are required to reasonably accommodate employees’ cultural practices in some states, which may be in the form of a tattoo or body art.

I always go back and ask, “Why is it important to restrict or enforce a dress code?” The No. 1 reason is always safety: Early in my career an employee’s hoop earring—worn for religious purposes—got caught in a
flight-type dish machine.

We have to balance those safety concerns with Title VII (the Civil Rights Act of 1964) to make sure we aren’t discriminating on the basis of religion. If you have a strict code, I would suggest going to an attorney to ensure the final policy fits within the law.

But obviously not everyone is getting tattoos or piercings for religious reasons. Sometimes we need to open our eyes and ask, “Is what we are requiring of our employees necessary?” Especially in such a competitive market, it’s important to be accommodating. Is it a big deal that an employee has pink hair if a hat is worn that fits the requirements of coverings in your kitchen? Whatever your choice, you need to be clear. If you haven’t gone far enough, your customers’ body language will let you know.

Lynne Eddy
Associate Professor, Business Management
The Culinary Institute of America