Dress appropriately for every job

In a previous article, I touched upon how to dress for interviews. However, I did not specifically address attire that would be appropriate in the work place.

I am well aware that there have been lawsuits, books and numerous classes from junior college through graduate school that have addressed this issue in depth. Therefore, I might as well add my two cents worth to the volatility of the subject.

Who determines whether the attire is inappropriate for the workplace? The person who signs the paycheck, period.

I have witnessed many times the unbelievable fashion inappropriateness regarding attire of employees from shop workers to professionals. If your first thought is that I'm a male chauvinist or I am setting out to only target female workers, you would be wrong. This subject pertains to both genders equally because both exhibit poor choices in regards to an appropriate wardrobe for work.

When do you address a person's attire at work? I say it is when you or your customers are uncomfortable, offended or it creates eyestrain. For instance, when you can see someone's underwear for any reason; it is inappropriate unless your store is catering to the Adults Only crowd.

The same is true of someone wearing clothes that are too small. Here, I am not talking about clothers that are , not a little small, but bulging in all the wrong places too small, i.e. the shirt is so small it threatens to rival an atomic explosion any minute.

Yes, it's clearly time to be sensitive, but also time to take action.

Our north state's infamous scorching weather is rapidly approaching the century mark once again and we are once again seeing apparel that is too sexy for the job. Now don't get on my case about being a male chauvinist or anything, but wearing revealing or provocative clothing by male or females in the workplace is unacceptable with just a few exceptions.

If you go to a Hooter's, you expect scantily dressed servers. But if you go to a HomeTown Buffet and the server is attired similarly to a waitress at Hooter's, I insist that is inappropriate. To be fair, the same could be a male lifeguard wearing a Speedo at the Redding Plunge. That would be the wrong wardrobe for the setting.

Each of us must be cognizant not only of our employees apparel, but also what our own attire says to our employees as a standard for the workplace. Don't just drop into the office to pick up something and stay for hours in clothes you would not allow your employees to appear in at work.

There will always be a few individuals who will resist or attempt to circumvent restrictions or guidelines in regards to appropriate attire at work. Address the issue with one or two methods.

The first is this: Does the business have a dress code policy, no matter how it might be labeled, or is there a uniform requirement. Be careful with the uniform requirement, however, because it has its own issues of who pays for them, etc.

There is a song titled "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred, an English group that some people take too literally when they dress for work. For others, a titled "I'm too sloppy" would be more appropriate.

In the good old days, we would actually send people home for wearing something to work that was deemed to be eye assaulting. Those were the good old days, for sure. But that is a great topic for another day.

Please help reduce eye pollution. Check your appearance in the mirror and ensure that your underwear can be appreciated by your eyes only.