Determining Your Company’s Dress Code

Your company’s dress code is your identity, if you have one. You see businesses adopting dress codes so that customers can easily identify the staff and can seek clarification if they need any. It can be very nice when everyone wears a dress code. Though, this is not common with office jobs where you put on the suit to work. However, a lot goes into determining your company’s dress code. You have to look at how cool your employers are with it; how it portrays your brand and how it sells you better to your customer.

Some factors you should consider when choosing your company’s dress code are listed below.

What Does Your Office Dress Code Say About Your Brand?

You have to consider what your brand says in determining in a dress code. Does your dress code pass across your brand message? If no, you may have to reconsider the dress code. Everything you use from insignias to logos to dress codes must reflect your brand image. Your brand is what will attract your customers to you. For instance, your brand cannot be elegance and your dress code is faded pink shirts over white. That may work for an ice cream franchise.

Think about what you represent and present in your dress code.

Defining Terms

Terms would be taken to mean the stipulations. Depending on what you sell, what you pick as the combination for your dress code must be well defined. It must resonate with your brand and it must be introduced to every new member of your company as one of the ways things are done there. The colors and style must be clear and if required samples should be given.

Explore Types of Dress Codes

Before you decide on the color and styles, try different ones. Your first choice may not be the best choice for your brand. You may have a temporal dress code pending the time a better one appears. This shows how flexible and adaptable you are to change. You should be prepared to look up samples from designers and fashion brands. Look at other businesses in your niche that use dress codes and see how you can make yours better.

Grooming and Hygiene

It is one thing to have a dress code reflective of your brand; it is another to have it well groomed and kempt. Have talks with your employees on how their appearances speak of your brand. They are representative of your company and they have to look presentable. If possible, as motivation, provide stipends for the maintenance of the dress code. Many companies take personal responsibility for their workers’ appearances as they supply the dress code, take over the laundry, and replacement.

Legal Issues

Legal issues can arise from the issues surrounding dress codes. In a bid to find a dress code that resonates with your brand, you may be using the same color and/or style another brand is using. This can lead to a serious legal issue as companies care about the colors they use. Many companies trademark some colors to be solely used by them in the niche. You have to avoid these legal issues as they can be very expensive and time wasting. Find something new and distinct. Ideas are free flowing and everywhere – there is always a better color and/or style.

Disability

To avoid cases of discrimination, some regulations provide for the dress codes that can give room for people with disabilities. If your company has people with disabilities in employment, their convenience should be considered.

Gender Disparities

We are not all of the same gender; we are different. The dress code must recognize this. When picking a dress code, consider gender as a major factor. You should get a designer who can get what can be appreciated by almost everyone, if not everyone. It has led to several issues where gender peculiarities weren’t considered. One issue that is ensuing is that of a third gender. There should be reasonable flexibility to allow people to choose the gender they feel they are.

Health and Safety Issues

This is highly important. As much as your brand must be well represented, the health and safety of those who will wear them matters. How considerate are you with the weather?  Is the dress code one that will expose the employees to harsh weather conditions or would suffocate the wearers? It is important to get a health and safety personnel involved in the design. The convenience of your employees in the dress codes matters.

Have a Good Reason for Your Dress Code

You should be able to clearly state the reason behind your dress code. Customers can even ask you. You should have a tenable reason for what you are presenting. It will also help you in selling the dress code to your employees. If the reason you have at hand is not good enough, get better reasons.

What Do Your Employees Think?

Their opinions matter. They would be the ones wearing the outfit the most; they should have a say on what they would wear. Ask them what they think about the dress code. Tell them your reason for the dress code and let them air their opinions. It is better to hear their opinion before enforcing it if you don’t want negative reactions in the workplace. Listen to them.

Ambiguous Language Does No Good

Be clear. The words, acronyms, mottos, and every other thing dealing with language must be clear. You are passing across a message about your brand; you should be understandable without recourse to further clarification. Be like Snickers; let’s know you are around to satisfy our hunger.

In conclusion, having a dress code can be very beautiful but a lot goes into it. It has to represent your brand and pass your message across clearly. It also has to be accepted by those who will wear them. It is very important to have your distinct code to avoid unwanted legal issues.

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