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Dress Code Enforcer

A few hot days remind us that summer is around the corner. Is your work wardrobe ready?

It never fails. The hot weather rolls in, I take a look at what some people are wearing to the office and ask myself, “Does the dress code state clothing optional?” While many offices have relaxed their dress requirements, it is important to remember it is still a place of business.

Where to start? First, if your company has a handbook, (if they don’t please have someone call me for a consultation), look up the dress code policy. Hopefully, it clearly states what is and is not acceptable work attire. Some companies are quite strict and explicitly spell things out such as skirt length.

But, there always seems to be room for interpretation. For example, if the policy states, “skirts of appropriate length, not shorter than the fingertips when standing with arms held straight at the side with fingertips extended,” do not try the teenage girl trick of looking in the mirror and slouching down a bit to convince yourself it will pass. It won’t. 

Tops too are an item that can have several restrictions. Let’s look at cleavage. Wait, let’s not. Christina Aguilera’s sexy low cut tops are fine for “The Voice” but do you really think you should wear one to a client meeting? Well, maybe if you are a stripper. For everyone else, if the words backless or plunging can be used to describe it, you should save it for a different venue.

Your company may feel that T-shirts are acceptable. That’s fine but, you should be cognizant of any writing and pictures. I should not have to say it—okay maybe I do—profanity and vulgarity are frowned upon, please do not wear things that have either. Also, actually look at what is on your shirt. I once had an employee wear a t-shirt with a competitor's logo; the boss was not amused.

There is, of course, the issue of appropriate dress for gender. It has been argued that if, for example, skirts are acceptable they should be acceptable for both male and female. I’ll let your HR person handle that.    

It is great to wear fashionable and comfortable clothes but you must bear in mind that you are going to work. Even if your company policy allows for casual dress, at the very least make sure your clothes are clean and wrinkle free.

Tony T April 30, 2012 at 09:20 am
I still think that CCSD needs a dress code for its teachers and staff. I had an occasion to visit one of the schools in the District.....it was a shock how unprofessional most of the teachers and staff were dressed. Maybe the new BOE and Superintendent could look into this?
LaMigra April 30, 2012 at 12:09 pm
People should mind their own business. If the Boss is not offended then no one else should be. If he is, he will tell you what to wear. If you don't, he will fire you. You don't need HR for this. HR people are busybody no accounts who do that because they can't do anything else.

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shakemdown June 19, 2013 at 12:03 am
@ASHLEY TARR my comments that i posted did not contain profanity nor did they harrass or abuseRead More anyone, they were just what the forum is for, to discuss issues within our city. but i know, some people would consider it harrasment or would try to have it deleted because the truth hurts,and that's what some of our elected officials don't want you to hear, (the truth)
shakemdown June 19, 2013 at 12:06 am
@jo you are right, the old web site was 100% better then this and it was more user friendly unlikeRead More this new one . BRING BACK THE OLD ONE
Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 07:04 am
By the way, in our new system we have an update that includes a community moderation tool—it'sRead More not only Patch editors who can flag comments. What is it? Readers can flag any content they find objectionable on any Patch site at any time. We’ve put the flagging link in more places to make it easier to find and backed it with more sophisticated tools. Our goal is to recognize and reward readers who make our community great. How does it work? You’ll see these words — Flag as Inappropriate — on the top and bottom of Board posts, articles, blogs and notes, and next to every single comment anywhere on the site. To flag something, you simply click those words. What happens when you flag? It alerts us that something might be up with the content. When should you flag? We ask that you use your common sense and a general spirit of openness. You should never flag things that you simply disagree with and certainly not to clarify minor points. We encourage you to comment, post (or even start your own blog) to be heard on those things. You can review the Patch Terms of Use Ashley referred to above.
sue June 17, 2013 at 07:00 pm
don't know why I'm having a problem getting this written............anyway...they are rude,Read More unhygenic and WILL NOT follow any of the condo rules....there's so much more but we are sick of it. There are only two of us that speak up...everyone else is cowering behind closed doors.
joshua tanner June 18, 2013 at 03:00 pm
Unleashed dogs is getting to be a big problem in Peekskill. I see them routinely now. People areRead More letting their pit bulls out, their poodles, their chihuahuas - all kinds of dogs. Two days a go I watched a lady jogging on the track with her loose dog. The dog wasn't even supposed to be on the track no less loose. Some kid or elderly lady is going to get bit. Loose dogs also end up in more fights with other dogs.
sayitsnotsojack June 19, 2013 at 09:15 am
Sue a sad fact that these days of “political correctness” individuals who exhibit rudeRead More and ignorant behavior are empowered by the rest of us. I know of a similar situation where the individuals will yell four letter words in the public areas with young children there, call others the foulest things, and in this case, they are black and gay so the race/gay card is used constantly. Until people make it known they are not going to tolerate their behavior it will not stop. Have you notified the property owner, complex board, and police, or maybe the board of health?
Nancy O'Connor June 17, 2013 at 09:33 am
It was our pleasure to help out....good food, good weather, all around good time!!
leesther brown June 18, 2013 at 11:48 am
@Nancy,,I Thanked both you and Pauline Ghilcrest for serving the community and they took my commentsRead More down twice!!! Once again Thank You..you're automatically signed up for next year..:)
joshua tanner June 15, 2013 at 10:28 pm
It seems Patch moves editors every year. Liz was here when I signed up. Then she was shortly movedRead More to Rye and Rasheed took over. He must have been here about a year and then he left when the new format was introduced. Both times patch started cooking and then it got cut down just as new staff got their mojo going. A new editor with a new format seems like starting from scratch again. I know AOL/Patch needs to get some cash flow going quick (from what I've read) but I can't see what they are trying to do exactly by tipping the cart over and over
Wendy Kelly June 17, 2013 at 08:37 am
Agree Joshua just when you have a good thing going with an Editor they move. I can't figure thisRead More site out I was not allowed to post for at least a week thought Mary et al put an hex on me. Hey anyone know where Peter Goodson is??? I miss his posts.
jo June 18, 2013 at 10:12 am
new format is a dud.. 100% dud.. not user friendly.. a horror to navigate, as mentioned... noRead More benefit here. not at all.. quickly becoming a ex Patch fan... fix the mess you made..
Wendy Kelly June 15, 2013 at 11:03 am
http://search.lohud.com/sp?aff=1100&skin=&keywords=revitalization of Peekskill
Working Families Party endorsed candidate Mary Foster
Robin Seggs June 14, 2013 at 10:44 am
Working Families Party almost always cross endorses with Democrats. Looks like the choice isRead More getting clearer: One team is Democrat, WFP and Independent and the Catalina Team is Republican, Right-to-life, Conservative. Anyway, I believe Catalina is campaigning as anti-gay rights, so I know how I will be voting.
jo June 14, 2013 at 02:28 pm
and so many in the cast of characters that attend the meetings. believe Mary is a republican atRead More heart.. and here the Left of all left dem groups endorses here..mmmmmmmm just thinking out loud..
stephanie June 14, 2013 at 03:57 pm
mary foster and the rest of her butt kissers not need to run after what they have done to this cityRead More already we don't need them to run another term they neeed to get out and stay out. i believe frank catalina will much better than foster will ever be he cares about the city and does not like what foster has done to this city i wish him very much luck and i truly believe he will win as our mayor for peekskill good luck and kick foster and her butt kissers out of city hall and keep them out
af24us June 12, 2013 at 01:48 pm
I agree - the dangerous stop signs On Hudson Ave should be removed in both directions and keep theRead More stop signs on South St. and the exit ramps from Route 9.