Deutsche Bank Latest to Ditch Dressing Down Policy

Deutsche Bank has become the latest high profile firm to bring an end to casual dressing at work.

According to The Times, the bank is banning blue jeans, midriff tops, baggy clothing, T-shirts and trainers, and staff are being told to tuck shirts into trousers.

A spokesman for the bank commented: "We are a global investment bank, not a sixth-form college."

Dress Codes

Gabriella Wright, an Associate in the Employment Group at Charles Russell, gives the following tips to employers on dress codes:

1. Ensure that the same rules apply, so far as possible, to male and female employees.
2. Ensure that dress rules can be justified on good business grounds.
3. Ensure that any prohibited of items of clothing are clearly spelt out.
4. Make it clear that breaches of the dress policy could result in disciplinary action being taken.
5. Ensure that employees with a genuine need to dress outside the scope of the policy (for example, on religious or cultural grounds) are accommodated, so far as possible.

[see previous article, "Summer dress codes needed to protect decency"]

Casual or formal wear, a dress code is still a must - employers should spell out clearly what is allowed and what is not. In short, without a clear dress policy, employers could potentially find themselves facing discrimination and harassment claims, and even in breach of human rights legislation.

[see previous article, "Casual or formal wear, a dress code is still a must"]

What do you think of dress codes at work, particularly the casual versus formal argument? Has your workplace experienced any problems? Please comment below.
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