Should Employers Dictate What Employees Wear Outside of Work?

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Recommended: Social implications of business ethics

In today’s society looking good is important, especially in the working environment. Every occupation has some sort of dress code for employees to follow. Dress codes can range from wearing suits to gym shorts depending on one’s occupation. Employers decide if the candidate is qualified for the job based on appearance, and then what you wear for the job based on the company’s dress code. The question is can one’s employer dictate what is appropriate dress outside of the job? Employers should only have a say of what one wears while representing the company.

In our society we are not forced by the government to wear specific articles of clothing in public. For example, an Arabic woman must wear an Abbaiya in the public eye whether at work or at the market. If employers are allowed to determine what is worn outside the work environment then we are following this communist tradition. Employees should be allowed to make their own clothing decisions outside of work.

Another scenario where employees should not be in dress code all the time is health care professionals. If a doctor or nurse were to wear their scrubs outside of the hospital many circumstances could occur. One problematic situation is the sanitization of the uniform. In addition a health care professional could be expected to carry out duties and be held liable. Although one would not be recognized as a health care professional in uniform by sight, their oath would still be upheld. Some examples are CPR, Heimlich maneuver, or any emergency situation.

There are instances when employees represent the company off of clock hours and should be expected to follow company dress code. For example, some companies set up business dinners, which would require the employee t...

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...brity, a student, a worker, or even the President of the United States of America. Although it is important to conform to company dress code to keep a job, it is just as important to be true to oneself and show individuality.

Works Cited

BOOKRAGS STAFF. "Are Celebrities Corrupting Society?". 2000. May 16 2010. Electronically retrieved from http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2005/12/20/212251/38.

Bush, George W. (2001). President Announces White House Dress Code. May 16, 2010. Electronically retrieved from

http://whitehouse.georgewbush.org/news/2001/020501.asp

Marshall P. David (1997). Celebrity Power; Fame in Contemporary Culture. May 16, 2010. Electronically retrieved from

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=OMzCDi292OwC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=scandalous+celebrities&ots=j8T3hvktaE&sig=WeYMPb56JgF2mxEUmUo4-3UYEpI#v=onepage&q=scandalous%20celebrities&f=false

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