Business Dress Codes and Modesty
May 30, 2009 by MInTheGap
Filed under Articles, Modesty in the News
Visited 2052 times, 1 so far today
Appearance is everything in some jobs—especially jobs that are customer facing. Employers occasionally make demands about appearance.
At every place that I’ve worked professionally, the dress has been business casual—basically, a polo shirt or button down shirt and slacks for guys, dress pants and a professional shirt, dress or skirt set for girls. Not to casual—mostly modest.
So, what should a woman do when new management takes over a job and decides to institute a new dress code?
Shenoa Vild decided that when the new management required her to wear makeup, she drew the line in the sand.
She changed her dress code, but couldn’t see why she should wear something on her face—especially when she liked her complexion.
Now, I’m not like the author of the source article. I believe that a business has the right to institute policy for the kind of customer they are looking to attract, and you have the right to find a different job.
However, what would you do—if the place that you were employed suddenly changed the dress code and it was less modest than you were accustomed to? Even if you could still be modest, would the change in policy effect whether you stayed in your position or not?
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That’s a hard call. I say it’s an individual call. How much makeup were they wanting her to wear? Was it a religious conviction, or a personal preference? What was the owner’s purpose in requiring this? If it was because he wanted his waitresses to look sexy, or even just flirty, I would have a problem with that.
Apparently, it was important enough of an issue for her to resist, and that’s fine with me. I don’t know exactly what I would have done–like I said, it would depend.
Interesting article!
Hannah L.s last blog post..STLP31 (Striving to Live Proverbs 31)
Well, I would say that in transitioning from high school to the world of work, I have found that my workplace is a LOT more modest than my high school ever was. I think that is partly because there are mostly older people (age 40+) who don’t want to show off their bodies, but also because the dress code is business casual, which implies covered-up (No shorts or flip-flops are allowed).
If the dress code changed to just casual, I think it would still be modest around there, and I know I would continue to be modest.
I agree with Hannah L. that it depends on the situation. If you have a pimple face it would be nice to cover some of those up and look a little more professional. I would probably find another job if someone told me to wear more makeup and dress less modestly.
If the dress code requires you to wear something immodest, definitely get a different job. But if you can still be modest, I don’t think there’s a problem. As to the make-up…on the one hand that seems a little nit-picky, but perhaps it’s very important that their employees look a certain way. I would say that depends on how important it is to the woman that she not wear make-up.
#Feb2011NCARating
I think it was unfair for her to get fired for not wearing makeup. It is up to every woman whether or not she wears it- not their bosses.
I wear it, but not in excessive ammounts, and mostly as a cover-up for dark circles and the occasional pimple. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t wear it.
On the other hand, it is possible to have a natural-faced look wearing makeup. Why couldn’t she have caved and bought a little foundation? If money was an issue, would the management have been willing to cover the cost of her makeup?
You definitely see the complexity of the issue– she could have gotten foundation, they could have helped pay…
All too well.