NO “Dress codes can be used to create barriers”

The argument that dress codes are about making a good impression makes me ask: “Based on whose criteria?” What makes someone with a tattoo any less professional, intelligent or worthy of dealing with a client than someone without one?

Dress codes are much more stringent in certain sectors, such as banking or law. When I worked in recruitment, some firms insisted on black, blue or gray suits and pantyhose for women. Do these things really affect professionalism? The word itself is biased — what one person deems “professional,” another may not.

Not having a dress code can reduce employee stress and fear of judgment. This creates a more inclusive workplace and allows for more creativity and productivity. Sending an employee home because their outfit doesn’t meet the dress code means that person loses a day of pay and is more likely to be fired.

Dress codes can create barriers to enforce power dynamics, too. In the U.S., laws have to be created to ensure that employers accept hairstyles worn by Black professionals. The CROWN (“Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair”) Act of 2022 was passed by the House of Representatives but failed to be passed by the Senate (though it has been passed in nearly half of U.S. states). Such laws help hold employers accountable.

Some jobs require uniforms, but why not have a uniform that allows some choice? The cruise ship company Virgin Voyages lets crew members choose from a selection of items, so they can express their personal style. Clothes can be used to identify someone’s profession, but this can be approached in a creative way.