The Business Ethics of Dress Code Dress code

The Business Ethics of Dress Code Dress code in business What our outward image says to others How we dress in public

Are we wearing a mask for a paycheck? • Are we just lying to ourselves and the customers we service? • As talked about in Honest Work are we just putting on the fake smile that was required of stewardesses • As employees we are expected to be happy and picture perfect in our work. Even though employers and employees alike know we are all not perfect in this world. • We know the smiling stewardess has a family life, a work life, a social life. She has stresses and we are joking ourselves thinking that she is always that happy and kind. • Is it okay to put on a mask for a couple of hours to make the customer happy?

Dress code in business In any large cooperate company the importance of a clean cut, nice dressed, spotless, perfect looking person is emphasized. Companies have standards to cover tattoos, take out earrings and to dress in whatever attire the company decides. In reference to our first chapter in Honest Work. There was a case where a man had an earring and was told he was denied a promotion because of it. A company completely owns us when we go to work for them and we are responsible for creating their image. We sign dress codes and codes of conduct to forfeit our right to do whatever we want for a steady, and good job.

What our outward image says to others. . . When you first go to an interview they say to wear the nicest clothing you have. So people view you as a nicely dressed, clean cut person. You portray yourself as an overachiever who always looks his best. Your appearance has a lot to do with success in the business place. If you have just as much experience as someone else and do just as good in your interview but you show up in a t shirt and jeans and they show up in a suit, that job opportunity will be lost.

Why others feel everyone should be like them • Each family has its own code of ethics then within that each individual has their own ethics. • Families who have certain standards fear for their children, they want to put blinders on them and make it so they only have those picture perfect examples in life. • Of course children are impressionable, but in no way can be responsible for adhering to everyone's ethics. • I understand why dress code is enforced today, but I feel it is a silly thing to judge people on and all we really are doing is putting blinders on.

How we dress in public • For example of how individuals can be offended by our dress and appearance. – – – If we have a tatttoo of a naked lady – In summary people can be offended by a number of things. It just depends their ethics. Is it our responsibility to cover up for them? A t-shirt with swear words or obsenities Dressing in gang colors Tank tops, shorts, low cut shirts Having symbols of gangs or organizations on the clothing or body

Companies enforcing ethics on their consumers City Creek enforcing ethics We have all heard about the city creek mall kicking people out to create a family atmosphere. I interviewed Eric Fairclough and he claims city creek security asked him to leave when they saw him in a tank top. They said his tattoos were offensive and what he was wearing was not consistent with the conduct the mall wanted to adhere to. Through research I found city creek policy is: • The following are prohibited on the property. • Visiting the center without shirt or shoes, or failing to be fully clothed. Wearing clothing that is, or in a manner is, obscene, offensive to others that may provoke a disturbance, or is otherwise inconsistent with a firstclass family oriented shopping center. • The policy states that violators of the rules of conduct may be subject to expulsion, banning, and/ or arrest for criminal trespass or for other violaiton of the law. Violators of banning orders may be subject to arrest and prosecution for criminal trespass. These Rules of Conduct may be amended or changed at any time and are in addition to all other rules and policies pertaining to the property.

Following up with the company • Security with IPC international claimed that kicking people out for tattoos or dress code was prohibited and against policy. • They have many employees with tattoos and seemed very open to anyone coming to the mall no matter what they looked like. • But after reviewing their procedure it seems they have the discretion to ask individuals to leave if they feel they need to. Even though they claimed it was against policy I just have what they tell me and the written paper says they can ask individuals to leave for violating the rules of conduct.

So where is the line • Is it against our rights to push conduct codes on us if we choose to either be hired by a company or to purchase goods through them. – I say no. Since the company has to portray an image of that neatly dressed guy in the office to the entire country to succeed. If people view them as homely, dirty, rebellious, or not that perfect little company I think they are afraid they will loose customers. – So of course it is in their rights. It is just if we want to support those companies or not.