It has been reported that law firm Allen & Overy has sent out an official HR email to trainees regarding the dress code. Basically, the action was taken after complaints against the shorter skirts and very high heels of quite a number of women at office.
Dozens of trainee solicitors there arrived in very short skirts, which in turn revealed quite a lot of flesh - that was not appreciated in the office environment. The company had a few complaints that it felt like the girls are going clubbing instead of an office.
The email was sent to the company's 105 trainees to remind them of their expected dress code. So, if they will not increase the length of their skirts and reduce the height of their heels - they can have unpleasant discussions with the HR department.
Similarly, in 2003 JP Morgan issued a memo to its male employees to shave, polish their shoes and consider investing in an iron.
Well, I have experienced these sort of things in my work experience as well. In one of the places I worked we had no HR department. The influential lot used to insult the junior lot. There were no set rules in this case...things were different from everyone. I was told I was hardly a girl. Some of us were told not to wear jeans to work although it was ok for some to dress inappropriately as if they had come out from a club. Once in a while, the big boss also told my boss to shave off his beard.
It was a bit unorganized way of spreading discipline I feel but just wrote it down so that people would know that even MNCs can be quite lost.
Apart from that I do feel dress code and standards need to be clearly communicated and followed by employees, trainees and employers alike. Workplace must look like an office and not a club or party place. And now most places do have casual Fridays anyway to break the monotony so it should not be such a problem.
