Relaxed dress code to new one if I don't change

[sissb1]

The company I work for has had a relaxed dress code for the office. They keep the office very warm in the summer and I dress in Skorts and short sleave tops. There is one lady in the office that doesn't like what I wear. My office manager said that if I keep wearing the skorts (that come to mid thigh length) the entire office will have to go to a dress code. 1st of all my office manager wore the same skorts last 2 yrs and on Fridays we were told that we could wear shorts. The Skorts are longer and dressy compared to the shorts or jeans that everyone wears. My question if I should choose to continue wearing my skorts this year and they impliment a dress do I have any legal rights? If they make me change my dress am I entitled to a clothing allowance? The business is in Nebraska

[Marketeer]

The employer has every right to change the dress code as they see fit. They do not have to subsidize this change financially. Unless your entire wardrobe consists of skorts and nothing else, I would think that you'd have clothing that would workd.

The only time that an employer generally must pay for employee work wear is if they require a uniform that cannot be worn elsewhere. For example, if a restaurant requires employees to wear black bottoms (skirt or slacks) and white top, it doesn't have to pay employees for those pieces. If it requires a specific uniform with the name of the restaurant all over it, then the employer must provide the uniforms to the employees.

[Beth3]

My question if I should choose to continue wearing my skorts this year and they impliment a dress do I have any legal rights? Nope.

If they make me change my dress am I entitled to a clothing allowance? Nope.

In my opinion, any garment that's only mid-thigh length is too short to be appropriate for office wear but your employer gets to exercise their own judgment. If they don't like your skorts, then you have the choice of changing your attire to adhere to their requirements, refusing to do so and being fired, or looking for a new job elsewhere where you can dress as you please.

[sissb1]

Is it ok for them to only give me the dress code when others wear shorts and jeans and t-shirts to work? Shouldn't everyone have the same code in the office? I don't have a problem changing as long as everyone is included. Otherwise I feel like that is a form of discrimination. Does it need to be a written policy? Thank you for your responses.

[Marketeer]

No, the dress code does not have to take the form of a written policy. Unless you are being singled out because of a protected characteristic (on the basis of your age, sex, national origin, etc.) it's not discrmination.

There could be reasons to have different standards of dress for different classes of employees.

[sissb1]

I am talking about the other office ladies. We are all the same in everything else, just various parts of the office work on the computer.

[Marketeer]

Again, unless you are being singled out because of a protected characteristic (on the basis of your age, sex, national origin, etc.) it's not illegal discrmination. There are lots of things in life that aren't fair, but that doesn't make it illegal. Plus, your original post says that "entire office will have to go to a dress code" which sounds like it will affect everyone. You may be the most affected because your current mode of dress is not what the dress code will include, but that does not mean that you're being discriminated against.

[sissb1]

No, my original post said that if I didn't change what I was wearing they would write a dress code for the whole office. Again, I don't have a problem changing but the more I thought about the more I felt they should include the whole office. Unfortuntely, A small number of people that is vocal, makes it hard on the masses. The reason I even wanted to know about dress code law is because I don't want to be one of those that ruin things for the whole. But I did want to know my rights. Thank you

[cbg]

So, if you continue to wear what you want they'll write a dress code that affects everyone? Nothing illegal about that.

You do not, repeat, do not, have the right to wear whatever you want to work. If they don't want you to wear skorts, you don't wear skorts.

It would seem that for some reason they have a problem with skorts but not shorts. That is their right.

As far as providing you with a clothing allowance, my first thought on reading that was that this has GOT to be a joke post.

[kevlor]

Curious here, what if an employer (restaurant) requires you to buy your shoes from a specific retailer? Would that not qualify for a clothing allowance?

[cbg]

Not necessarily. It would depend on the shoes; also state law.

Off the top of my head, I am not aware of any circumstances in any state where a clothing allowance is required, though there are some circumstances in which the employer would be required to pay for the uniform.

[Pattymd]

I don't know of any either, cbg.