SOME CLOTHING STORES AND RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE DRESS CODES THAT MAY SURPRISE YOU

Companies say they follow dress codes to make their employees accessible, look professional, and help represent the brand's look, but is that completely true?

In some stores, it may shock you that the manager has a book of pre-approved outfits and hairstyles and even pre-approved nail polish colours that employees most follow. In other stores, employees are expected to wear a specific uniform. Some stores even require employees to accessorize with products they sell. Mostly minimum wage positions, many clothing stores ask their employees to wear and buy new merchandise each month, which can become a large financial burden because workers aren’t usually provided with the clothes they’re required to wear.

But are dress codes also creating harsh standards about race, class and body image? They are when they unintentionally single out a group of workers, for example, those who do not fit the clothes "well." That’s where things can get sticky.

WHAT CAN EMPLOYEES DO?

Non-unionized workers can try to encourage their employer to compromise, but if the company does not want to change, there is not a whole lot that can be done. But, employees who belong to a union can change some of these rules. Since dress codes have been known to interfere with employees’ right to make personal decisions about their appearance, unions can be successful in changing unreasonable dress codes, or ones that aren’t for a legitimate business purpose (i.e. safety or hygiene).