Are Summer Dress Codes Unfair to the Trans Community?

Employment expert explains how companies can ensure their dress codes are equitable for all

With summer temperatures climbing, employees are looking for ways to keep cool while in the office. But what happens when office dress codes are biased towards the cis community?

Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert, says, “Summer dress codes present a big issue for many companies. This is a particularly important to discuss as June is Pride Month, and many dress codes are seen as transphobic.”

So how companies create a comprehensive and equitable dress code for men and women, including those in the LGBTQIA community?

Here, employment expert Wilson outlines the important steps that companies of every size should take:

  1. Don’t use gender-specific language in your company policies. “For example, instead of saying ‘Women should not wear miniskirts’ or ‘Men must wear a tie’ simply state ‘No miniskirts’ or ‘Business professional attire required.’ Don’t assume that all of your employees identify as cissexual or that they all dress according to specific gender stereotypes.”
  2. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. “If you allow your female staff to wear dark nail polish and edgy hair styles like pastel dye, then realize that is setting a precedent for the entire office. This means that all of your employees, including transwomen or men or those who identify as non-binary, will expect to have equal rights when it comes to expressing their fashion tastes. If you want to limit such expressions of individuality, then make a policy that only light nail polish is allowed and that no extreme hair colors or styles are permitted.”
  3. Send out a reminder at the start of each season. “As the weather gets warmer, more people are going to start reaching for open-toed shoes and sundresses,” says Wilson. “Now is the best time to send out a mass email to your staff with clear and concise instructions about summer dress.”
  4. Understand that many people view office temperature as sexist. “There has been a large movement lately of women stating that the chilly temperatures in offices are sexist,” says Wilson. “Sounds a little odd, but the idea is that men in suit jackets desire a cooler temperature, whereas women who are dressed in traditional feminine clothing such as skirts and silk tops will feel cold in such temps. Make sure that your office temperature does not prioritize one person’s comfort over another, and perhaps allow your employees to remove their suit jackets in the office.”
  5. Be open to education. “Not sure if your office policies are up to snuff?” asks Wilson. “Hire a sensitivity expert who can help teach you and your employees important lessons about cross-cultural differences. Whether it is a trans employee or an employee who wears a hijab, it is important that everyone’s rights are respected in the office, as it relates to dress codes and beyond.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.