What Are You Wearing?

Posted Jan 20, 2009 by Lara

In today’s world “professional dress” seems to not have clear cut rules anymore. Many young professionals are wondering just what is “professional dress.” I have seen body alterations (piercings and tattoos), open toed shoes, skirts with no pantyhose or tights, jackets with no ties on men, and jeans jeans jeans!

Over the last 50 years workplace attire has changed dramatically. That’s fine, but what happens when companies have not updated their dress code policies in the last 50 years? There are many websites and seminars available to help guide you on how to dress professionally for your industry, company or job. Rule number one should be, look at your current dress code policy. If it seems outdated share your thoughts with your boss. You can also research the updated policies of similar companies.

Just for fun, here is a table of companies, their policies on tattoos and comments clarifying what the policy means.

COMPANY

TATTOO POLICY

COMMENT

Boeing
Chicago

"Non-offensive" tattoos permitted

"I've seen people at all levels with tattoos and piercings," says spokeswoman Barbara Murphy.

White & Case
New York City

None

"There are undoubtedly people who have tattoos (but) it's certainly not conspicuous," says spokesperson Roger Cohen.

Wal-Mart Stores
Bentonville, Ark.

"Non-offensive" tattoos OK to show

"If they're not offensive, I don't see it as an issue," says spokesman Thomas Williams.

Tenet Healthcare
Santa Barbara, Calif.

None

"The key point in our policy is that the appearance must be appropriate to the position," says spokes-person Steven Campanini. "What we do is rely on local hospitals to enforce what is appropriate."

Ford Motor
Dearborn, Mich.

"Non-offensive" tattoos permitted

"It's left up to people to use their own discretion," said spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari.

Subway Restaurants
Milford, Conn.

Discrete tattoos permitted

Company literature specifies: "Non-dangling earrings in the ears only. Any other visible parts of body may not be adorned with jewelry."

-- “Professional Dress Code and Tattoos” by Burleson Consulting; Oracle Consulting.

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