Where going commando could cost you your job
- Friday, June 19, 2009, 12:02
- 23 comments
Have you ever arrived at the office a little whiffy after a run for the bus, worn a vest top to show off a new tattoo, or skipped wearing underwear to keep you skirt looking seamless? Well for some workers, such behaviour will now cost them their jobs.
In Brooksville, Florida, the City Council has introduced a strict regime to ensure its workers are neat, clean and smelling fresh. The council voted 4-1 in favour of a new dress and appearance policy that will see skimpy clothing and braless outfits banned.
Mayor Joe Bernardini was the only member of the five-strong board to vote against the policy, expressing concern about how it could be enforced:
“They said you had to wear undergarments, but who’s going to be the judge of that? Sometimes when it comes to certain people going bra-less, it’s obvious. But who’s staring to see if that person doesn’t have underwear on?”
But City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha defended the policy, arguing that is was simply there “if something becomes an issue or problem. Then we want to be able to address it. It’s just good policy.”
The policy lists a raft of requirements which prescribe almost every element of a worker’s appearance. All workers who wear uniforms must keep them “neat, cleaned and pressed” while all other workers must avoid any clothing that could be deemed “distracting, offensive or revealing”. This includes a ban on halter tops, Spandex, or any skirts “worn below the waistline such that the abdomen or back is exposed”. Going commando is a definite no no.
And all but the most understated bodily adornments are out, with earrings now the only permitted body-piercings to have on show. And if you’ve suffered a cut or graze, you’d better cover up as the council won’t stand for wounds on show.
Break the rules once, and you’ll be sent home without pay, turn up sans-bra repeatedly and you’ll be given your marching orders.
The policy move follows an unsuccessful attempt by former council member Mary Staib, who tried to introduce a dress code in November 1996 after an allegation of sexual harassment. Her policy would have seen an end to denim, spaghetti-strap dresses, leggings, low-cut tops, and midriff bearing tops. Anything that could arouse the male staff was set to go, with skirts required to reach the knee with splits limited to no more than an inch.
When proposing the policy, Ms. Staid said:
“Men have it hard enough just to do a day’s work and not be enticed by a woman who is not dressed properly. If you have to bend over for the bottom file . . . that would entice any man, unless he is not completely a man.”
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23 Comments on “Where going commando could cost you your job”
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May I suggest bourkhas as official clothing? And while you’re at it, separate the men’s working area from the women’s because of course we can not fully rely on men restraining themselves.
I can understand where they are coming from, but its just said they have to enact a law to get people to dress appropriately to work. I work in an office that has a pretty lax dress code (a lot of us wear jeans and a t-shirt), but we all look neat and presentable at least.
I agree with the author, it should only be important if it makes a difference. In some jobs you could never know.
When it comes to approve such a law, the first question is “who will control” and the second “who controls the contollers”.
Of course being properly dressed means respect towards the co-workers and your very self, but the common sense should work enough. One step further and you’ll have a code for any simple personal decision and self-expression (after all, wht is clothing if not a mean of self expression?). A second step further may lead to the Big Brother and I mean the story in the Orwell book, not the TV show.
To me it sounds a bit scary.
Cleanliness and good appearance is important in the workplace.
But like everything in terms of morality: we must lead by example and encouraged.
Anyway seems a bit exaggerated what was done in Brooksville FL
It’s an understandable policy, but I think they would be come under legal scrutiny if they actually fired someone for not wearing underwear.
“Men have it hard enough just to do a day’s work and not be enticed by a woman who is not dressed properly.”
I know, seriously. What women need to wear are the bright blue burkas from Afghanistan. Now there is a society that knows how to keep its men from going crazy with lust. Seriously, the thought of seeing a woman’s ankle makes me need to go spend a little “quality time” with myself i you catch my drift (and I think you do). One little view of cleavage and all my brain can focus on is being a sex pest.
What idiots these people are.
wow talk about a sexist attitude Ms Staid. So gay men aren’t really men because they might not be sexually attracted to women? Who’s going to start checking for boxers and briefs?
I think that dress codes are acceptable in any business. However, I am concerned that the code is directed toward women in a manner that is deeming. Ms. Staid’s comment, “Men have it hard enough just to do a day’s work and not be enticed by a woman who is not dressed properly. If you have to bend over for the bottom file . . . that would entice any man, unless he is not completely a man” is outragous. Suggesting that men are unable to perform the work because of an attractive woman is rediculous. This is the same mentality of blaming a rape on a woman because she wore a mini skirt or a low cut blouse.
look sharp, be sharp. While I think its the city council’s choice to apply a dress code to ensure a professinal work enviroment I dissagree with the assumption that wearing skimpy clothing might entice a man to do something un professional. I am male, 100%, but I have reasoning and a code of ethics. I believe that is the difference between”men” and animals. Sure, it may be that the flash gives us a breif inner smile of enjoyment but, unlike our aminal friends I for one have the mental control to make a choice and be professional and ethical. Unlike the standard assumption, MOST men would be professional. Dont lable us all because of the weaker members of the male section, please.
Soooooo…..how do they plan on enforcing the “commando” policy? Mandatory underwear check? LMAO
I think personally if there is a good looking woman that no matter what they are wearing men will be attracted to them. But I guess the dress code idea does make some since and a reasonable dress code could help some. I personally think that if a woman wants to dress with a bit skimpy dress that it is OK, but if it is in the work place it is at the employers discretion of what is appropriate.
I believe that the last few paragraphs of the article refer to a “former” board member and what she said thirteen years ago in 1996, not the current version.
To enforce the new code they will have to install one of those new airport scanners than can see through cloths. Anyone caught not wearing underwear will have there photo posted on the bulletin board in the break room and spend the rest of the day in the newly installed pillory.
Caption: After today Helen decided to never wear a short skirt again.
http://www.owenmagic.com/Escapes/H_Pillory/1408C.jpg
I have always thought that such policies or statements about what women wear were an insult to male intelligence in that there is an assumption that men cannot control themselves around women however, on reading the male comments on here I may have to change my thinking!
Ridiculous that a law has to be put in place to get people to dress decently. A good manager doesn’t need a law to be able to tell someone that they are dressed with too much flesh on show.
Can I wear a peep hole bra and a sheer blouse then? I’m still wearing a bra and am within the law.
If you are going to enforce the dress code, then you might as well go as far as ordering company uniforms. Many corporate hotels have uniforms that look just like normal suites and dress attire for employees. Since it is a government business than get uniforms for more than just the service workers. As for checking the underwear, panty hose are underwear, thongs are underwear, pasties that hide the nipples are underwear, so when do you draw the line? I think it is sexist to say that men can’t think aound a inappropriately dressed woman. A man will be attracted to her no matter what she wears. I know that from experience!!!
There need to be guide lines working for and with any business.
In other there should be some sort of rules if folks fall out of line or get out of line.
I have been in business for 23 years now and even my company has guide lines.
Sincerely,
David
I can understand wanting employees to look presentable but some aspects of this are ridiculous… if I was to show up to work in a skirt of acceptable length and chose to wear a thong to show no “panty line” am i going to have to drop my skirt to prove I DO have SOMETHING on underneath?
how the heck did they check whether the underpants are on or not.
this is one great rules.
The should Burkha off
There will be people queuing for miles for the job of Underwear Inspector. All staff could walk over a mirror on their way into work whilst being frisked and scanned for metal. Or maybe one of those new airport scanners that see beneath your clothes, and a thermal scanner to pick up any infected wounds. Add a retina scan and blood test while you’re at it just think how much you could know about your staff. Excellent for recruitment profiling and staff development plans.
As always, people always take to extremes, any attempt to improve things. Wearing a flimsy blouse which shows clearly no bra with the nipples clearly visible is not the same as wearing only a blouse when no breasts, let alone nipples, can be seen. Likewise if a female squats or bends over exposing her private parts due to lack of undergarments or clothing that can be seen through showing the same, cannot be compared with someone wearing thick or appropriate enough clothes where nothing private can be seen. So stupid remarks like “how do you check for underclothes” is fatuousness. Similarly someone smelling slightly of B O can be less pleasant than someone smelling like a scent factory on legs. But someone smelling like a fish market needs to be made aware.
Some years ago during a first aid test a large woman was used as a accident victim. Everyone there complained to the person in charge about her, very strong, fishy smell. The person in charge said to everyone about the importance of personal hygiene to avoid offending other people with their personal smells. The very person who the message was aimed at piped up and said “absolutely right too”. Nothing changed as she was oblivious to the comments aimed at her or her disgusting smell so they all had to contend with her none existent hygiene.
On the other hand I told a person not to turn up for work if he didn’t have a bath and get rid of his terrible B O. He argued it was a good smell but did have a bath. Ditto another time and another person.
These what I would call “tarts on legs” can show all they want in private but not at work.
I must admit there is nothing better than a really pretty woman. I love looking at them AND often tell them they are very attractive. It is totally unnecessary to expose the more private parts. It can be argued that doing so makes them less attractive. Summer and pretty ladies in pretty dresses, brilliant.
I am 70 years old now but still appreciate real beauty.
I’ll volunteer for checking of underwear!