Sample Dress Code Policy for Business Attire

Employees Appreciate Guidance About What to Wear to Work

Four employees, a woman and three men, dressed in blue, denim, white and gray talk with each other in a workplace that has adopted a casual dress code.

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Recommended Simple Dress Code Policies

Want a simple, sample dress code policy that specifies business attire for work? You can use these sample dress code policies to tell employees how you expect them to dress for work. Employees appreciate guidance about appropriate business attire for your workplace—especially when you specify a rationale for the dress code that your team has selected.

If you need a more elaborate policy, you will want to take a look at the various business attire policies and illustrative business attire photo galleries that are highlighted below.

Here are simple, sample business attire policies for formal business attire, business casual attire, and casual business attire. Use the recommended policy most appropriate for your workplace.

Formal Dress Code Policy

[Company Name] expects employees to dress appropriately in business attire. Because our work environment sees frequent visits from customers, clients, and the public, professional business attire is essential for our reputation. The formality of our business attire makes clients and customers feel that they can trust our judgment and recommendations.

Proper business attire for men includes suits, sports jackets, and pants that are typical of formal business attire at work. For women, business attire includes pant and skirt suits and sports jackets appropriate to a formal business attire environment.

Employees are expected to demonstrate good judgment and professional taste. Courtesy to coworkers and your professional image to clients should be the factors that are used to assess whether you are dressing in business attire that is appropriate.

We will deal with employees who wear business attire that is deemed inappropriate in this workplace setting on an individual basis rather than subjecting all employees to a more stringent dress code for appropriate business attire.

Business Casual Dress Code

[Company Name] expects employees to dress appropriately in business casual attire. Because our work environment serves customers, professional business casual attire is essential. Customers make decisions about the quality of our products and services based on their interaction with you.

Consequently, business casual attire includes suits, pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and dresses that, while not formal, are appropriate for a business environment.

Examples of appropriate business attire include a polo shirt with pressed khaki pants, a sweater and a shirt with corduroy pants, a jacket with a skirt or slacks and a blouse or a sweater with a skirt or pants. Pantsuits and sports jackets also fit the business casual work environment if they are not too formal.

Jeans, t-shirts, shirts without collars and footwear such as flip-flops, sneakers, and sandals are not appropriate for business casual attire. 

Employees are expected to demonstrate good judgment and professional taste. Use courtesy towards coworkers and your professional image to customers as the factors you use to assess whether you are dressing in business attire that is appropriate.

Employees who wear business attire that is deemed inappropriate in this workplace will be dealt with on an individual basis rather than subjecting all employees to a more stringent dress code for appropriate business attire.

Casual Dress Code

[Company Name] expects employees to dress appropriately in business attire of a casual nature. Our work environment for employees encourages employees to dress comfortably for work. Please do not wear anything that other employees might find offensive or that might make coworkers uncomfortable.

It includes clothing with profane language statements or clothing that promotes causes that include, but are not limited to, politics, religion, sexuality, race, age, gender, and ethnicity.

Our goal is to provide a workplace environment that is comfortable and inclusive for all employees. We expect that your business attire, although casual, will exhibit common sense and professionalism.

Employees are expected to demonstrate good judgment and professional taste. Courtesy towards coworkers and your professional image to coworkers are the factors you need to use to assess whether you are dressing in business attire that is appropriate.

We will deal with employees who wear business attire that is inappropriate in this workplace on an individual basis rather than subjecting all employees to a more stringent dress code for appropriate business attire. 

Business Attire at Work

These simple, sample dress code policies that specify business attire at work are provided as guides for your customized policy development. Depending on your workplace culture, you may not want more detailed policies. Since fewer policies, and more simple policies, are always encouraged whenever possible, these simple dress codes for business attire may serve you well. An acknowledgment form of the dress code may also be a useful tool for you to use.

You are encouraged to use policies as guidelines for your many functional, contributing employees. The few that aren't? Deal with them individually rather than subjecting your entire workforce to detailed, stringent policies they don't need. Your employees will thank you since too often policies are put in place because of the actions of a few employees—not the appropriate behavior of the many.

The Bottom Line

Your employees like to have guidance about what is proper and expected attire in their workplace. As you approach the adoption of any dress code, though, put in place a minimal amount of guidance to ensure a workplace that meets your standards. When employees understand and support the logic behind the dress code policy chosen, you will rarely need to police the policy. And, that's a thank goodness for you, as an employer.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality. The site is read by a world-wide audience and ​employment laws and regulations vary from state to state and country to country. Please seek legal assistance, or assistance from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct for your location. This information is for guidance, ideas, and assistance.