Church Employee Dress Code

 

As a grade-schooler I learned the discipline of dress code because I went to a private school that required uniforms.  The positive aspect of wearing a uniform is that it takes the thinking out of what to wear in the morning, the downside is uniforms are usually boring and get old really quick.  The reason many schools have uniforms is to enforce a consistent look for all the kids.

When I entered the workforce, the dress code for office workers was fairly formal.  Most required women to wear dresses or skirts and eventually business pant suites became very common.  Through the years the formality faded and business casual became more popular.  As the Silicon Valley techie companies came into being, casual dress began to break the corporate rules for dress and casual clothes became more common place.  Businesses started to have casual Fridays when employees could wear their khakis and polo shirt and more recently casual Fridays very often mean blue jeans.

Is a dress code necessary in a church office?

Proper office dress codes are kind of a drag because no one really wants to be told what they have to wear to work and no manager really wants to confront an employee who doesn’t comply with the code.  But office dress code guidelines are usually written because one employee crossed the line and forced a formal dress code policy.

According to a salary.com survey, some respondents felt like a dress code made the workplace feel professional while others didn’t agree that wearing jeans would affect job performance.  A small percentage of respondents were not even sure of what their companies dress code policy was, and those that were aware of a dress code said that it was unclear – which leads to confusion.  Nearly 25% said their office dress code was too lenient and shared stories of low cut tops, holes in blue jeans and exposed body piercings and tattoos that they considered inappropriate for the office.

So what things should you consider when creating church office dress code guidelines?

1. Church Culture

Every church has an organizational culture  that should dictate church office dress code policies.  The way employees dress is a direct reflection of the ministry and communicates such.  This doesn’t mean that the blue jean and t-shirt culture at Apple is unprofessional - they are very professional –but it is more so reflective of their particular culture.  Think of meeting with your financial advisor and seeing them in blue jeans and a t-shirt might make you question their professionalism.  It’s all about the culture and what you are trying to communicate to the congregants, volunteers and visitors.

2. Clear Expectations

Creating a workplace dress code helps employees understand expectations and boundaries for dress. If the employee policies provide a level of detail it communicates clear examples of what is appropriate and what is not.

3. Office Distractions

Part of the reason schools have kids wear uniforms is to minimize the distractions that come with some styles of clothing.  The same is true in any kind of office setting.  Whether it is clothes that fits too tightly, shows a little too much skin or is dirty and not well groomed, all of these things can create distractions in the workplace.

4. Consistency in Application

One of the biggest mistakes organizations make is not being consistent in policy enforcement.  When a policy is written and not enforced consistently, it can create difficulties in the workplace.  If you are going to create a dress code policy, it is important to make sure it is enforced without bias and consistently throughout the church workplace.

When creating your dress code policy consider the culture you are trying to reflect to the community, the atmosphere you want your employees to enjoy and the boundaries employees need to abide by.  Whether your culture is blue jeans and t-shirts or business suites and ties, it should reflect the church’s personality and culture.

Does your church office have a dress code policy?

photo by: rustman