Dress Codes in the Workplace
Published on: 24/11/2016
Issues Covered:
Article Authors The main content of this article was provided by the following authors.
Olga Pollock HR Manager, Kinecx Energy (formerly Firmus Energy) Networks
Olga Pollock HR Manager, Kinecx Energy (formerly Firmus Energy) Networks
Olga pollock

Olga started her HR career back in 2002 at Administrator level and worked her way up to Human Resources Manager responsible for managing the entire HR life-cycle in a fast-paced tech environment. Olga has presented at many tech events and has conducted TV and radio interviews as well as producing internal and external promotional videos to promote the employer brand.

After leaving the software sector Olga worked in the public sector in an interim Employee Relations position before moving to Phoenix Natural Gas as Human Resources Manager responsible for both HR and payroll. Here Olga digitised the recruitment process and created a health and wellbeing strategy among other things.

Still within the utilities sector, Olga moved to firmus energy as HR Manager in August 2019 where she focuses on  employee engagement through an array of engagement interventions.

Olga has a BA Hons in Sociology and a Post Graduate level Diploma in Human Resource Management. She also holds a NEBOSH certificate in Health & Safety Management and is a member of the CIPD.

Olga strives to add value to any organisation she works in with the genuine belief that employers have a duty to create an environment where people want to come to work every day and contribute to the success of the organisation; just like the janitor in NASA!

The thought of telling staff what they can and cannot wear has never really sat very well with me, particularly in the wake of recent cases such as that of the Receptionist who was sent home from work for refusing to wear high heels.

This may seem like a pretty blatant example of sexual discrimination, however where do we stand with more delicate matters such as the wearing of religious attire? And is it acceptable to demand a 'neutral' environment which is surely at odds with promoting diversity and respecting differences?

High profile case law examples ⚓︎

If you’re considering introducing a dress code policy in work, particularly where one did not previously exist, employers should do so cautiously. Health

Continue reading

We help hundreds of people like you understand how the latest changes in employment law impact your business.

Already a subscriber?

Please log in to view the full article.

What you'll get:

  • Help understand the ramifications of each important case from NI, GB and Europe
  • Ensure your organisation's policies and procedures are fully compliant with NI law
  • 24/7 access to all the content in the Legal Island Vault for research case law and HR issues
  • Receive free preliminary advice on workplace issues from the employment team

Already a subscriber? Log in now or start a free trial

Disclaimer The information in this article is provided as part of Legal Island's Employment Law Hub. We regret we are not able to respond to requests for specific legal or HR queries and recommend that professional advice is obtained before relying on information supplied anywhere within this article. This article is correct at 24/11/2016