A Dress Code Policy is a fundamental element of your company’s culture and professional image - it outlines how employees, contractors and external representatives are expected to present themselves while at work. It helps uphold brand standards, supports safety, and ensures clarity around appearance expectations.
Whether you’re drafting your first policy or updating an existing one, this guide walks you through what to include, how to write it effectively, and provides a downloadable Dress Code Policy template you can tailor for your own team.
Why a Dress Code Policy matters
A clear Dress Code Policy sets the tone for how your team presents your organisation to clients, partners and the public. It helps communicate professional standards, promotes a unified image, and prevents misunderstandings about acceptable appearance at work.
It also supports health, safety and inclusion standards. For example, appropriate footwear may be required in operational roles, and cultural or religious dress considerations must be accommodated fairly.
Key sections to include in your Dress Code Policy
A robust Dress Code Policy covers more than just “what to wear”. It captures your company values, role expectations, grooming standards and specific examples. Below are essential sections every policy should include:
1. Purpose and Scope. Explain why the policy exists, and who it applies to (employees, contractors, temps, etc.).
2. Company Standards & Values. Describe how appearance relates to your brand, culture and values (e.g., professionalism, respect, safety).
3. General Appearance Guidelines. Provide rules around clean/tidy clothing, fit, condition, hygiene, and appropriateness for the workplace.
4. Role-Specific Dress Standards. Address different dress codes by function: client-facing, office, field, remote, uniforms, etc.
5. Grooming and Personal Presentation. Cover hairstyles, facial hair, tattoos, piercings, fragrances, and other appearance factors.
6. Safety & Functional Attire. Define requirements tied to PPE, uniforms, or special work-areas (e.g., open-toe shoes prohibited, hi-vis vests).
7. Cultural, Religious & Medical Considerations. Explicitly state how personal or cultural dress practices are accommodated within the policy.
8. Non-compliance and Consequences. Explain correction steps, warnings and potential disciplinary procedures when the dress code is violated.
9. Review, Updates & Contact. Clarify who to contact for questions, how often the policy is reviewed, and how changes are communicated.
How to create your own Dress Code Policy
Start by reflecting your organisation’s brand, culture and the image you want to present. Then evaluate the different work environments within your business (office, customer-facing, remote, field) to tailor dress expectations accordingly.
Use clear, simple language - avoid overly legalistic terms. Provide real-world examples of acceptable and unacceptable attire to make expectations unmistakable.
After drafting, review the policy with leadership, HR and legal teams. Communicate it to all staff, and schedule regular reviews as roles, business contexts and workplace norms evolve.
Sample Dress Code Policy Template
Use the structure below to build your policy. Copy and adapt it to reflect your own organization’s needs.
Company Name: __________________________ Policy Title: Dress Code Policy Effective Date: ________________________ Approved By: ___________________________ PURPOSE The purpose of this Dress Code Policy is to establish the standards for professional appearance at [Company Name]. We believe that employee presentation plays a key role in how we are perceived by clients, partners and the public. This policy ensures that all team members represent the Company with consistency, respect and professionalism. SCOPE This policy applies to all employees, contractors, interns, volunteers and temporary staff at [Company Name], regardless of location or role. 1. GENERAL APPEARANCE GUIDELINES Employees must wear attire that is clean, well-fitting, in good condition, and appropriate for their role and work environment. Clothing should not be revealing, offensive, or distracting. Employees are expected to maintain acceptable personal grooming and hygiene. 2. ROLE-SPECIFIC DRESS STANDARDS • Client-facing and formal roles: Business professional attire (suits, tailored dresses, blazers, dress shoes). • Office/internal roles: Business casual attire (collared shirts, sweaters, chinos, flats or loafers). • Field/operational/customer-service roles: Clean, well-maintained casual attire (jeans permitted if in good condition, polos, clean shoes). • Uniformed staff: Must wear the company-issued uniform, kept clean and in good condition; any branded apparel should be worn as directed. 3. GROOMING AND PERSONAL PRESENTATION Hair must be clean and groomed. Facial hair is allowed but must be neatly trimmed. Tattoos and piercings are permitted if not offensive and in accordance with client or safety restrictions. Excessive fragrances should be avoided in shared or scent-sensitive work environments. 4. SAFETY AND FUNCTIONAL ATTIRE Employees working in operational, industrial or outdoor environments must comply with posted safety apparel requirements (e.g., steel-toe shoes, high-visibility vests, protective gloves). Open-toe shoes and sandals are not permitted in designated areas. 5. CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS & MEDICAL ACCOMMODATIONS The Company respects all cultural, religious and medical dress or grooming practices. Employees may request accommodations by contacting HR, provided they do not conflict with health, safety or legal obligations. 6. NON-COMPLIANCE AND CONSEQUENCES First Violation: Supervisor provides informal coaching about appropriate attire. Second Violation: Formal written warning and documentation. Ongoing or Severe Violations: May result in being sent home to change, suspension or termination of employment. Immediate action may be taken if attire presents a safety hazard, disrupts the workplace or damages the Company’s reputation. ACKNOWLEDGMENT I acknowledge that I have read, understood, and agree to comply with the [Company Name] Dress Code Policy. I understand that violations may result in disciplinary measures. Employee Name: __________________________ Signature: _______________________________ Date: ____________________________________
Disclaimer
Important: This document is an example of a Dress Code Policy designed for informational purposes only. While it follows best practice for small to medium-sized organisations, you must adapt and tailor it to reflect your company’s size, jurisdiction, industry and culture.
The sample policy and template provided on this page do not constitute legal advice. No legal liability or responsibility is accepted by or on behalf of Everhour, Shifts or their partners for any errors, omissions or statements within this document. Everhour and Shifts accept no responsibility for any loss, damage or inconvenience caused by reliance on such information.
How to implement and communicate your Dress Code Policy
Implementation matters just as much as writing the policy. Introduce the policy during onboarding, require acknowledgement, and make it easy to access - both digitally and in print.
Host a brief orientation or training session focused on appearance expectations, grooming standards, and role-specific guidelines. Reinforce these through team meetings, performance reviews and periodic reminders.
Finally, schedule an annual review of the Dress Code Policy. As your company evolves, workplace norms shift, and industry trends change, keeping your policy up to date ensures relevance and consistency.
Benefits for your organization
A clear Dress Code Policy promotes a cohesive professional image, boosts team confidence, and reduces confusion about appearance standards. It helps protect your brand and supports inclusion by setting transparent expectations.
Organisations with well-communicated appearance policies report improved employee satisfaction, stronger team identity and fewer appearance-related issues or disciplinary events.
When everyone understands how they’re expected to present themselves, your workplace becomes more predictable, respectful and polished - a strong foundation for success.
The bottom line
A Dress Code Policy isn’t just about clothing - it reflects your organisation’s values, culture and how you want to be seen by the world. Define clear expectations, communicate them openly, and lead by example.
With this free template and guide, you can draft a Dress Code Policy that aligns with your business goals, supports your workforce, and enhances your professional image.
