My company has a dress code policy that allows women to wear sandals but excludes men - is this discrimination

Question

I work for a conservative Health insurance company and the public does not see me.
I have a desk job, I am in my 3 x 5 cell mean cubical for 95% of the day staring at my LCD screen and assiting provider offices with claim issues. It's not right/fair that during the HOT summer months that I have to wear dress shoes 5 days a week and women can wear open toe shoes/ thong sandals or pretty much whatever they want. I dress very nicely, dress slacks, polos shirts and there are fashionable leather sandels for men. I propose NO open toe shoes for either sex then! Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Answer 1

No. You shouldn't wear a skirt either. (Even if you are Scot)

Answer 2

Hi. I did a little research and found some information that may be helpful. My company had a similar dress code policy, but it more along the lines of religious attire. Here's some info I was able to find: Sex discrimination claims typically are not successful unless the dress policy has no basis in social customs, differentiates significantly between men and women, or imposes a greater burden on women. Thus, a policy that requires female managers to wear uniforms while male managers are allowed to wear "professional dress" may be discriminatory. However, dress requirements that reflect current social norms generally are upheld, even when they affect only one sex. For example, in a decision by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Harper v. Blockbuster Entertainment Corp., 139 F.3d 1385 (11th Cir. 1998), the court upheld an employer’s policy that required only male employees to cut their long hair.

Be aware, though, that at least one state, California, prohibits employers from implementing a dress code that does not allow women to wear pants in the workplace. According to Section 12947.5 of the California Government Code, it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to prohibit an employee from wearing pants because of the sex of the employee. The California law does make exceptions so employees in certain occupations can be required to wear uniforms.

Sorry for the long answer, but I hope it is helpful at least!

Answer 3

Nah, it's really not. Even though it's a business environment, women's PROFESSIONAL clothing is still pretty casual. They don't wear ties, the skirt can be pretty much any length and open toe shoes and closed toe shoes don't really make much of a difference.

Men's clothing is pretty easy to define. A suit is a suit. Dress shoes are dress shoes.

My advice, get over it. Dress like a man, not a chick. Wear shoes and worry about bigger things. Like how to spend all the extra money you get paid more than a woman.

Answer 4

diverse workplace surroundings have diverse gown codes. a production surroundings may lend itself better to the organisation informal gown code of dockers and golfing shirts while a company workplace could its workers to placed on better formal dresses which include outfits and matches. what's the ambience contained in the workplace? Why is this communicate mandatory? Is sexual harassment an difficulty or professionalism? those are the questions you need to ask your self and reply with the right recommendations. i believe the internet has many aspects for this difficulty.

Answer 5

In my office it is the same way. Women walking around on these hot days in sandals while us guys have to wear dress shoes and socks. No wonder our feet stink!

Totally unfair!

Answer 6

are you asking for opinion or are you looking for legal advice? my opinion is that its not discrimination, its common sense. more womens shoes are in the style of sandals. especially depending on the season and what the current fashions are. just look at a womans shoe store when you pass by.

Answer 7

Your company notes that there are differences between men and women. Would you have the same question about men not being permitted to wear skirts?

Answer 8

No, because men have stinky feet. I live in a country where it is acceptable for men to walk around without shirts on but I would get arrested; is that discrimination?

Answer 9

This is very common.....where I work, I was chided for wearing an undershirt that was not white, when the women are free to wear just about anything; double-standard is what I call it.

Answer 10

Absolutely.

Answer 11

No it is not. Women wear dresses and skirts men do not. Just think of it that way.