Is it wrong for an employer to make female workers wear skirts and dresses instead of slacks?

Question

I work in the funeral service industry and the supposed reason for this policy is to show respect to the families of the deceased.

Answer 1

Hum... does your employer not allow you to wear slacks? If so then I would say that is wrong. I mean I understand if they ask you to dress nicely out of respect. But who are they to say the only way that a women can dress respectfully is by wearing a skirt? Yup, that sounds pretty wrong to me.

Answer 2

As a funeral director and owner of a funeral home, I would want staff members who come into contact with families to dress as professionally as possible. But as an employer I know that I can be accused of sexual discrimination if I require some employees to wear slacks and others to wear dresses--based on their gender.

What I do is tell my staff that professional attire is required, give them very detailed SUGGESTIONS and EXAMPLES as to what constitutes professional attire (dark suits and ties for gentlemen, dark dresses or skirts for women). I also let them know that it is incumbent on a funeral professional to be the best dressed person at the funeral. That doesn't mean the most expensively dressed, just the most appropriate and professional. I make it clear that those who are the most professional will be given greater opportunity for advancement and those who do not dress professionally can expect a shorter career.

And most importantly, I lead by example.

The funeral business must be about trust and service. Families are showing you the greatest respect by allowing you the honor of caring for their deceased loved one. As a funeral professional, it is the least one can do to take the extra time and effort to show respect for the family and the deceadent by any means within our abilities and control.

There are plenty of businesses where a more relaxed attire is sufficient. This isn't one of them.

The basic question to ask yourself is, "If it were my mother's funeral, and I had just paid someone thousand of dollars to provide professional services, how would I feel if the funeral director showed up in casual attire?"

Answer 3

I can see how it can be construed as sexist to force a female employee to wear a skirt or dress, but it's no different than asking a man to wear a suit and tie to work rather than khaki pants and polo shirt. At my boyfriend's office this year they changed the dress code and made it more formal. My boyfriend was forced to pretty much buy a whole new wardrobe because of it, but those were the rules.

If it's the dress code, then it must be followed. If you don't feel comfortable with it, then you can always find work with a less stringent dress code.

Answer 4

I don't think it's "wrong" persay.......but I don't agree with it.

Personally I would like to see the funeral staff looking like me and not some snotty overbearing group of people attempting to look professional while sticking to the conservitive woes of society.

WHoops did I cross the line? I don't like dresses. Sure sure they look nice at times, but I have never understood the difference of wearing a skirt or dress as a woman WITH HOSE, while a man could wear a pair of slacks and a nice collared shirt with a fancy tie. It's sexist and demeaning to me.

Granted I work in a male dominated industry with a lot of manual labor, if I wore a skirt or dress to work I'd be laughed at and possibly sexually harrassed. But then I'm a tomboy who feels I can dress up formally in a pair of jeans assuming the rest of the clothes on me reflected the atmosphere.

I'm betting your boss is an older gentleman stuck in religious overtones, or a young republican trying to make a name for himself by being an @ss. Women can be responsible enough and respectable enough in a great looking pair of pants. Be the feminist in this and do somethng fun.

Head over to Elizabeth Arden's, buy an expensive suit and dress just like him. There is no need for gender domination in the workplace, especially when women workers have been on the rise for the last 50 years.

EDIT: I just read the boss comment, and that attitude is exactly why I left my last office job. Sure sure, it's not about the employee.....that's why the employer hires the employee to deal with the clients, right? *sarcasm* If the employee is not comfortable, how can the employer expect the employee to do a good job? If the boss wants to demand a certain type of clothing for the job, the boss needs to provide the clothing...or atleast an allowance to be spent on the clothing. Demanding people get nothing.....NOT EVEN MY BUSINESS. What's the name of your company?

Answer 5

I'm probably older than most respondents, here, and therefore have been to more funerals.

When in a funeral home or at a service, the last thing I want to see is some kid in the employ of the funeral home making a statement with a pantsuit. I don't care if she is more comfortable in pants, or not, because it's NOT about her.

I realize that, as the years have gone by, personal comfort and ease have become more important than... well, than anything else.

But, it's a funeral, for God's sake. Can't you manage to dress with appropriate formality even then?

Show a little respect. It's NOT all about you, all the time.

Answer 6

Employers can require workers to wear anything they want, and separate it by gender even. If they employer thinks it best that all the women under his employ should wear bikini tops and miniskirts, it's his right to do, especially if it's always been the established rule (as opposed to the new bikini dress code just being established when suddenly an attractive young girl comes to work there.)
I personally don't think anyone should require uniforms or dress codes at businesses, but it is generally considered right and acceptable to have them.

Answer 7

if there is a dress code where you work then that is just the way it is. the owner of the company feels that a woman should be in a dress than thats just the way it is. Its not sexist or wrong. If your not comfortable wearing a skirt or dress then you should seek other employment. I mean its like saying its sexist or wrong to make a guy shave for work.

Answer 8

I think it's wrong. Personally, I look a lot sexier in a skirt than in dress slacks and I would think looking sexy at a funeral home would be a bit more inappropriate. Traditionally, I understand that people feel a skirt is more formal for a woman. Older people might rather see you wearing a skirt.

Answer 9

I have been in business for my self for 42 years.As such I have a right to dictate how my business should be operated. For it is my customer I aim to please not my employees.
My employees are hired to benefit my company .They are not hired for their likes or dislikes of how I run my business.
I say this to all people if you work for me do your job my way or hit the highway.
To those who complain The only thing I owe you is Honesty on my part, and paycheck that reflects your contribution to my company's bottom line..You are not my buddy , my friend or adviser.
Also note I did not force you to go to work for me .And by the same token you sure as hell are not bound to stay.
I believe I speak for many business owners who developed and built their business from the ground up.And now have grown tired of employees who do not like their jobs because the rules do not suit their life styles.
Well do as we did get off your whinny butt and start your own business slave over it 16 plus hours a day 7 days a week for 20 years to build it into a viable and profitable company. After you have done all this and have learned how to be a success sit back and enjoy all the employee's who have a decent job because of all your labor whine and complain because you expect certain things from them.

Answer 10

I think its fine, and it makes you look more professional. Even when a female wears a costly slacks/poant sute it doesnt look as professional as a good skirt