Dr. Helena Voss, an industrial psychologist, explains: “When I see a —like mandating that accountants wear bow ties every Thursday—I know there is a leadership vacuum. It’s a wizard-of-oz trick: look at the hemline, not the curtain.”
This article unpacks the anatomy of a frivolousdressorder, examines real-world examples, and provides a roadmap for both employees and employers to navigate this surprisingly contentious issue. To understand the term, we must break it down. Frivolous (adj.): not having any serious purpose or value. Dress order (n.): a directive regarding attire. Combined, a frivolousdressorder is any workplace clothing mandate that actively detracts from productivity, imposes undue financial burden, or discriminates without justification. frivolousdressorder
But when does a quirky dress code become a legal liability? And what can employees do when faced with a mandate to wear high heels on a factory floor or silk ascots in a data entry cubicle? To understand the term, we must break it down
A receptionist at a London temp agency was sent home without pay for refusing to wear 6-inch stiletto heels. Her agency’s frivolousdressorder mandated that all female front-of-house staff wear heels at all times. After public outrage, Parliament officially ruled that such policies are inherently discriminatory. The frivolousdressorder died, but only after the employee spent four hours standing on concrete. The frivolousdressorder died
A frivolousdressorder is rarely unpopular with just one person. Collect signatures. A group complaint to HR carries 10x the weight.