Too Sexy for your job?

[Guest]

Virgin media (my isp) have just run some pages "hints and tips on how to pass interviews" following on from that is this page in full as there are the stories of interest and a the few lines of do's and don'ts.

hazardous to your career. This past year brought us two high-profile cases involving women who were deemed too sexy for their jobs.In the U.S., Harvard librarian Desiree Goodwin, who holds two post-graduate degrees from Cornell University, claimed that she was passed over for promotion sixteen times because of the way she dressed and her physical attractiveness. Goodwin claimed the jobs she sought were given to women with less experience and education and that a supervisor told her she was perceived as a "pretty girl" who wore "sexy outfits".

Meanwhile, on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, Caterina Bonci, a Roman Catholic religion teacher, said she was fired from her job at a state-run school for being too sexy. The school principal said both parents and teachers complained about her short skirts and extensive cleavage.

"In the 14 years I had this job, I have always been attacked by my female colleagues and the rest of the staff because of my attractiveness", Bonci was quoted saying in the Italian media.

"And if you consider that at our parent-teacher meetings it was always the fathers who came to see me, one can see why I have so often been at the centre of attention and a target of gossip".

Bonci failed to win her job back; Goodwin not only lost her civil law case, but also had to foot the bill for Harvard's legal costs.

Fair or not, courts around the U.S. are upholding employers' rights to ban "sexy" dressing in the workplace. Just how do the courts define "sexy"? According to Eric Matusewitch, deputy director of the New York City Equal Employment Practices Commission, the courts consider "sexy" attire to be clothing that is particularly revealing and of extreme fit, as well as excessive use of make-up.

To those who argue that this discriminates against women, Matusewitch replies, "The code applies equally to both sexes. So, if employers require men to dress conservatively, they can require women to avoid tight, flashy and revealing outfits as well".

But forget legalities. The cases of Goodwin and Bonci illustrate what career experts have always known: dressing provocatively is a sure-fire way to sabotage your credibility at the office.

"If you flaunt your figure in a professional setting, colleagues and clients may question your judgment or make unflattering assumptions about your character", warns Susan RoAne, lecturer, author and business etiquette expert, who adds that several clients have sought her advice on how to inform employees that their revealing attire detracts from the company's image.

"After all, who wants to entrust their child to a teacher who dresses as if she'd rather be clubbing or invest their money with a financial planner who looks like she should be swinging from a strippers' pole?"

With the current "skin is in" fashions and the media full of images that suggest provocative dress is acceptable – even desirable – in the workplace, how can you make sure you don't cross the line? Here are some guidelines:

Skirts: Too little is too much. Skirt lengths should be no more than one hand-width above the knee.

Tops: Make sure there is at least one-inch of room between body and fabric and that it is long enough to conceal your midriff. Stomach, breasts, back and shoulders should be covered. Fabric should not be overly thin and a bra should be worn (with no straps revealed).

Dresses: No halter tops or cleavage-baring necklines. Avoid overly snug fits. Hemlines should hit no more than one hand-width above the knee.

Trousers: Shun overly tight or hip-hugger trousers or jeans that expose the midriff. Stick with neutral colours.

Shoes: Heels should be no higher than two inches; toe should be closed. Avoid shoes with straps, bright colours and patterns.

Hair: Keep your hair sleek and off your face. Avoid the high-maintenance, over-processed look.

Make-up: Keep it clean and natural. Avoid heavy eyeliner or evening lipsticks.

"Clothing and appearance are visual shorthand," RoAne concludes. "The point is to be noticed for your business skills, not your short skirts or push-up bra.

"If you want a job, dress the part. If you want to show off your body... well, that's what your free time is for."

********

Well that guide is for the girls I presume.

There is a quote

"if employers require men to dress conservatively,"

There is no guide for the boys.....

So those inclined obviously can totally go over the top or ignore as desired. However with so many companies having to soft sit and nanny us in the work place I'm surprised we aren't clothed in nappies and padded romper suits.

Al

[Bubba136]

[quote=Alsheels;

********

Well that guide is for the girls I presume.

There is a quote

"if employers require men to dress conservatively,"

There is no guide for the boys.....

So those inclined obviously can totally go over the top or ignore as desired. However with so many companies having to soft sit and nanny us in the work place I'm surprised we aren't clothed in nappies and padded romper suits. Al

[TooTall]

Oh, they have dress codes for men, too. They aren't publicized too often, because men in general aren't flashy dressers. If anything, men get tagged for dressing too casually. There is some logic to this. If you're teaching at an elementary or high school level, you probably shouldn't be showing cleavage. Not appropriate for the mission of the organization, definitely sends the wrong message to boys with hormones kicking in. In the business place, customers and professional associates judge the company by the appearance of the people, amongst many other things. A sexy woman showing off might catch their eye, but in a lot of businesses, it would be considered inappropriate and distracting. (oh, what a way to be distracted) We had this come up from time to time in the accounts payable division on the floor below me. It was always women, and it was always lectures on not showing too much skin, or whatever else they were showing. OTOH, a woman can exhibit just a bit of hourglass in a business suit, and I'll be imagining what's underneath for the rest of the day. Look on the bright side - I worked in a building that had girl computer geeks. Looking at them, with baggy jeans, ragged tennis shoes, loose sweat tops, and unkempt hair, I can see why I had trouble getting a date in my younger years.

[Dawn HH]

TooTall:-) I wouldn't look for anyone to date that dressed that way myself. Yuch! Thank goodness that I'm beyond that stage of life now. Cheers--- Dawn HH

[tightsnheels]

We have a huge problem with dress code double standards where I work, the VP is (for lack of a polite word) a woman who dresses as if she is either going clubbing or walking the street. Now I don't care what a person wants to wear but a dress code is a dress code and if you are over fifty and look as though you are pushing eighty but dress like you are twenty-one and dressed to get drunk and uhhm (you get the idea). Now us workers have a stringent dress code to be exact a uniform except for one department populated by women who have to be reminded regularly to put on some clothes. (For those unfamiliar I work in a retirement home.) One particular really likes to show off her silicone. I mean come on lets face it after all when they get to a certain size they are obviously not real and the old men really don't need that kind of show. The rest of the staff could be sent home for the wrong color shoes or socks but they just get told to do better next time. Like I said double standard.

Oh well not much one can do in these economic times but plug along and be glad you have a job.

T&H

[Maximilian]

Where I work, the dress code is all about safety. The last thing the men and women think about is how they look. Everyone wears coveralls, hardhats, safety glasses and work boots. In wintertime weather (most of the year), we all have a few layers on as well. Sometimes it's hard to identify the people you work with when you see them off work. It's not exactly the ideal place to spot well dressed women...

[Puffer]

The Bank of England has today come in for some stick in the press for having a female staff meeting to advise on suitable work clothing. (Aside from the usual feminist/sexist outrage, the criticism was mostly about the perceived waste of money or staff time - although the meeting was apparently in the lunch break.) As far as footwear was concerned, the 'instruction' was to wear heels (but no higher than 2"), no white shoes, shoe colour to match skirt. The women were also told not to wear ankle chains ('professional, but not the one you want to be associated with') and to wear some make-up, if only lipstick. I can't see the point of wearing smart heels for work if they are only apologetic two-inchers. And, from personal observation in the City, there are many smartly-suited women looking entirely professional with their co-ordinating 3", 4" and higher heels.

[Amanda]

I agree with all of the below with the exception of footwear advice.

I might add that contrary to those guidelines, your appearance can get you even more noticed for your business skills.

Conservative, professional and in the best possible taste of course but It's undeniable.

Skirts: Too little is too much. Skirt lengths should be no more than one hand-width above the knee.

Tops: Make sure there is at least one-inch of room between body and fabric and that it is long enough to conceal your midriff. Stomach, breasts, back and shoulders should be covered. Fabric should not be overly thin and a bra should be worn (with no straps revealed).

Dresses: No halter tops or cleavage-baring necklines. Avoid overly snug fits. Hemlines should hit no more than one hand-width above the knee.

Trousers: Shun overly tight or hip-hugger trousers or jeans that expose the midriff. Stick with neutral colours.

Shoes: Heels should be no higher than two inches; toe should be closed. Avoid shoes with straps, bright colours and patterns.

Hair: Keep your hair sleek and off your face. Avoid the high-maintenance, over-processed look.

Make-up: Keep it clean and natural. Avoid heavy eyeliner or evening lipsticks.

"Clothing and appearance are visual shorthand," RoAne concludes. "The point is to be noticed for your business skills, not your short skirts or push-up bra.

"If you want a job, dress the part. If you want to show off your body... well, that's what your free time is for."

Al