Company Dress Codes, Discrimination And Personal Rights

The European Court of Justice recently determined that a company policy banning employees from wearing religious signs such as Islamic headscarves is not necessarily discriminatory. We examine the issue of company dress codes, and how equality law still requires an employer to be flexible in its approach.

Company dress codes are common in Ireland and can be adopted for various reasons, including health and safety reasons, to promote professionalism or to communicate a consistent corporate image. Dress codes may regulate clothing, piercings, tattoos, makeup, nails, hair, and more. Undoubtedly, they have the potential to affect an individual's personal choice outside the workplace. For instance, choice regarding hair style or location of tattoos can be limited.