Dress Code - Bare Legs OK or Not?

[Blueberry]

These are lawyers or people that work for law firms asking these questions?

Baffling.

These were lawyers. Who represent plaintiffs in employment law matters.

For some odd reason, lawyers seem to think that the law does not apply to them.

CA

[OakLeaf]

These were lawyers. Who represent plaintiffs in employment law matters.

For some odd reason, lawyers seem to think that the law does not apply to them.

CA

I had a job interview with a federal judge once, in which he repeatedly asked me whether it was "Miss or Mrs." After about three rounds of "Ms." I finally answered his question. (I was young.) As soon as the interview as over I mentally kicked myself. I still wonder whether my willingness to stand up to him for what I knew was right, was part of the interview. (For that reason or whatever, he didn't offer me a job.)


But to the OP: I think it depends on your clientele. There are definitely people who think bare legs are "gross" in a professional setting. Even if you disagree with that, you don't want to alienate your patients. In an office where there was less contact with the public, if I were the boss, I wouldn't make pantyhose part of the dress code (even though I personally wouldn't dream of dressing "nicely" without hose). In a medical office, I might. Honestly, what would you think of men's bare legs in your office?


Aside to Tuckerville: Minnesota in the summertime is hotter than most of Florida (regularly in the high 90s to low 100s) and at least as humid as Ohio. I believe the same is true of much of south central Canada. Just because it's cold in the winter doesn't mean they don't know what summer is like.

[Deborajen]

Honestly, what would you think of men's bare legs in your office?

This sits in the back of my mind as far as dress code. Is it really fair for women to go hoseless with a dress saying panty hose is hot, yet require men to wear slacks and not shorts? If I hire a man, I might have to face this. What's the difference, really? We like our legs but not men's?

I'm really not trying to force my preferences on my employees. Like I said, we're leaning towards NOT making panty hose a requirement, but I want to be fair - and there are a lot of opinions and preferences, some of them pretty strong -

[Crankin]

I am not opposed to socks... in fact I have many many pairs of cycling socks because they are cheap fixes for my addiction to cycling apparel.
My standards are only for me. Your former professor seems slightly, uh, strange. I don't think bare legs are "gross," I just don't think stockings are, either. So, when it's a bit too warm for tights and too cold for bare legs, I wear them.
I have never worked anywhere with a dress code, but I don't think they are so bad in certain situations. I remember when girls had to wear dresses and skirts to school; a bunch of us started wearing jeans to class (in 1968), until the school gave in to us. So, I am not totally unaware of the effects of dress codes. I guess I won't speak any more about the way I dress (except for my wool purchases), because I seem to be in the distinct minority here, which is the total opposite of my real life.
I wish I were still "young," when dressing professionally meant the difference between others thinking whether I was 16 or 30!

[ZenSojourner]

Men in shorts . . .

Men in kilts . . .

Be still my beating heart! LOL!

SO MOTE IT BE!

[OakLeaf]

Men in shorts . . .

Men in kilts . . .

Be still my beating heart! LOL!

SO MOTE IT BE!

Sorry, I just get flashes of that guy in "Reno 911."

[ZenSojourner]

Sorry, I just get flashes of that guy in "Reno 911."

Oh thank you very much!

You just HAD to go and spoil it for me, didn't you?

LIAM NEESON! COME BACK! SHE DIDN'T MEAN IT!

[BikeDutchess]

Thread hijack, I know, but on the subject of dress codes: U of Oregon to Frisbee team: No pants, no season

Anyway, back to the work place - when I still worked in the office (I telecommute full-time now), one reason I rarely wore skirts is that I hated wearing hose. Perhaps now it is more acceptable to not wear hose, but I also hate wearing (work-appropriate) shoes with bare feet.

I really enjoyed reading the various viewpoints in this thread. I recently read an article about how millennials, Gen Xers and baby boomers get along in the workplace, and the issue of dress code (and even panty hose specifically) was discussed as well in the context of generational differences. Reading this thread, to me it seems as much a practical issue as a generational one.

[Grog]

These were lawyers. Who represent plaintiffs in employment law matters.

For some odd reason, lawyers seem to think that the law does not apply to them.

Is it perhaps because it in fact is not applied to them, i.e. there are not sufficient complaints filed against them and cases that end up in courts to cause them to bother? What if every female candidate sued their @$$ off for asking such questions?

[Tuckervill]

Is it perhaps because it in fact is not applied to them, i.e. there are not sufficient complaints filed against them and cases that end up in courts to cause them to bother? What if every female candidate sued their @$$ off for asking such questions?

Maybe they'd stop asking the questions and using the answers in their hiring decisions! Imagine that!

Karen

[Blueberry]

Maybe they'd stop asking the questions and using the answers in their hiring decisions! Imagine that!

Karen

I used their answers in my decision as to whether to accept their offer, that's for sure

CA

[Deanna]

My two cents on the hose issue is they should not be required, however, I support an HR policy that states "professional and neat appearance". This would cover you if you need to request somebody where them for whatever reason.

Personally, for me, it all depends on the shoe. Hose seems to prevent foot sweat from building up in the shoe (don't ask me how, that's just an observation). Some of the shoes I wear with a suit just start making noises if I don't wear hose. IMHO that is not professional and makes me self conscious and uncomfortable, so I wear hose with those particular shoes.

[ACG]

My first job in a department store, they wanted us to dress professionally (in dresses), wear hose, 1977 to 1980

1980 to 1986 Corporate headquarters for retailer, hose, professional, slacks were okay, no open toe shoes.

1986 to 1999 Law Firms of various sizes and types of law (except entertainment law) in downtown Los Angeles Professional attire (suits) , hose, towards the end of the nineties, this started to slack off a bit. Heck for a while when casual fridays first started, they told us no jeans.

1999 to Now-Large corporations, engineering and accounting, no mention of hose, just professional attire. A professional skirt, blouse usually does it.

Thing is I've always worked in HR or Office Management. So I've always had to dress one step up from everyone else, to set the example. If I came into work in a mid-driff or worn clothing, low cut tops, jeans, dockers, sandals, t-shirts, short skirst, etc, well it would be very frowned upon very much.

I don't know how to not wear hose with some shoes, heels, pumps. So I wear hose depending on the shoe and the skirt.

Right now I'm wearing Jeans, with slack socks and heeled hush puppies and a blue sweater set. Boring I know, but I'm not hear to impress people with my stylish outfits, I have a job to do.

On weekends, it is sandal, shorts and a t--shirt.

Hope this helps.

Mind you I have to wear these outfits, but do style my clothes for my tastes. I can't wear