Appearance at work: The employer can specify this
Created: 09/05/2022 15:54
By: Carina Blumenroth
Due to the right to issue instructions, the employer may be able to determine what employees wear.
(symbol photo) © Imago
Uniforms, length of fingernails or weight - here and there the employer would like to have a say in the appearance of the employee.
This is possible under certain conditions.
Many employers have a concrete picture in mind of what their employees should look like.
This can deal with many different areas - the right to issue instructions offers a framework in which specifications can be made.
Appearance at work: the right to issue instructions and personal rights must be balanced
Basically, the employer has a so-called right to issue instructions, which enables a certain dress code to be observed, but also ensures that safety precautions, for example in the form of special clothing or shoes, are observed.
On the other hand, there are the personal rights of the individual employees.
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Good reasons allow specifications regarding the appearance
If an employer has good reasons for the requirements, then there is a good chance that the demands will go through.
For example, piercings can pose a safety or hygiene risk in certain activities.
For example, such hygiene requirements apply in butcher shops.
In principle, however, it is also the case that uniform service clothing can usually be enforced.
In many cases, the company logo is also immortalized somewhere.
This is the case, for example, with airline employees.
What normally does not fall under the authority to issue instructions is the employee's body weight or body mass index.
However, there is one restriction - if the overweight affects the contractually confirmed work performance, termination can be justified in individual cases, as the specialist portal
Haufe
reports.
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Social acceptance plays a role
What is accepted also depends on what is currently playing a larger role in society.
For example, when beards are in fashion, it's less likely that it won't be accepted in the workplace.
In general, it is the case that instructions on the appearance and demeanor of employees are enforced, especially in jobs that involve contact with customers.
The industry also plays a big role - if you work in a creative field, then a more casual style of clothing is usually fine, but it's different in tax or banking.
The employees there are dressed in suits or costumes to convey seriousness.
