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One of my co-workers, who is a woman, wears sexually suggestive clothing such
as short skirts, spandex body suits, skin tight sweaters etc. I am extremely
uncomfortable and embarrassed by this and feel other employees don't take us
seriously because of her appearance. I also hear comments about her made behind
her back that make me uncomfortable. The company doesn't have a dress code, but
we are in an engineering organization where most of us dress conservatively. Am
I out of line placing a complaint about my co-worker? I don't think she's
breaking any policy, but I don't like this situation. I've already spoken to her
directly but she doesn't care. Any advice?
Signed,
Clothing Engineer
Dear
Clothing Engineer:
I think you are to be commended for speaking to this woman directly rather than going over her head or behind her back. I assume you did so in the spirit of goodwill. However you put it, apparently she told you to mind your own business. So??? Will you???
The way a worker dresses can be the business of a business, especially if grooming affects how a business is perceived. That's why some organizations require uniforms and certain standards of dress, such as how lawyers are dressed when they go to court. Your engineering organization does not have a written code so rather than wondering if she is breaking a dress code, the scuttlebutt is that this woman's sexy attire makes some of you think more about her body and/or how others think about her body than about her work.
So far she says she does not care--it's your and your gossipy coworkers' problem, not hers. My advice at this time is not to say more about her revealing clothing. Just do your own work, and treat her with respect regardless of how she dresses. If her clothing, or lack of clothing, hurts business that will be the time to make changes, and I'm sure then she will dress appropriately.
We all want to be understood, accepted and appreciated. That's the spirit of WEGO.
Bill Gorden
Workplace Doctors