Attire and Appearance Standards for Restaurant Employees

If you walk into many chain restaurants, you’ll see waiters and waitresses wearing uniforms. A restaurant employee dress code is common in many establishments.

But when you mention the attire and appearance standards, you need to make sure that this regulation does not discriminate against workers.

What are the Rules of a Restaurant Pertaining to Dress Code?

Dress codes are legal and allow for organizations to set rules on what is and what isn’t appropriate work attire. Restaurant rules and regulation can allow for two main dress code types:

• Formal
• Informal

Policies need to be considered thoroughly because there are challenges with policies. They cannot be discriminatory in any means.

Dress Code for Food Service Employees

A restaurant uniform policy can be as simple as providing a uniform that all employees are expected to wear. The uniform makes it easy for patrons to identify workers.

But restaurant rules and regulations for employee attire can be a lot of things:

• Formal business attire is often kept to managers in the restaurant industry. Upscale establishments may have this dress code, which requires dress shirts and business suits.
• Business casual dress code may allow for dress shirts without the tie. The waiters or waitresses may be allowed to wear dresses, skirts, and trousers.
• Casual days — allow employees to wear any garment they want, including jeans, athletic shoes, and t-shirts.

Restaurants that don’t have uniforms may require more casual attire with a few rules, such as not wearing t-shirts with prints relating to politics or racism.

Upscale restaurants often have strict dress codes, while family-owned restaurants often allow for more relaxed attire.

Restaurant Employee Dress Code Example

Every dress code is different, and instead of providing an actual dress code, it’s important to keep the following points in mind:

• Times change and business attire may change.
• Clothing with profanity, slogans, or inappropriate images should be avoided.
• Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate jeans or pants. Will popular fashion trends be acceptable?
• Put policies in place for clothing or pants that are very baggy and may fall.
• Revealing attire should be addressed, such as short lengths, tank tops, or crop tops.
• Observable undergarments may need to be mentioned.
• Flip-flops or loose footwear may not provide a professional look and may cause higher risks of falling.
• Some clothing may be gang-related and needs to be addressed.

Additional policies may need to be in place for the kitchen staff. The cooks and prep chefs may be required to wear hair nets or specific attire that keeps hair out of food. Aprons, chef hats, and gloves may need to be included.

A general dress code will include information on:

• Shirts — colors, graphics, collars, cuts, sleeves
• Skirts or trousers — length, cut, slacks, jeans
• Footwear — open or closed, sneakers

You may also have appearance guidelines. General hygiene standards can be included to ensure that most aspects of a person’s appearance are professional.

Once you put these policies in place, restaurant employee handbooks need to be updated, and all employees need to be alerted to the changes.

Restaurant Rules for Employees on Grooming and Hygiene

Workers are protected against discrimination, and it’s important to research your city and state laws on this matter. Federal laws do not ban a restaurant’s decision on appearance, but most states do have laws in place.

You can have rules for restaurant employees that require:

• Clothes to be clean and not wrinkled
• Proper oral hygiene
• Body odor issues to be handled professionally

You can also have rules in place that do not allow clothing to be worn that is ripped, frayed, tight, too short, too low cut, too revealing.

It’s not appropriate to discriminate against an employee, but it is perfectly acceptable to require respectable standards, such as clean, neat clothing, and clothing that is not too revealing.

Human resources should have protocols and procedures in place that guide employees on how to handle dress code and appearance standards appropriately. If there are no standards, HR may embarrass the employee or act illegally.

Rules and regulations should be accompanied by protocols so that all parties understand their rights, the rules, and how to handle any violations that occur.

Avoid Discrimination and Allow for Exceptions to the Rules

Discrimination lawsuits can lead to bad publicity for your restaurant. It’s important to avoid discrimination. A few areas where discrimination may come into play include:

• Religious expression. Religious grooming, coverings, head coverages, jewelry, or items may be seen as expressions. Not allowing religious expression can lead to a lawsuit.
• Race and appearance. Certain cultures have certain ethnic dress requirements that should be considered.
• Disabilities. An employee may not be able to wear certain attire due to disabilities or attire that may not allow for the complete range of motion.

The goal is to have a dress code and appearance standards that everyone can follow without backlash. If you’re unsure of your policies or kitchen rules and regulations for staff, you may want to consult with an attorney to ensure your policies do not break any local or state laws.

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