Men are more likely to be judged for their appearance at work

You may be forgiven in thinking that dress codes sexism applies only to female employees – but a new report has found that men are more likely than women to be scrutinized for their appearance at work.

Research from CV-Library found one in four (22.5%) employees have to adhere to gender specific rules at work, despite over half (56.2%) agreeing that these rules are sexist. What’s more, most of these rules apply directly to male workers.

The most common gender specific dress code rules are;

Men not being allowed to wear shorts (78.4%)

Women having to wear skirts or dresses of a certain length (20.7%)

Men not being allowed to wear jewellery (16.7%)

Men having to wear ties (16.7%)

Men not being allowed to have long hair (14.5%)

“While there’s been a flood of media stories around equality in the workplace, especially in terms of the gender pay gap, it’s important that all forms of sexism are challenged,” explained Lee Biggins, MD of CV-Library.

“We often hear about women being judged on their appearance at the hiring stage, but our data suggests that male employees are more likely to face these problems in the workplace. 

“Employers should make sure that any rules they enforce are fair and justified. Above all, they need to remember that rules should apply to all employees. Plus, while dress codes are understandable, they should also be flexible. Especially considering the spate of hot weather we’ve been having recently. Strict work attire such as ties and heavy suits can be uncomfortable and too warm, causing dips in productivity.”

One in four employees admitted that they don’t believe their workplace to be diverse, despite that fact that 86% of staff expressly wanting a more gender-neutral workplace.

“It’s worrying to learn that so many professionals are working in environments that they don’t consider to be diverse,” continued Biggins. “Diversity in the workplace has a number of benefits for both employers and their staff and can promote an inclusive and positive workplace.

“It’s good to see that diversity is important to professionals and that they’re thinking about issues such as gender equality when job hunting. If you’re an employer, it’s in your best interest to make sure that your company embraces diversity, if you hope to attract talented candidates.”

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