Can an employer ban makeup?

Unless the wearing of makeup is a genuine occupational requirement, such as modelling, wearing make-up should be optional. Requiring staff to wear make-up at work could be discriminatory but might be justifiable in very limited circumstances. Banning it altogether might be unlawful.

Can my employer tell me what to wear?

Yes, your employer may (within limits) be able to specify how you dress at work. Your contract, and associated documents such as the staff handbook, may state that you need to dress in a certain manner, or wear a specific uniform.

Can you wear makeup to work?

For some, wearing makeup to work is compulsory (or self-mandated). Others find a full face of foundation just gets in the way of doing their jobs. Then, there’s the women who use makeup as a tool to help them feel professional at work, who apply it everyday like a suit of armour.

Do I have to wear makeup to interview?

Makeup can help you present a polished appearance, and give you an extra boost of confidence, if you apply it correctly and appropriate to the situation. Makeup should not be used to cover up who you are, make you feel like someone you’re not, or be applied to the distraction of your abilities and values.

Can my boss make me wear a skirt?

Yes. Dress code policies, such as requiring female employees to wear a skirt, are generally permissible as long as the standards are reasonable and not unduly burdensome or motivated by gender stereotypes.

Can your employer tell you what to wear outside of work?

What the law says on employer dress codes. The starting position is that it is legal for employers to set whatever rules they want in terms of uniform, dress and appearance as long as these are not discriminatory based on gender, age or ability.

Are men allowed to wear makeup?

Men are not allowed to wear makeup, but they have to cut their hair above the collar, while women have more leeway. Can they impose different rules on women and men? Can they require me to wear makeup?

Can employers regulate employees’ appearance and dress?

Many employers have policies that regulate employee appearance and dress. These might take the form of dress codes, uniform requirements, policies prohibiting visible tattoos or piercings, or grooming rules (such as that male employees must be clean-shaven or have short hair, or that female employees must wear makeup). Are these policies legal?

Can an employer require an employee to wear a uniform?

Yes. In general, employers are allowed to regulate their employees’ appearance, as long as they do not end up discriminating against certain employees. It is very common, for example, for an employer to require his/her employees to wear a uniform so that all employees appear uniform.

Are dress codes legal in the workplace?

Many employers require their employees to follow a dress code. Employers regulate clothing, piercings, tattoos, makeup, nails, hair, and more. For the most part these dress codes are legal as long as they are not discriminatory. For example, men and women can have different dress codes if the dress codes do not put an unfair burden on one gender.