It’s Summer 2022 – and life is back to normal? Or is it?

While inflation remains high, the labor market remains tight. The Department of Labor’s most recent job report shows that 372,000 jobs were added in June, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6% for the fourth month.

With workers in short supply, what is an employer to do to attract talent?

A recent article by Sharon Lauby in HR Bartender suggested eight employee benefits worth considering to attract and retain talent. One of those suggested benefits that carries little financial cost to the employer is the so-called “Summer Friday,” which could include anything from skipping Friday work altogether to a relaxed dress code. While few employers may go so far as to cancel work on Fridays, many employers have instituted dress codes that are even more relaxed than a typical Casual Friday.

Here are two practical considerations when implementing or modifying dress codes:

First, the EEOC has weighed in on dress codes, warning employers to be mindful of disability and religious considerations, as follows: The EEOC states:

In general, an employer may establish a dress code which applies to all employees or employees within certain job categories. However, there are a few possible exceptions.

While an employer may require all workers to follow a uniform dress code even if the dress code conflicts with some workers' ethnic beliefs or practices, a dress code must not treat some employees less favorably because of their...

Read Full Story: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/cooling-revisiting-employee-dress-codes-...