In the world of Finance, having to wear a suit to work isn't too surprising, but the Swiss firm UBS has made some waves with their new 43-page dress code for their retail banking staff. And, after reading it, I am just glad that as a writer, I am not required to follow this sort of dress code. Here are some of their rule for professional dressing for banking employees:
Do's:
For women:
- Wear your jacket buttoned
- When sitting, unfasten the button
- Make sure to touch up your hair regrowth if you color you hair
- Wear flesh colored bras under your white shirts
- Discrete lipstick and mascara will enhance your personality
- Wear skirts that reach the middle of the knee
For men:
- Store your suit on a hanger with rounded shoulders to preserve the shape of the garment
- Schedule regular barber appointments every four weeks to maintain your haircut shape
- Wear light colored underwear that doesn't show. Be sure they are made of a sturdy fabric
Don'ts:
- Avoid eating garlic or onions
- Smoking or spending time in smoke-filled places
- Wearing short-sleeved shirt or cuff links
- Wearing socks that are too short, showing your skin while sitting
- Allowing your underwear to be seen
- Touching up perfume during or after lunch
- Using tie knots that don't suit your face or body type
While the Swiss pride themselves on precision, I think that a 43 page dress code is taking it a bit overboard. However, I am sure that they would think it very “American” of me to complain that it takes away employees freedom and ability to express themselves. Although a USB spokesman stated that the dress code was designed for temporary staffers who were new to working in a banking environment, he added that the dress code may be introduced to all of their branches in Switzerland.
But, when I look at the dress code again, it seems like much of the advice is fairly practical. In fact, here in America, banks often try hard to adopt a more “business-casual” style in order to put customers at ease. But, in reality, this sort of casualness is a modern invention. It used to be customary for those working in the Finance industry to dress immaculately in order to appear trustworthy and successful. People just didn't feel comfortable handing their money over to a guy with a five o'clock shadow who was wearing khakis and a polo shirt.
If you want to read more, the entire dress code is available here.
So, what do you think about UBS's dress code? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Are you looking for a job in Finance? Be sure to visit FinancialJobBank.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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