Employees at several UBS Swiss banks won’t be ordering out for pizza anytime soon if the company has its way. The bank recently issued suggested hygiene and grooming tips for making a favorable impression on the public. It is trying them out on a pilot basis at five locations throughout Switzerland.
According to a story in today’s Wall St. Journal, UBS’s guidelines go beyond a list of dress “do’s” and dont’s” by providing hygiene and grooming tips often associated with aphorisms worthy of fashion and beauty magazines.
According to the dress code, women should wear their sjacket buttoned; when sitting the buttons should be unfastened. And make sure to touch up hair regrowth regularly if they color their hair.
Men should store their suits on a large hanger with rounded shoulders to preserve the garment’s shape, and schedule haircut appointments every four weeks to maintain haircut shape.
All employees should not eat garlic and onions; smoke or spend time in smoke-filled places; wear short-sleeved shirts or cuff links; wear socks that are too short and show skin while sitting; allow underwear to be seen; touch up perfume during or after lunch break; use knots that don’t match the wearer’s face and/or body shape.
How would American-based employees react to such edicts? Our emphasis on individuality cuts against any dress code, but if it means the company might be more profitable, many employees will go along, while muttering under their breath.
There’s no law on dress codes, except that like any other aspect of employment, they may not discriminate on the basis of race or another illegal factor. If everyone’s supposed to avoid garlic and unions, that would seem to be no big deal.
Of course, if the employees are represented by a union, it may insist on negotiating the terms of a dress code.
The Swiss might adapt to this more easily than their more rambunctuous U.S. counterparts.
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