Marion’s dress code

The Gazette Editorial Board

After learning more about a proposed dress code for Marion city employees, we are perplexed about what may have sparked such measures.

We're curious about the tight clothing restrictions under consideration: A ban on denim skirts and bluejeans, on 'casual” sleeveless tops and hiking boots, to name a few. The current City of Marion dress code, which has been revised only four times since 1988, appropriately calls for employees to make reasoned judgments about what they wear to work - as they do in most settings, where adults are hired and expected to make clothing decisions based on their job description and safety requirements.

If an employee proves incapable of making good decisions about their work wardrobe, city department heads are tasked with establishing 'appropriate dress standards.”

Perhaps the city is keeping some trigger event under wraps. Even so, the proposed policy is over-the-top and unwarranted.

The City Council should either place the dress code in the hamper, or - if they feel they absolutely need such a degree of control over employee attire - provide city employees with uniforms or a clothing allowance to pay for prescribed work wear.

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