Here’s a scenario some people need to think about:
A female employee walks into the office in a mini-skirt, high heels, and a tight shirt. The older happily married boss looks at her for what seems like an inappropriate amount of time - certainly checking out her legs and cleavage. Is the boss thinking
A) How can I get her into bed?
—or—
B) Did she cross the line this time?
She always ignores the dress code but is this time too far?
Are any clients coming to the office today?
Will that client mind?
Could she accuse the client of sexual harassment if they complain (or stare)?
Can her team arrange a meeting so the clients won’t see her?
I hope she’s wearing panties? What I see now is already too much distraction - single males will try for a better view and most females will gossip. Both have caused me an HR problem before.
I’m glad I don’t have daughters.
Can I get HR to talk to her before a certain client visits next?
If I go to HR Will she accuse me of not being able to control my impulses and say it’s my problem, not hers (I often stare are her when she dresses like that and that’s harassment)?
How can I hire better in the future and still avoid EEOC complaints?
Which option is more likely to have just happened? Did you assume the boss is a man? Does it matter? Is option B believable if the boss is a woman? If so, why not a male boss?
Option (A) just needs a quick glance. Option (B) may take an “inappropriate” amount of time - there are A LOT of concerns going through the boss’s mind.
“A LOT of concerns going through the boss’s mind.”
Especially the happily married part.
I’ve chosen option B a number of times. One female employee tended to dress a bit provocatively with the intent of causing trouble. She also held the record for filing complaints. The big corporate HR department always took her side, firing some for merely saying “good morning “.
The cosmetics business is certainly booming for women (and gays) more than it ever has. Right there tells you women are all about attracting someone. Their heels are getting higher and skinnier every new season and for what purpose? It’s certainly not for the wearer’s comfort. Same with underwire bras and thong underwear. Women’s clothing has gone from mulitiple layers of floor length petticoats to less than a yard of fabric. Skirts are short and necklines are low. And those catcalls that are deemed revolting? Puleeze! Women dress to impress... the men. The more attention they get, the better. But let a fudgly man cross wherever the line is that day, they’ll scream harassment.
BTW, I’m a woman.
I actually had that scenario happen with a very tall and attractive high school senior intern. She showed up for work in a tube top, open midriff, and tight pants. I called my senior Admin Assistant, who was an older lwoman, into my office and asked her to tell this young gal that she was not dressed appropriately for work.
The message coming from her gave the young woman the impression that her grandmother was giving her advice. She never dressed like that again.