In 'Short' Arriva is Right!

Male Swedish train drivers have responded to the ban on wearing shorts to work by wearing skirts. The male drivers insisting on wearing shorts to counter the summers and high temperatures were stopped in their tracks by the train company Arriva, which cited need for decent and proper attire at work as the reasons for the ban. As a sign of protest, the male drivers are wearing skirts to work. Arriva can’t stop men from wearing “women’s clothes” if that’s what they want because it would be discrimination. The company is however thinking of revisiting the uniform guidelines.


A company can legitimately ask its employees to dress in a certain way and employees must also comply with the same, as long as there is good reason to insist on such a uniform code. Some logical reasons why an employer might insist on a particular dress code could be:

1. If employees are the public face of the organization and are in client or customer facing role. Imagine flying in an aircraft where the pilot comes dressed in casuals. You will probably perceive the pilot to be non-serious. In case of companies like Disney, employees dress-up in a certain way because that enthralls their target consumers – the kids. The idea of the company is delight the kids!

2. If there are health and safety concerns. Construction sites, Iron and Steel factories, metallurgies etc. demand a certain kind of attire.

3. If the professional image of the company is at stake and employees are perceived to be the symbols of that image. Business meeting, client meetings, representing company or industry forums all call for certain kind of attire.

4. If you are dealing with cross-cultural issues. Cultural sentiments may be attached with attire.

On their part the employers must be consistent and reasonable in creating and implementing a dress code and must be clear about the objectives for which the same has been put in place.

In case of Arriva, the train company is not wrong on asking its male drivers not to wear shorts. Drivers are in customer (passenger) facing role and are the public face of the company and its image. Arriva reserves the right to ask its drivers male or female to dress in a particular way that is decent, proper and consistent with the train company’s image.

Engagement is a two-way traffic.