New online guidance from Acas is aimed at assisting an employer’s ‘personal appearance in the workplace’ policy by identifying issues in three key areas. In summary, the issues are as follows:

1. Dress codes: While employers may have many reasons for insisting on a specific form of dress, there are some key points to observe including that employers must avoid unlawful discrimination in any dress code policy, dress codes must apply to both men and women equally, although they may have different requirements and reasonable adjustments must be considered for disabled people.

2. Tattoos and body piercings: Employers should have sound business reasons for asking workers to remove piercings or cover tattoos while at work.

3. Religious dress: Employers should tread cautiously in this area as they should allow groups or individual employees to wear articles of clothing etc., which manifest their religious faith, or else, be able to justify the reasons for banning such items to avoid indirectly discriminating against these employees.