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SEIU Members Call for Clear, Common Dress Code for LA County

Currently There Are 14 Different Dress Codes and Lots of Confusion

In you work for LA County you might be required to wear oxford shirts or a black belt with a basket weave design. In some departments you might have to take your earrings off. Yet in others jeans are just fine.

Currently there are 14 different departmental dress code policies.

At a February meeting with management, the SEIU 721 Bargaining Policy Committee rejected the county’s proposed countywide dress code policy saying it is “inadequate” and submitted a bargaining proposal that calls for a clear and unambiguous countywide dress code that meets the business needs of the county.

County CEO Management representatives replied that they would discuss the proposal with their principals prior to developing a counter-proposal.

BPC Chair Keenan Sheedy, an SEIU member at LAC+USC Hospital, reiterated that the union is looking for objectivity and consistency in the County’s proposal.

 

What we’re asking for: One countywide policy rather than a matrix of departmental polices that would allow for different treatment.

What we’re concerned about: Potential disciplinary action cited in many of the departmental proposals. For example the draft proposal from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) stated that employees “not compliant” with the DCFS dress policy could be sent home and disciplinary action included dismissal. The DCFS policy also required employees to sign an acknowledgement form that mandated compliance with the policy, which the BPC characterized as “out of line”.

What’s Next: Union members advised county management not to allow DCFS, Child Support Services Department, or any other County Department to implement their pending dress code policy until a mutual agreement can be reached.


If you have personally noted or experienced problems because of dress code inconsistency or your department is attempting to implement a new dress code prematurely, please contact your union steward.