No more hoodies as civil servants dress for success

ANYTHING those 'natty' dressers in one government department can do, the staff of the Land Registry can do better. Belly tops and scruffy torn jeans are definitely out, but it's okay to sport Ireland's colours by wearing the appropriate sports jersey for an international match. Communications, Marine and Natural Resources may have become the first government department to bring in a voluntary code which brands belly tops, crop tops, track suits, hoodies and ripped jeans as "inappropriate". But the 700 staff at the Land Registry have also banned sloppy dressing by introducing their own agreed code at the behest of employees. Out go the likes of 'facial jewellery', t-shirts splashed with prominent slogans, tatty and torn jeans and hooded sweatshirts. Similar to the department's voluntary code, a Land Registry spokesman said theirs was a code agreed by employees and management and introduced following a suggestion by staff at the agency's partnership committee. Appropriate dress now includes business suits, fleeces, cardigans, blouses, shirt and tie and casual shirts with collars. Other 'in' dress includes chinos, cords and shoes appropriate to the business environment. Definite 'no nos' include leggings, pedal pushers and flashy or dirty footwear. "This is all about what is appropriate to the nature of the job you are doing," said Land Registry spokesman, Michael Treacy. "It's a reasonable measure without going over the top." The Civil and Public Service Union, which represents clerical staff in all government departments, yesterday dismissed the question of dress codes in the public service as a minor issue. Assistant general secretary Derek Mullen said: "Telling people what they should wear in work when they are finding it hard to make low salaries go a long way is not important."