UBS Changing Its Much-Mocked Dress Code
Good news for Swiss bankers: They may soon be allowed to wear red underwear, black nail polish – and even eat garlic.
Swiss banking giant UBS AG said Monday it is revising its 44-page dress code telling its Swiss staff how to present themselves, which generated worldwide ridicule for its micromanagement of their dressing and dining habits.
The code instructs employees on everything from their breath – no garlic or onions, please – to their underwear, which should be skin-colored.
The existing code tells female employees how to apply makeup, what kind of perfume to wear and what color stockings are acceptable. It advises them not to show roots if they color their hair and to avoid black nail polish.
“You can extend the life of your knee socks and stockings by keeping your toenails trimmed and filed,” Zurich-based UBS told its female staff. “Always have a spare pair: stockings can be provisionally repaired with transparent nail polish and a bit of luck.”
Men are told how to knot a tie, to make sure they get a haircut every month and to avoid unruly beards and earrings.
“Glasses should always be kept clean,” the code instructs. “On the one hand this gives you optimal vision, and on the other hand dirty glasses create an appearance of negligence.”
If I had millions of dollars to invest with a bank, I’d give it to the cleanshaven guy/woman in the smart suit rather than the shaggy haired dude with the earring and 2-day-old beard. That said, if UBS is going to be so strict with dress and grooming, I hope they have clothing and personal hygiene allowances. Do they even know how expensive hair coloring appointments are??
How many women have gagged on the perfume that other women have worn in the office, or have been appalled by the lack of proper grooming habits of fellow employees?? I know I have. This document gives employees no excuses to say that they were unaware! Wrinkled clothing, stained and dirty garments, smelly and worn out shoes, etc. You name it and the guilty co-workers made great money! What is up with that? I hope you all know who you are. It is never too late to improve.
Ladies, always splurge for a manicure/pedicure and a bi-monthly hair trim. It is part of regular hygiene. I cannot tell you how many women I have seen with a bad dye job, more than 1″ roots, wrinkled/cheap suits and unkempt finger nails. I have worked with them in prominent, high-end investment firms and believe me it wasn’t pleasant! The scary thing is that they are probably still at those firms with the same messy habits!
If you have to color your hair which most women of a certain age do, you can do it yourself or you can go to a reputable salon in the suburbs for less money. Also, if you go to the Aveda Institute or go on certain days of the week, most famous salons, like Ted Gibson, have deep discount days. Personal grooming is a must no matter how much money you make. I won’t lie, men definitely have it easier and it is much cheaper for them! No one said that life was fair.
Where there is a will there is a way. Any of this info can be easily found on the internet. I will write an article on it for next month if that helps.
Unfortunately, they found cause to be so strict with the dress code. Personally, they should not hire people who are sloppy and fall out of these guidelines in the first place. Any woman who wears black nail polish has no business working for a company like UBS! If anyone has an original copy of these guidelines, pls send to me at p.o. box. Too bad they are forced to abandon this policy. The image that you project says alot about the company/executive that you represent. I would even go so far as to encourage weight goals and working out.