During coronavirus pandemic in the country, the national carrier Air India has issued an order for a new dress code for employees in all Air India offices and has also warned against strict action if not followed. Air India has asked its employees to be properly groomed at all times and not attend office in shorts, polos, T-shirts, jeans, too tight, low cut or transparent clothes, sandals and flip flops.
The dress code order of Air India said, “Every employee is a brand ambassador for Air India and his or her appearance and demeanour has an impact on the image of the company. Wherever office uniforms are prescribed, it shall be the attire of the employees. Where no uniforms are assigned, all employees, irrespective of their grades whether permanent, temporary, contractual, apprentice, full time, part-time, casuals and interns shall come to work in clothes appropriate to the workplace.”
This order also suggests that male employees should be wearing formal trousers and shirts whereas female employees can wear formal Indian and/or western attire.
But they need to avoid casuals like t-shirts, polos, shorts, jeans, slippers, sandals, ripped jeans, flip flops, too flowy, too tight, short, low cut or transparent clothes and an unkempt look such as an unshaven face or ruffled hair.
The national carrier, whose divestment deadline has been extended yet again, also stated that employees need to look well-groomed and professional at all times.
“Besides all employees will have to maintain personal hygiene. We are confident that employees will use their best judgement when maintaining proper attire and appearance,” added the order. The airline further warned that if the employees aren’t dressed as per the Air India Dress Code order, the management has the right to take strict action.
An Air India source told The Daily Guardian that this decision was taken to maintain the decorum at the workplaces of Air India and even in the past the management was mulling over fixing an official dress for every employee in the office which could not materialise due to various reasons.
