Career Advice - Strange Behavior and Dress At Work

Drawing the Line on Out-of-the-Box Behavior at Work

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

I manage a diverse group of people at a fairly liberal advertising agency. As my employees get younger, I notice that there are lots of piercings and even the occasional hair color not found in nature. Furthermore, the dress code seems to be something people take as "optional." I'm willing to let most of it slide by in the name of creativity, but I don't want people who are liabilities working for me.

Are there any signs I should be watching out for that would indicate that the person is not just creative or expressive, but is actually someone who might cross boundaries or lines with clients or other employees? And if I decide the person's appearance or decisions are unacceptable, do I have legal grounds to fire them? If not, how can I talk to them about it?

Signed,

Straight-Edged Boss

April Masini's advice:

Dear Straight-Edged Boss,

The acceptability of your appearance all depends on the kind of work you do and how you actually do that work! Entertainers who entertain -- whether they're on the stage or not, will continue to be employed because audiences buy tickets to their shows or buy their CDs or movies or whatever form their art is sold in. If artists act crazy, they may actually make their art more valuable than if they act sedate. But that's art.

Insurance brokers may be sending up a red flag to employers and clients if they start taking risks that make them look less than insurable or insurance-selling-worthy. Same is true of any money manager. That's why so many bankers and money managers bend over backward to look successful in a conservative way -- they want to foster a sense of trust and success.

Artists may want to foster a sense of danger, risk and unpredictability in their art. Nobody wants a boring piece of art. Everyone wants their money handled by boring accountants.