Bank dress code scrutinises staff underwear

Cleaver

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12023033

Swiss banking giant UBS has issued its staff with a 44-page dress code, covering everything from the colour and size of suits to dietary tips and the length of toenails.

Staff are also advised on appropriate underwear and hair dyes.

The code only applies to client-facing staff, and UBS said it had been "misunderstood".

Reportedly the brainchild of top executives, the code is part of UBS's attempts to improve its image.

The bank was hit hard during the financial crisis, and was bailed out to the tune of 6bn Swiss francs ($6.2bn; £4.1bn; 4.9bn euros) in 2008 after losing about 21bn francs, more than any other Swiss bank.

It has also been embroiled in a long-running dispute with US tax authorities over secret bank accounts for US citizens.

Little, however, will have prepared staff for the level of scrutiny their attire will soon attract.

The dress code advises that "women should not wear shoes that are too tight-fitting as there is nothing worse than a strained smile".

Shirts must not be "too tight", while underwear "must not be visible against clothing or spill out of clothing".

The code also advises against eating garlic and onions.

Just think, if these same 'top executives' had paid just as much attention to not speculating on dodgy financial products they wouldn't have had losses of $50 billion (or whatever the final amount was).

And, without sounding typically male, a few tight shirts and visable underwear might have been a welcome distraction when I used to wait 30 minutes in a queue a my bank.

chucky

Cleaver wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12023033



Just think, if these same 'top executives' had paid just as much attention to not speculating on dodgy financial products they wouldn't have had losses of $50 billion (or whatever the final amount was).

And, without sounding typically male, a few tight shirts and visable underwear might have been a welcome distraction when I used to wait 30 minutes in a queue a my bank.

they're totally different entities - they're putting this out to the UBS retail bank not the UBS investment bank.

has nothing to do with the USD 50 million losses.

i saw it the other day - it's better reported here with more detail
http://news.hereisthecity.com/news/business_news/12021.cntns

Do's
For women

• Wear your jacket buttoned
• When sitting, the buttons should be unfastened
• Make sure to touch up hair regrowth regularly if you color your hair.

For men:

• Store your suit on a large hanger with rounded shoulders to preserve the shape of the garment
• Schedule barber appointments every four weeks to maintain your haircut shape

Don'ts (men and / or women)

• Eating garlic and onions
• Smoking or spending time in smoke-filled places
• Wearing short-sleeved shirts or cuff links
• Wearing socks that are too short, showing your skin while sitting
• Allowing underwear to be seen
• Touching up perfume during or after lunch break
• Using tie knots that don't match your face shape and / or body shape

lostinrates

Cleaver LJ needs to know the weather in Manchester..be a''nice person''and tell him would you please?

oh yeah...dresscodes and the economy....its sad that people in a bank customer facing role should need to know that their underwear isn't what e are interested in. I don't care, so long as they wear a smile...rare.

sss555s

Does this also apply to their on-line banking division? :huh:

Cleaver

lostinrates wrote: »

Cleaver LJ needs to know the weather in Manchester..be a''nice person''and tell him would you please?

I saw his post at 2pm and let him know via PM that it was lovely and sunny without a sign of snow.

There is now about 5 inches and it's coming down very fast. So think another PM is required!

Cleaver

chucky wrote: »

they're totally different entities - they're putting this out to the UBS retail bank not the UBS investment bank.

has nothing to do with the USD 50 million losses.

Same company though innit?

[Deleted User]

I don't get 'no cuff links' .. that makes no sense at all

I know when i'm seeing more important clients, i'll always wear cufflinks (that match my tie, of course). We have a 2 page version of this sort of thing for work.. it's mainly to make sure that newbie graduates don't turn up at client meetings in jeans..

chucky

Cleaver wrote: »

Same company though innit?

yes same company, the dress code is being rolled out in the retail bank not the investment bank - not sure why the $50m losses need to be mentioned in the article apart to attract the headline. it would have been a decision made by the retail sector i imagine not the investment bank division, it has nothing to do with them.

i think it's a swiss thing, they're strange creatures.

Generali

I blame the dot com boom. Before that the dress code in a bank was one of 2 choices:

1. Suit with shirt and tie or blouse depending on sex
2. Fck off and do a job where they employ scruffy people

michaels

It depends - depending on the client I make a point of not wearing too expensive suits, shoes or cuff links - you don't want to draw attention to the fact that you are costing them a grand or more a day, there is an apocryphal story of a consultant who worked for 6 months, was able to buy a porsche and then suddenly had his contract ended due to disgruntlement from the permanent employees.

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I don't get 'no cuff links' .. that makes no sense at all

I know when i'm seeing more important clients, i'll always wear cufflinks (that match my tie, of course). We have a 2 page version of this sort of thing for work.. it's mainly to make sure that newbie graduates don't turn up at client meetings in jeans..

Andy_L

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I don't get 'no cuff links' .. that makes no sense at all

I'm guessing its easier to say no cuff links rather than try and define no tacky/comedy/ostentatious/offensive cuff links?