An ex-Citibank employee who claims she was fired for being too sexy is suing the banking giant for discrimination and emotional distress.

Debrahlee Lorenzana says her male managers told her tone down her appearance because her choice of dress drew too much attention.
According to the Village Voice, she alleges her bosses gave her a list of “inappropriate” clothing she was banned from wearing to work: 

... the managers gave her a list of clothing items she would not be allowed to wear: turtlenecks, pencil skirts, and fitted suits. And three-inch heels. "As a result of her tall stature, coupled with her curvaceous figure," her suit says, Lorenzana was told "she should not wear classic high-heeled business shoes, as this purportedly drew attention to her body in a manner that was upsetting to her easily distracted male managers."

The bank claims here 2009 dismissal was based on her subpar performance. 

What do you think?

Should your bosses be allowed to tell you what to wear to work?

Even if you’re not violating the dress code?

It depends on where you work and what you are wearing.  I think the boss in the article was pretty extreme  - heels drawing attention to her body, distracting to the male managers.  She can't help it if she's fly.  In this instance I think that was out of line. Tell the male managers to exercise some self control. I bet their wives / girlfriends would appreciate that too.  However, if she was wearing super low cut tops, or mini skirts in a business enviroment  - then yeah I think the boss should say something. Inappropriate clothing - not good for business image vs. men not being able to control themselves.

There was that whole thing in the news about American Apparel and how they should dress:

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/06/revealed_in_remarkable_detail.html

I mean to some degree that's okay - they are a fashion brand, they have an image to up keep. I don't think a manager can ever tell you to wear less clothes (unless you work at a strip club), but more is okay ( reasonable person standard), or a certain type is okay (if the type of business calls for it).  But you know there are always extremes, and it seems companies pick on women more, wear this, wear that.  You are too sexy, not sexy enough. That's not cool. I hope she wins!

 I think that any responsible business owner or company should consider the image that his or her employees present to the public when at work. That image can directly affect the business. For example, If i was sitting in a dentist's chair and the dentist or the assistant was covered with facial piercings, I would have second thoughts about the cleanliness of the office. That may just be me, but it is the truth nonetheless. I think that on company time, employees should represent the employer in the best possible manner.

However, there are three problems that are related to this issue. First, most employers don't specify accurately their expectations of dress before an employee is hired. Many times, the problem arises after the employee starts working. How can an employee know that flat sandals with straps (not flip flops, but real sandals) are considered inappropriate but those with heels are appropriate if it is not stated? That is actually one of the rules at my work place. Second, the rules are oftentimes not consistently enforced. Third, employees don't have a grasp of what is appropriate dress before entering the professional world.

Stacey Stewart

Unfortunately certain standards have to bee set due to the fact that we live in such a diverse society. I think CitiBank likely does let their employees know what those standards are bee-fore hire.  “One man’s perspective on trash is another man’s perspective on treasure”.  

There really is no difference between our personal relationships and our business relationships in regards to this topic. Where in we allow the other person to know what we’re really thinking. 

However I truly bee-lieve management at CitiBank has a problem with their interpretation of their own policy, and I would love to bee a fly on the wall in the meeting rooms at CitiBank.

I do think employers have the right to set a dress code policy and enforce it. Now in this instance, if they are singling out a specific person, I think that is inappropriate and her lawsuit probably has enough merit for her to win.

In General though, I think that when people in the work place dress in proper work attire, especially business office attire, they begin to behave in more appropriate manners, where as when they dress down they act out in ways that are often not appropriate in an office. Obviously any dress code should be suited to the business and job being performed, but I think it is reasonable to ask employees to not dress provocatively or in a disheveled manner, because they are part of the company's brand and image, and should be a positive reflection of the company.

In my office, we have a casual dress attire environment, and as a result, I think we have a lot of inappropriate behavior occuring as a result. It becomes a slippery slope issue, the more relaxed the dress code, the more comfortable the employees feel to take liberty with their appearance and behavior that matches. Next thing you know, we have people showing up looking like they are going to the night club or to the beach, and they have the attitude to match. I wish we would make everyone start wearing more office dress attire because I believe that when people dress up, they just generally behave better, they maintain a professional decorum.

Well, the saying is that "There's a time and place for everything ", like joking around, or doing work and yes employers, or the company in general should have guidelines as to conduct and work attire  , but I think that by firing her was too extreme . Glad she is fighting back. Saying someone is too sexy is like saying that someone is too ugly to work and it all means the same .