In the workplace, is a rigid dress code close enough to a uniform?

Yes. But my opinion and three dollars will buy you a latte at Starbucks.

Yes. But not all employers pay for uniforms.

If they are clothes you can’t wear anywhere else, then you can take them off of your taxes, ex., labcoats. If they require jacket and ties and you don’t own any, life’s a bitch. This should all be hashed out in the initial interview.

I believe that if they change the dress code after you were hired they should pay for a uniform. If it’s normal clothes that you can wear anywhere like a suit, you will be out of luck. If you are hired under a dress code, they can but shouldn’t have to pay for your uniform or clothes. It’s all negotiable in the interview. You don’t have to take the job.

I don’t think ANY company will pay for jacket and ties. They MAY give you something towards it, but never all.

If you were correct, then employees everywhere would say they don’t own the articles of clothing required of the company’s dress code (even if they DID) just to get money (assuming you are talking street clothes).

I think we are all responsible for clothing ourselves, this means at home and at work. If I send my children to private school I pay for the uniform. If i don’t want to, then I shouldn’t sign them up. If you are going to work at a company with a dress code, then you should be aware of that responsibility. And I’ve never heard of a company changing the dress code from non-formal to formal and then expecting everyone to follow it immediately. That is unreasonable.

It depends on employer.

If the dress code was all women had to wear dark blue shirts and a white collared blouse but they style could be any style then I say no, even if you did not already have the items. If they wanted you all the women to wear capri slacks and a sleave-less cow-necked blouse in a particular style and material then it might border on uniform.