There’s a new dress code in Osceola County, but it’s not at the schools.
It’s a new policy under the regime of the new Osceola County Clerk of Court Armando Ramirez.
If you don’t wear the right thing to work at the Osceola County Courthouse, you’re going to get sent home without pay.
Ramirez issued a six page dress code, which spokesperson Marvin Cortner says isn’t more restrictive than the old one, just more descriptive.
“There are 150 women, approximately, working here and only ten men. So, of course women are going to feel singled out for that,” said Cortner.
He said it’s not about productivity, but public perception since their employees are the face of the court.
In an update posted to the Osceola County Clerk of Court's website, Ramirez wrote that he also did away with casual Fridays.
Cortner said the new dress code addresses past problems, but attorney Rajan Joshi says the policy may take employees back to the past.
“Requiring women to wear panty hose while in the court room in trial is extremely outdated and would be offensive to a lot of people,” said Joshi.
The policy was created by two members of a special projects team, which Cortner said put a lot of research into it.
“I’m not at liberty to give out those names. It’s just that they’re not management. They’re just two people that Mr. Ramirez hired when he came into office to do special projects,” said Cortner.
That’s where attorney Joshi said there could be problems.
“It does seem to be suspicious. Why won’t they disclose the people who come up with the policies that the employees have to abide by and follow?” asked Joshi.
Cortner said the bottom line is they just want employees to dress for success.
Employees News 13 approached for comment did not want to speak on camera.
The new policy is set to take effect Feb. 11.