Civil servant to press sex claim over dress code

A
Department for Work and Pensions worker has accused the Government of sexual
discrimination after the department made it compulsory for him to wear a shirt
and tie to work.

Ian
Jarman says the new rule amounts to sexual discrimination because women can
wear what they want.

His
trade union, Public and Commercial Services, is backing his claim and is
planning to take the case to an employment tribunal.

Jarman
has worked for the department in Moseley, Birmingham for the past 26 years, and
said he had never had to wear a tie to work before.

The
BBC reports that the dress code was introduced in June this year. Since then
Jarman has had two disciplinary hearings because he refused to follow the new
rules.

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A
spokeswoman from the Department for Work and Pensions told the BBC the
department would not comment on individual cases: "We require a smart and
professional image from all of our staff, but there is no specific requirements
for women," she said.

By Quentin Reade