Aldi staff dress code (tattoos, hair dye, shorts, piercings, etc.)
A career in grocery and retail can be a demanding job as employees travel a lot and interact with customers.
Employees are more than anyone else the public face of a company, so employers naturally want them to look professional, tidy and approachable.
Known for above-average salaries, you might wonder if employees at grocery chain Aldi have to wear above-average clothes to work. Here’s what you need to know about Aldi’s staff dress code.
What is the dress code for Aldi employees?
The dress code for employees in Aldi stores consists of three basic components: an Aldi logo polo shirt, basic solid color trousers and steel toe shoes. Aldi has a clean, conservative corporate image and wants employees to reflect that. Excessive tattoos, hair dye and jewelry are not allowed, but in moderation.
Let’s take a deeper look at the dress code for Aldi employees, including allowed trousers, tattoos, hair dye, piercings, and even jewellery. Read on for Aldi’s criteria, and why you’ll see differences in different stores.
Why do Aldi employees need steel toed boots?
As any employee will tell you, working at Aldi is hard work. With new trucks coming in every day and employees being cross-trained to do nearly every task in the store, unloading and stocking are sure to be on the list of job duties.
Steel-toed boots are required so that each employee can protect their feet while on the job.
Can Aldi employees get tattoos?
People spend a lot of money on tattoos, so it can become a bone of contention when their jobs require them to cover them up.
Fortunately, Aldi does allow its store employees to have arm tattoos and display them. After all, the polo shirts you’ll most often see Aldi clerks wear are short-sleeved and therefore don’t require additional coverage (like the long sleeves underneath).
However, store managers must not consider tattoos objectionable. Tattoos of a political, sexual or racist nature should be covered at all times.
Also, face or neck tattoos may be treated on a case-by-case basis, according to individual store managers.
Can Aldi employees dye their hair a bright color?
While the Aldi employee handbook is said to be vague on the subject of bright hair, it’s safe to say that pinks, purples, greens, blues and the like are strongly discouraged.
However, that’s not to say you’ll be instantly fired for trying a certain color.
Also, the Aldi corporation leaves a lot to individual store managers, so in a larger city, where brightly colored hair is more common, it might not offend customers and be considered good.
One Indeed reviewer in Connecticut did note that a colleague with blue hair was allowed.
Can an Aldi employee have a visible piercing?
Ear piercings are innocuous these days, but it’s worth noting that, depending on the circumstances, Aldi employees have been caught getting their faces pierced while on the job, although some have complained about the lack of consistency in the policy.
Nose and septum piercings are the most common, but again, in these cases a lot of decision-making is left to the store manager or even the district manager.
If you’re considering getting a facial piercing while working at Aldi, it’s best to ask your store manager what they think before spending any money.
Also, if you end up having to have your piercing completely removed during working hours, you risk closure.
Jewelry manufacturers do sell clear stoppers to keep new piercings open, though, so those might be worth looking into.
Are Aldi employees allowed to wear jewelry?
Aldi employees are allowed to wear elegant and conservative jewelry. Examples include simple single-strand necklaces that sit just below the collar, stud earrings, and even small hoops.
Larger pieces of jewelry, such as large necklaces or hoop earrings, not only deviate from the conservative dress code, but also pose a safety hazard, as employees may risk having the jewelry dangling from something.
Are Aldi staff allowed to wear jeans or leggings?
Aldi employees can wear jeans to work! Jeans are part of the dress code if they are a solid color, have no rips or tears, and come in at the waist (no low or low-rise loose fit).
When it comes to leggings, I’ve looked everywhere for a definitive answer and can’t find it.
However, I’ve seen employees at my local Aldi (I’m in PA) wear leggings as pants, so the leggings are likely handled on a store-by-store basis.
Can staff wear shorts at Aldi?
While I couldn’t find any conclusions from the clerk about the clerk wearing shorts, some commenters on the message boards indicated that Aldi allows shorts during the hot summer months.
Knowing Aldi’s overall conservative image, you can assume that the dress code discourages clothing that is too short or too revealing, with no rips or tears.
What should I wear to an Aldi job interview?
I’ve covered what you can wear to work, but what if you’re in the application process and have an interview now?
Aldi surprisingly recommends smart casual attire for job interviews (a good rule of thumb is to dress one ‘notch’ above the workplace dress code; it’s better to wear too much than too little!).
That means smart slacks for men and women (or dresses or dresses for women), a blazer for men with a nice button-down collar or polo shirt, or a professional-looking shirt/top for women.
Likewise, smart casual would be the appropriate dress code if you are invited to an Applicants Open Day.
If you’re hoping to get a job at Aldi, you might want to familiarize yourself with whether Aldi conducts drug testing, whether Aldi is a franchisee, why Aldi is so cheap, and some interesting Aldi stats.
in conclusion
Aldi’s dress code does lean conservatively, but individual stores — and managers who have the final say on matters not detailed in employee handbooks — can vary in things like hair dye, tattoos, piercings, and even trousers.
