Civil servant wins test case to stop wearing tie

The image of the sober suited civil servant was punctured yesterday when a clerical worker won a sex discrimination case against a rule requiring him to wear a collar and tie.

Matthew Thompson, 32, complained that a dress code at the Jobcentre where he worked meant that women could wear T-shirts and football tops but men had to dress more formally. He said he was delighted after winning his employment tribunal case.

His union said the ruling affected 26,000 other men who worked in the Department for Work and Pensions. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), which supported the case, said 39 further cases could be pursued if the two sides could not come to a negotiated settlement. It said the ruling was a "victory for common sense" but the department said it was disappointed with the outcome and planned to appeal.

Mr Thompson, who works in the post room at a Jobcentre Plus office in Stockport, Greater Manchester, complained at a tribunal last month that he never came into contact with the public.

His union complained of a "draconian" dress code and said his job meant that he usually wore overalls.

Mr Thompson also claimed compensation for injury to his feelings at the Manchester tribunal after alleging that his human rights were breached. That issue is expected to be settled next month. He will wear a collar and tie pending the outcome of the appeal.

"I'm delighted and relieved with the outcome," Mr Thompson said. "The ruling vindicates what we have been arguing for some time. It is discriminating against me as a man to accept a standard not expected of a woman."

The PCS said it recommended staff stick to the dress code pending the appeal by the department. "Jobcentre management have been particularly belligerent about this," a spokesman said, adding that the ruling did not affect the rest of the Civil Service, which operated under different guidelines.

He said: "We don't have a problem with front-of-house staff presenting a professional image because they are professionals. We do have a problem with the imposition of a draconian dress code."

The Department for Work and Pensions said that dress standards were an important part of a professional service and that staff would be asked to continue to adhere to its code.

Last week, a prison officer lost his claim of sexual discrimination for being required to wear a tie with his uniform.