While Kanawha County school officials wrestle with a teacher dress code and debate skirt lengths and flip-flops, workers in Kanawha County's governmental offices have been subject to dress codes for years.

Kanawha County Manager Jennifer Sayre said each of the county's elected officials set their own appearance standards. In the offices of the Kanawha County Commission, for example, "Employees will dress in a manner suitable to the job duties and assigned so as to present a positive and business-like image of the Commission to members of the public," according to the commission's employee manual.

Sayre said County Commission employees are expected to present a neat appearance.

"It's basic common sense," she said. Even on unofficial casual Fridays, "They still need to look professional so if they have to attend a meeting out of the office they still are dressed appropriately," Sayre said.

In 2010, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department adopted a policy banning tattoos or body art that were visible when deputies wore a short-sleeved summer uniform shirt. Under the policy, any deputy who had a visible tattoo prior to adoption of the new policy was allowed to keep it, but new recruits being considered for a job are asked if they would be willing to have a tattoo removed as a condition of employment, sheriff's department spokesman Cpl. Brian Humphreys said.

"For us, it's more about uniformity," Humphreys said. "We are representing the sheriff of Kanawha County, and important to be professional and appear professional. It's important for us to dress and look accordingly."

Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick sent a memo to her employees in September 2012 reminding them of her office's dress standards. "Clothing worn to the office should be selected to reflect a business-like and professional image," McCormick said.

Unacceptable articles of clothing listed in the memo included leggings, sweat pants, halter tops, short shorts, short skirts, "sun dresses that reveal back or cleavage" and "tank shirts or tops that reveal back, cleavage or stomach." Jeans were discouraged unless employees would be working in an area that would likely damage or dirty nicer clothes.

Sayre said county officials have recently begun requiring employees who work at service windows or deal often with taxpayers to wear polo shirts with their office logo and khaki pants.

"The people who are on the front line, working with the public the most, we're trying to make sure they're identifiable," she said.

Not every county agency has a written dress code.

"Pretty much what we're doing for the day dictates what we're wearing," Kanawha County Parks Director Jeff Hutchinson said. Hutchinson said the parks system has 19 full-time employees, six of whom are in an office setting or deal regularly with the public.

"It's pretty much business casual," Hutchinson said. "In the summer I don't mind them wearing shorts because we're in the recreation business."

Hutchinson isn't crazy about written dress codes, preferring that common sense and situation determine how employees dress. If someone is dressed inappropriately at work, "I think it should be addressed at point of hire or point of evaluation," he said.

"We're all adults," Hutchinson said. "I think [attire] is better to be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

"I seriously think most people know how to dress appropriately."