Ah, spring and summer. People relax a bit, having survived winter. But your dress code shouldn't. In fact, a dress code that promotes productivity and prevents litigation should probably be pretty tough on warm-weather attire.

Advice on crafting such a policy is available from all kinds of sources. Lawyers are going to say one thing as they seek to avoid clothing-related legal actions. Management consultants are likely to offer tips that will be tailored more to avoiding distractions. And then there are health-conscious sources who will tell you that summer dress codes need to take into consideration the way heat and humidity affect people on the job.

A dress code should be based on four criteria: common sense, health, safety and, most important of all, productivity.