IELTS - Reading for General Training — Exercise 4

Part 2: Read Passage 1 Please read the text below and answer Questions 1–7. Workplace Dress Code and Appearance Policy Introduction All employees at HorizonTech are expected to maintain a professional appearance that reflects positively on the company and ensures a comfortable, inclusive working environment for everyone. The dress code applies to all staff members during normal working hours, when attending meetings (internal or external), and when representing the company at events. General Guidelines Business casual attire is the standard across all departments. Clothing must be clean, neat, in good repair, and appropriate for the workplace. Strong fragrances should be avoided as some colleagues may have allergies or sensitivities. Name badges must be worn and clearly visible at all times when on company premises. Acceptable Attire • Tops: Collared shirts, polo shirts, blouses, sweaters, or smart jumpers. • Bottoms: Dress trousers, chinos, knee-length skirts, or tailored dresses. • Footwear: Closed-toe shoes, loafers, or low-heeled dress shoes. In the warehouse and technical labs, safety footwear is mandatory where specified. • On Fridays, "casual Friday" rules apply: neat jeans (no rips or fading) and company-branded T-shirts or smart casual tops are permitted. Unacceptable Attire The following items are not permitted at any time: • Sportswear, tracksuits, hoodies, or gym clothing • Flip-flops, beach sandals, or trainers (except in designated gym areas) • Shorts, mini-skirts, or clothing that reveals excessive bare skin • Hats or caps indoors (except for religious or medical reasons) • Clothing displaying offensive slogans, logos of competing companies, or political messages • Visible underwear or overly tight/revealing clothing Exceptions and Accommodations Employees may request reasonable adjustments for religious observance, disability, medical conditions, or pregnancy. Such requests should be discussed in confidence with the HR department in advance. Hygiene and Grooming Hair should be clean and neatly styled. For roles involving food handling or laboratory work, hair must be tied back. Beards and moustaches are permitted but must be well-maintained. Visible tattoos and piercings are allowed provided they are not offensive. Enforcement Managers may send employees home to change if they do not meet the dress code, and repeated violations may lead to formal disciplinary action. Questions 1–7 Do the statements below match what the text says? TRUE – if the statement agrees with the information FALSE – if the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN – if there is no information on this