United accidentally sent an unfinished draft of an email scolding flight attendants for not dressing properly

United Airlines

United mistakenly sent an unfinished draft of an email encouraging flight attendants to pay more attention to their attire.

• United Airlines criticized the attire and personal grooming decisions made by flight attendants in an email it mistakenly sent to employees, Skift reports.
• United told Business Insider the email was a "preliminary version" of a later email it sent which, according to Skift, encouraged flight attendants to pay more attention to how they dress on flights.
• Both emails reportedly said flight crew members who wear skirts with improper lengths, shirts with wrinkles or stains, or visibly worn-out shoes could damage the company's reputation.

United Airlines criticized the attire and personal grooming decisions made by flight attendants in an email it mistakenly sent to employees, Skift reports.

United told Business Insider the email was a "preliminary version" of a later email it sent which, according to Skift, encouraged flight attendants to pay more attention to how they dress on flights. Both emails reportedly said flight crew members who wear skirts with improper lengths, shirts with wrinkles or stains, or visibly worn-out shoes could damage the company's reputation.

"Perhaps because of the distractions of our industry or the merger of our airlines, over time, we became too relaxed in compliance with established standards," John Slater, United's vice president for in-flight operations, reportedly said in one of the emails. "We lost our focus on the value uniform standards have on our customers' perception of our company."

A United representative told Business Insider that the airline's message to flight attendants received an "overwhelming positive reaction."

The airline is also reportedly hosting "image fairs" where flight attendants are taught the airline's expectations for in-flight attire.

A Twitter user posted photos of an image fair in early May.

In March, United announced a new, lottery-based bonus system that angered some employees. Three days later, the airline said it would put the new bonus system on hold in response to employee"feedback and concerns."

If you work for United and have a story to share, you can contact this reporter atmmatousek@businessinsider.com.