Dress code in the workplace has come a long way. Most employees are no longer expected to come wearing a suit and tie, or suit and panty hose, to work. As a writer with CNN.com puts it, "When it comes to personal style in the workplace, there are no hard and fast rules. What is suitable changes with where you work and what you do." Workplace dress codes are being redefined: how does an individual maintain a sense of personal style, while adhering to their company's expectations?
First, let me start off by defining modern dress code and the way that it has changed over time. According to AskMen.com, "...since the dot-com craze began, work clothes have become progressively more casual. It started when many Silicon Valley firms found that their employees worked better in relaxed clothing, than in stiffer, more traditional work wear, and so they adopted this casual look as their daily work attire. This slowly trickled down to other companies, as they believed casual clothing would make employees more comfortable, and thus boost productivity." Casual clothing is becoming the cultural norm in the workplace. The problem arises when a company fails to define what casual means which "brought about confusion in the workplace, as well as a reduced sense of professionalism." And that can mean a problem for professional work relationships, both from the employee and the client. A company has to balance the personal style of its employees in regards to the brand image that it is presenting to the public. In an article posted on suite101.com, author Deborah S. Hildebrand writes, "While many employers would nix the idea of having to teach their employees how to dress on the job, there seems to be no single resource that provides this type of education to those just entering the workforce. So establishing a workplace dress code can at least point errant workers in the right direction. That being said, employers might want to consider balancing fashion trends and corporate image when they put together their policy." Employers, in order to attract and retain top talent, are moving toward more employee centric policies; it makes sense that less restrictive dress codes will help improve both engagement and productivity.
Which leads me to the following questions: while employers don't have to consider employees need to express personal style, should they? Does having a policy that allows employees to have more freedom in dress help or hurt the professional environment?
My last job we had dress down Fridays, to me that meant jeans and a casual shirt. Unfortuniately to some it meant sweats, torn jeans, t-shirts with holes, for some it was Friday dance night clothes and some of the most awful clothes I had seen. The no rules dress down Friday can to a halt and we had to create a dress code for dress down Friday. I believe there are employees that do not know that in a place of work there is appropriate attire and not. So in most instances a dress code is needed especially if you meet the public.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this 100%, and I think it can be applied across all of our culture. For example, there are many people who walk around in sweats all the time, regardless of whether it is appropriate. Some companies that have very casual dress codes have implemented "Formal Wednesdays"; days when all employees dress more business like and can interface with clients. An interesting concept! Thanks for your feedback!
DeleteI'm a jeans kinda guy, 501s and nothing else. Spent the last 15 years showing up a work, yep, in jeans. The company didn't have a dress code and everyone wore pretty much what they wanted. But the office still looked professional.
ReplyDeleteEarlier in life worked in customer service and the company had a dress code. White shirt, company issued black tie and black slacks. As I remember the only difference between the two jobs, codewise, was one of them I knew what I was going to wear to work that day.
I have had the chance to read this blog more than once and I believe that an employer should have the right to require that an employee adhere to a dress code, that does not mean go out and buy a new wardrobe but if for instance you are a teller in a bank, as a customer do you feel comfortable handing your money over to a teller who dresses in a non-professional manner, low cut shirts, torn clothes or ragged pants. If you go to an upscale store and the sales people are not dressed stylish are you going to purchase anything, best yet how about if where you get your hair done the stylist hasn't syled her hair how will you feel about her doing your hair. As an employer you are selling your product, service or business by having employees that look the part. My point is an employer should be able to require employees to dress in a manner that will present their business in the brightest light.
ReplyDeleteIt depends. Where I work now as a manager we are not required to weaar a suit on a daily basis, but the President has a schedule of visits from clients and corporate from Germany. And, although we are not required or enforced to wear suits on those dates, cames to common sense to dress a little better and impress.
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