Addressing the dress code
This morning, as I culled a backlog of old items I had identified for possible posting, I found a July article on corporate dress codes.
Given the continuing high popularity of the October 7 post on tattoos and piercings, I suspect this related topic may be of interest to our readers.
The following includes the July article, some results from my own “Googling” on the dress code subject, and what I hope will be some useful links.
The July 5, 2004 edition of the [North Carolina] Triangle Business Journal included this article: “HR managers tackle issue of proper dress” (by Jane Paige)
Ties and suits have been replaced by the new business casual dress style at many Triangle companies. While the change has been attributed to helping break down workplace barriers and fostering creativity, it can be challenging for companies seeking to maintain a professional appearance. That challenge has placed more demands on human resource departments to define what is – and is not – allowed in the modern workplace.
“The image of the person must be in touch with the image of the entire company” . . . “Each company has a different environment and the dress codes must be customized to fit that setting.”
The article goes on to discuss dress codes at several different area employers, with blue-jeans-or-no-blue-jeans seeming to have largely replaced tie-or-no-tie as the main point of distinction.
The article also makes the following interesting point:
Shedding formal business dress has been favorably linked with employee performance and the elimination of some barriers among various levels of employees.
“It has been seen that if people dress the same in companies, there tends to be better communication among the different ranks of employees,” . . . “Also, employees tend to like the casual dress and are more productive if they are more comfortable at work.”
Some companies define quite specifically what is and is not acceptable under a “business casual” standard.
Human resource directors agree that sometimes, especially in the summer, employees can push business casual too far. Sundresses and shorts often can creep into the workplace.
“Sometimes, if an employee comes to work dressed too casual, it can impact their attitude or behavior at work,” . . . “It is important for managers to step in and have a talk with the employee before others follow the lead.” Read more
Now here’s a poll you may find interesting: “Casual Dress Code is Dead. Truth or Myth?” This survey was conducted from March 8 through March 27, 2003 by The Business Research Lab, LLC
Summary
Contrary to the belief held by some, the end of casual dress codes has not come. Some people said their employers have made the dress code less casual than it was previously, but many more said it has become more casual.
Most people are happy with the current dress code at their places of work. Among those who are not, more people want to see things become more casual than want to see it become more formal. This finding is strongest among those who say they must wear formal business attire to work.
There are even consultants who will help you develop an appropriate dress code and educate employees about how to carry off a business casual look with class. For example, Ilene Amiel provides “Consulting on Business Casual Dress, Professional Attire, Dress Code Policies, Dressing for Interviews, and much more!” She is the author of “Business Casual Made Easy — The Complete Guide to Business Casual Dress for Men and Women.”
The next link specifically targets dress codes for libraries, but contains much useful general information applicable to other settings: “Dealing with dress codes” (by Raymond W. Neal, Univ. S.C. School of Library and Information Science). Here you will find a nice cartoon, and in true librarian style, many useful links, including two dress code examples, and even a bibliography.
Finally, from About.com, a short bullet-point action plan for implementing a dress code. “How to Set a Dress Code” (by F. John Reh)
