Dress Codes...

[simplydamon]

How do you feel about dress codes in the workplace?

1. Do you think that dress codes increase productivity if people are allowed to dress how they want? For example, people that are not customer facing would be candidates for casual dress.

2. Does your company have a dress code?
(Note: Please don't mention the company by name. A description of the industry you work in should suffice).

As for me, I have noticed that there is a big difference in dress codes based on the region you work. The East Coast seems much more inclined to dress formally than the West (Left) Coast. I also find that not having to think about what to wear the next day is a big help in relieving the stress of choosing something to wear (and the wallet!).

[George]

No dress code is the best if you dont work in front of customers. Cant stand being in a suit in the hot nyc weather.

[freekyfrawg]

1. No, I do not believe allowing people to dress like they want increases (nor decreases) productivity. But in the last few jobs I've had I've been allowed to dress as a I want because I have proven to be productive. Whereas I know people who usually dress down at home and tend to dress up at wrk are no more productive than anyone else, sometimes even less so because they think they "look smart". they can get away with playing dumb.

2. In my current job there is no dress code, they believe clothes do not make the brains or the work. Awesome! I was told that at my interview, and I just KNEW I wanted to work there ;)

[kd5145]

Well, I work in CT and we tend to be very casual. However, I also work in the Human Services field so this might have something to do with it. We do dress formally for meetings outside of the agency, but in general jeans are the normal office attire.

I don't think that it effects productivity one way or the other. You either do your job or not. ;)

I agree that it does make life a lot easier and less expensive.

[QuestorTheElf]

Regarding clothes and productivity, I definitely have noticed what one wears has an effect on several, from the clothes wearer to those around him. I know I have certain shirts and pants that motivate me for important moments while others are more purposely laid back. (It's also why the unemployed are counseled to dress up as if you're going to work anyway; certain clothes do inspire confidence!) I know others will also perceive me a certain way; even if we're talking positions that don't deal with the public, we still do have an internal customer base in the form of peers, direct reports, and supervisors.

It's been said we're always communicating messages, beyond just words we say and write. Clothes can say a lot, including "I'm a very serious person" or "Our relationship is so easygoing that we reflect it in our speech and clothes."

Yet upon first reading this question, I recalled this routine from the late Steve Allen. He would first state a common saying everyone could recognize and agree with. He'd then follow it with another saying that also everyone knew and believed in, yet it was totally at odds with the first. That was the part of the routine, just how do you reconcile such polar opposites that individually sound so true?

As an example, there's:
A = 2 heads are better than 1.
B = If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Another is:
A = Better safe than sorry.
B = Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

In terms of the questions about whether clothes deserve to impact on productivity, I thought of these:
A = Never judge a book by its cover.
B = Image is everything.

Of all places, the one which I find such A vs. B contradictions most interesting jobwise is none other than the dreaded interview. Some West Coast places get upset if a male candidate shows up in a tie, proclaiming anyone in the industry should know better. Yet other West Coast places say it is only when the company accepts you that you can dress like its native; if you don't dress up for the interview, you get points taken off for trying too hard to fit in.

Over the mountain from where I live is a nudist colony. I wonder what appropriate interview attire is there!

[freekyfrawg]

Always, always wear a tie to a job interview at a nudist colony...but only a tie :D

[simplydamon]

Hi,

Salary.com has an article on dress codes that some might find useful.

http://www.salary.com/advice/layoutscripts/advl_display.asp?tab=adv&cat=nocat&ser=Ser64&part=Par138

[raincoaster]

John Molloy, the Dress for Success guy, actually did statistical analyses to see if dress codes increased productivity, and he found that they did, quite significantly, provided they were workplace-appropriate. That means that uniforms didn't interfere with the physical ability to do the job, that they were not overly sexual, and that they reflected a public perception of how people in those positions dressed. So, no surf shorts for bank managers, no suits for surfers, EVER.

He also found they hugely increased productivity in cases where someone was wearing inapppropriately sexy outfits and the dress code was specific enough to exclude them. Didn't help the sexy dresser, but productivity of everyone else went up a great deal, whether because they were no longer distracted or because they were no longer wasting time going "oh my lord, did you SEE what he was wearing today?"

And just saying "no inappropriate attire" never works, because nobody thinks they're being inappropriate. They think "well, you should have SEEN what HE wore last week."

[simplydamon]

"John Molloy, the Dress for Success guy, actually did statistical analyses to see if dress codes increased productivity, and he found that they did, quite significantly, provided they were workplace-appropriate."

What was the definition of workplace-appropriate?

While I've personally found that dressing well helps me feel better about how I look in the office, I haven't found (personally) that it affects my productivity in any way. I tend to be more productive if I don't have to worry about what I have to wear for work (washing them, getting them prepped for work,etc.).

***Uniforms are very interesting to me because I understand the *why* as to wearing one from a corporate perspective (branding, id,etc.)

Did the report separate out those that face the customer & those that do not? For example, a customer service representative on the phone probably shouldn't dress uncomfortably (in my opinion). A customer service rep in a retail store, however, should probably reflect what image the company is trying to project.

[simplydamon]

Hi,

I also found this piece to be relatively informative:

http://www.cipd.co.uk/press/ResourceArea/FeatureArticles/DC_290703.htm

I am still of the personal mindset, however, that dress doesn't overly change the way I work (must be a California thing). I also think that *how* you dress should depend on the type of contacts you have in the office.

***I would think that some of the attitudes will change as time goes on.

[Wysiwyg101]

It really depends on several factors.

1.) What kind of job is it?

2.) Are the employees going to be meeting with clients?

3.) Are the employees going to be in a situation where they will be representing the company to outsiders.


To me, there should always be some sort of guidelines for a dress code. Even in the back area away from customers and clients, you don't want someone dressing in a way that will distract others from being able to adequately perform their jobs.

[simplydamon]

"1.) What kind of job is it?

2.) Are the employees going to be meeting with clients?

3.) Are the employees going to be in a situation where they will be representing the company to outsiders."

Agreed. I think I touched on your bullets in previous posts. #2 and #3 are the ones I personally carry the most weight.

"To me, there should always be some sort of guidelines for a dress code. Even in the back area away from customers and clients, you don't want someone dressing in a way that will distract others from being able to adequately perform their jobs."

Yep...a tank top or mini skirt could most certainly be distracting to workers. These clothing items could also potentially lead to other things that you don't want in a workplace (worrying about harassment,etc.)

[daftchemicals]

I would be willing to work for less pay in exchange for a casual dress code.

Example, I would take $10/hr for a totally casual phone job. Compared to $12/hr for a "business casual" dress code. Slightly more would be about $14.50-$15/hr.

Now, totally professional with ties and belts, I want quite a bit more.

At the same time, I don't think clothing dictates what kind of work tempo I keep. I don't type slower if I have jeans on. I don't curse on the phone because my shirt isn't tucked in. I can make customers happy regardless if my shoes are on or off at my desk.