Office dress codes
Does casual attire unite or divide your office? Our experts vary on whether a professional
look is necessary for a professional workplace.
February 28, 2011|By Jen Weigel | Lessons for life
Ever been fascinated by a co-worker's attire? Maybe they push the boundaries just enough to
tempt you to buy that leather skirt? Or does their casual Friday ensemble leave you wondering if
they even own a mirror?
"There's a difference between casual and sloppy," says Sally Morrison, associate manager of
Career Partners 3, a job search and career coaching firm. "It's surprising to me what some people
think is appropriate."
Morrison says at her office the dress code has always been "business only."
"I think that when you allow casual dress, some people start to be more casual in the way they
approach their work," says Morrison. "I'm not saying people have to keep their jackets on all day
long, but there's a level of professionalism that comes with wearing the appropriate attire. It
garners more respect. If you are dealing with clients, I think this is very important."
So important that Morrison's office doesn't allow casual Friday.
"If you do it one day a week, then people might get relaxed about the other days," she explains.
"It's just not something we think is appropriate with our work environment."
But if you don't have clients coming in and out of your doors, it might be worth ditching the suits
to give your company morale a boost.
"Our entire office just switched from business casual to casual for our dress code," says Amelia
Forczak of HR Solutions Inc., a Chicago-based International human resources pollster. "When
people are free to wear what they choose it's a benefit, and the absence of a dress code signifies
that workers are trusted to dress as they feel appropriate. This is empowering to the employee
and can improve the efficiency of your staff."
According to a 2011 HR Solutions study, only 27 percent of employees are actively engaged.
The remaining 73 percent is divided between being "ambivalent" (60 percent) and "actively
disengaged" (13 percent). Another poll conducted in May of 2010 asked if workers have a
traditional dress code. 55 percent said they did not have a code, while 44 percent were putting on
suits and ties.
"It's key to know what's important to your workers to ensure you are getting productivity," says
Forczak. "We do internal surveys at our office and after a recent survey, we found that being able
to dress casually everyday instead of just on Fridays was a top priority, so we made the switch."
Forczak says the wardrobe change is what they call a "quick win"a change in protocol that
isn't difficult to implement and creates instant results within the work environment.
"If you don't deal with clients every day and wearing a suit won't change the way your workers
do their jobs, why not make the workers feel the most comfortable?" says Forczak. "It's always a
good thing in leadership to keep up a rapport with your employees. We find this is a great way to
do this."
The Issues of Dress Codes in Middle Schools
by Stacy Zeiger, Demand Media Google
Dress codes are a hot-button issue in middle-school classrooms. While some think of dress codes
as a way to improve student discipline, others see them as a way to stifle individuality during a
time when students are just learning to express themselves. Many schools have had success with
dress codes, but administrators, teachers and parents must take a close look at the issues
surrounding dress codes before determining whether they are necessary for their school.
Reasons for Adopting a Dress Code
Typically, schools adopt a dress code for one of two reasons: to improve student discipline or to
keep students safe. According to National School and Safety Services, dress codes help reduce
gang activity and help prevent conflict related to socioeconomic status. At an age where student
hormones are just starting to rage, middle-school dress codes can also prevent short skirts, lowcut shirts and other pieces of clothing that may cause students to pay more attention to the
opposite sex.
Enforcing Dress Codes
How the dress code is enforced plays a big role in its effectiveness. Often teachers let minor
dress-code violations slide, making it difficult to punish students when they are cited for major
violations. If a dress code is not enforced by all school employees, it can lead to division within
the school and confusion among parents and students. Particularly detailed dress codes may
require teachers to spend more time enforcing the dress code and less time focusing on
instruction.
Student Expression
During the middle-school years, students are often beginning to come out of their shells. This
includes experimenting with fashion and developing a personal style. Strict school dress codes,
where students are allowed to wear only a few types or colors of clothing, may inhibit this stage
of their development and force students to be like everyone else. At the same time, a strict dress
code may prevent students with highly unique senses of style or those who cannot afford
expensive clothing from being bullied or harassed.
Freedom of Speech
Many students and organizations, including the ACLU, feel that dress codes that ban clothing
with religious or political messages on it infringe on students' freedom of speech. Some have
even taken their cases to court and seen favorable results. In 2007, a student in Napa, California,
sued the school district after being assigned detention for wearing socks featuring Tigger, a
character from Winnie-the-Pooh. Many schools ban these messages, as well as those that
promote violence or drug use, to help keep students safe and prevent students from being
offended or bullied.
