Why? Because whatever you choose to wear at work does not only send a nonverbal message about you, but it also affects the way you work. Both employees and employers have mixed feelings about work their attire.
You might ask, 'Why not just allow casual wear in the work place?'
Well, casual apparel is often opposed by employers because the boundaries of what is acceptable is often pushed beyond its limitations. Employers have come to believe that casual apparel in the work place can be blamed for a serious disregard for work and is, in fact, the cause for an increase in absenteeism, tardiness and flirtatious behavior.
Seemingly though, their opposition is not unfounded. It has been discovered that a bit too relaxed dress code can lead to reduced productivity and flaccid behavior.
Thus, business casual happened! These policies are less restraining than business formal, but at the same time defines the limits of ‘business casual’. As a matter of fact, business casual is such a popular policy that that 84% of businesses implement this dress code.
Business casual has proven to be a very versatile dress code and here's to hoping that this policy lasts for a long time.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
What level of casualness is allowed at the workplace on work days
Noticeably, Business Casual is becoming an issue at many companies. The issue at some firms is obviously that employees want a more casual dress code. While at others, the issue is that the casual dress code feels as if it is getting out of control.
Upon receiving many requests asking for a list of appropriate attire for casual days, an online business research lab conducted an online poll in which the employees were asked what the most casual type of attire they were allowed to wear on most days of the week. The results in the below graph are based on 235 responses.
Source: Agredano, R. (October 4, 2007). Difference Between Business Casual & Business Attire. In Small Business. Retrieved June 28, 2013, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/difference-between-business-casual-business-attire-24536.html.
Upon receiving many requests asking for a list of appropriate attire for casual days, an online business research lab conducted an online poll in which the employees were asked what the most casual type of attire they were allowed to wear on most days of the week. The results in the below graph are based on 235 responses.
What is the most casual type of attire your
employer lets you wear to work on most days of the week?
Source: Agredano, R. (October 4, 2007). Difference Between Business Casual & Business Attire. In Small Business. Retrieved June 28, 2013, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/difference-between-business-casual-business-attire-24536.html.
How does Casual Apparel in the workplace benefits employees and what needs to be done to keep this betterment consistent?
Generally speaking, attending the workplace in casual apparel is perceived to help eliminate boss/employee lines. Furthermore, this discovery suggests that employees have the potential to be better team players. As a result, contributions, productivity and creative thinking by employees may also increase drastically.
To keep the consistency of this progress, further examinations should be conducted into the future research on the effects of casual apparel on measures of productivity and other motivational factors as well as gender discrepancies. In addition, the study of a pre-/post-casual dress implementation needs to be done in order to measure actual changes in productivity and motivation.
Source: Anderson, D. (August 22, 2007). The Benefits of Dress-Code Policies at Work. In Yahoo! Voices. Retrieved June 27, 2013, from http://voices.yahoo.com/the-benefits-dress-code-policies-work-497281.html.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Casual Apparel in the Workplace: Tips and Tricks
- When going for a job interview it's preferred to dress conservatively. If you think about it, it actually makes sense because being over-dressed is always better than under-dressing, more importantly so if you are not sure about the company's expectations or policies regarding clothing in the workplace.
- Observe what your co-workers wear on casual-dress days and always request a copy of the dress code policy.
However, Avoid wearing:
- Sandals/flip-flops
- T-shirts or tanktops
- Dresses of innappropriate length or with slits
- Shorts or miniskirts
- Hats
Picture source: http://www.tarleton.edu/careerservices/documents/2011-2012/WhatToWear.png
Do you have any other Trips and Tricks for clothing casually in the workplace? Please share your thoughts/opinions in the comment box below.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Business objective in forming a casual dress code
"What is the objective?", you might ask. Well, basically a business's objective in constructing a casual dress code is to allow their employees to work cordially in the workplace.Employees need to develop a professional image for themselves, the customers and community visitors. In addition, you can say that Business Casual is the standard for this dress code.
However, not all casual clothing is suitable for the workplace; there are some measures that one could take to ensure what is appropriate to wear in the workplace. For instance, a professional representation of one's self is different from clothing for beach, factory work and sports competitions. Needless to say, apparel that exposes too much skin is not appropriate for a place of business. In a casual workplace environment, one's apparel must be ironed and buttoned-down properly; torn, dirty or wrinkled cloths are neither acceptable nor appreciated.
Source: Heathfield, S. M.. (n.d). A Relaxed, Casual Dress Code. In Forward Thinking Human Resources Info Serving Employers and Employees Since 2000. Retrieved June 4, 2013, from http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/dress_casual.htm.
Picture source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxQZPe5byQ-EMdDBDUwXT22t7Uo_fh8DlhQeguXGLgsCr3L6gkKbrhyphenhyphenuByVmjkwQI3cR-PwFISXbAe3oCM0mn4V_h13Vxq0RcGjwj5EhxBwkKls-IUzZEoYjXZ4NEcoPzUgxmxm9-JQ_t/s400/Business+Casual+1.jpg
What do you think? Do you agree with this Business Objective? Please share your thoughts/opinions on the comment box below.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
What does 'Casual Apparel in the Workplace' mean?
Casual apparel for men in the workplace may include pants in dark or neutral colors, buttoned-down shirts, French cuff shirts or sweaters paired with leather shoes. On the other hand, for women, pants or skirts are appropriate in dark or neutral colors, ensuring that they are not too short, tight or free flowing. Blouses and sweaters are appropriately paired combinations, but make sure no cleavage is showing. Pair the outfit with flats or heels, taking care that the shoe is more classic than trendy.
Nowadays, casual apparel is becoming more of a standard in the workplace rather than more of a formal attire, such as a business suit. Businesses are recognizing the advantages of allowing casual apparel for their employees. It is evident that employees appreciate the trend toward less formality in the workplace, as it is more budget friendly and comfortable. However, this trend should be dealt with vigilance, meaning- dressing in a manner that is comfortable, yet professional.
Source: Parus, B. (2000, Novemeber 6). Employee morale improves with casual dress code. . Retrieved from http://accounting.smartpros.com/x26280.xml
Picture source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl52oQwLLWUBgSez96UaZYOFJESq78zrEhh5aRrWl9rfyGMbMafMTHTjQSSEU5tNs9Unm8ZB7cGjPY1_ab5u4WmSooJOE9wGkBewIWF1sBDnZ1mfp5lGngg6B8XKUDhxa4Civ_7F1EmbE/s1600/SEOreseller.jpg
In this video, Executive Coach Valerie Sokolosky speaks about how to dress casually in the workplace; dressing in a manner that is comfortable, yet professional.
What does 'Casual Apparel in the Workplace' mean to you? Please share your thoughts/opinions in the comment box below.
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