Tip of the Month for April 2005 Why Business Casual Has So Many People Uptight
Deciphering the hidden meaning of clothing has become a much more difficult task than years ago when a suit and tie were symbols of the American work ethic; the sober, respectable uniform of the upper class. It was simple then: a coat and tie have always been associated with work, while everything else is in our closet was associated with leisure or play. This was the case until the 1990s when young professionals began challenging the status quo by making huge amounts of money while wearing clothes that sometimes resembled pajamas. In Silicon Valley young men and women obtaining remarkable success, retiring before they were 30 years old, were defiant about working in what they deemed to be a prison-like atmosphere. Clothing became more and more casual. In some cases the more casual you appeared the more successful you were. That was not the case in other industries, but certainly the trend started and more and more companies adopted “Casual Friday.” This change in tradition has led to confusion. One of the more frequent requests I receive from companies who hire me for training concerns appropriate Business Attire. This of course includes what is acceptable for casual Friday. In 1998 research psychologist Jeffrey Magee surveyed 500 firms, and discovered that relaxed dress codes tended to lead to relaxation in every other area of business as well: manners, morals, ethics, productivity, quality, punctuality, you name it. In addition, Magee’s research found that offensive language had increased in the workplace. The bottom line the evidence seemed to suggest that when dress policies are too lax, and there are employees who feel compelled to push the limits of social acceptability (you know who you are), the result is bad for business. Many companies are now implementing more stringent dress codes in the belief that dressing better will encourage people to behave more professionally. The pendulum is swinging back in favor of more formal dress. The down side to this effort is that many young professionals have not experienced anything but corporate casual. A perfect example is Minneapolis-based Target Corp. Last year the discount retailer ended its business casual-dress code in favor of one requiring more professional attire for its 5,000 headquarters employees. This was a great PR maneuver; not only were they recognized for this shift but for how it was executed. The new dress code reportedly ran almost 20 pages on the company’s Intranet. Those who violated might now be sent home to change. The code requires that men wear a sport coat or tie if they leave their regular work area, or wear a pressed-collar shirt and tie with a sweater. Women are expected to wear a jacket over a sleeveless blouse, with dressy sweaters and sweater sets encouraged as acceptable options. Target is not alone. This shift is more specific to certain industries. Financial service companies, law firms, real estate agencies and many salespeople are putting the suits back on. However, several high-tech, publishing, consumer-goods and research and development companies are staying with business casual. Many companies leave the discretion to the employees. If they have a meeting, the suit and tie may be more appropriate. If there is no interaction with a client the causal attire stays on. Based on my experience, this is where most companies come to me for help. Given such freedom, some employees use poor judgment when working off-site or entertaining clients. In many cases it is difficult for a supervisor to tell their subordinates they are not dressed appropriately. That is why more and more companies are looking for guidance and perhaps someone from the outside to come in and do the hand slapping for them. This is effective, but there are other follow-up measures: Enforcing what has been adopted. Policing and enforcing the dress code, even asking employees to go home and change is a necessity if you wish to make this transition. Be specific in your employee handbooks, updated them regularly. Use a more effective approach, not just sending an email or memo stating the new policies. Have something more monumental, motivating and inspiring. Some companies will give a clothing allowance if they are making this shift in their dress codes. I believe you don’t have to go out and purchase designer clothing. I have purchased several of my suits from second hand stores. The key to doing it in a frugal manner is alterations. Even new suits off the rack will generally need alterations to fit your size and body type. Nothing is worse than dangling buttons, frayed hem lines and clothes that do not fit you well. I mentioned in a previous tip the importance of maintaining your clothes. If you put a suit in your closet that needs some repairs there is no magic Jinni in your closet that will take care of that for you. Looking professional does not begin and end with what you decide to wear, it also depends on personal hygiene. How you wear your hair, jewelry, makeup and the amount of tattoos, piercing and make-up. It is important to understand the culture of your company and industry. Keep in mind you are representing your company. In a recent publication for presenters a list was compiled of what is in and what is out. I’ve added some of my own:
For Men (in) Lightweight, single-breasted suits (in) Pleated dress slacks and no-iron pants (in) Ties with pastel colors and simple patterns (in) fitted, button-down shirts in solid colors (in) cuff links (out) Denim and regular Khaki pants (out) Sandals and thick-soled hiking boots (out) open neck or no-collar shirts (out) patterned shirts	For Women (in) Tweed accents, from suits to jackets to bags and shoes (in) Embellished twin sweater sets (in) patterned tights for textured legs (in) ballet flats and boots of all types (in) vintage pins (out) bare legs (out) chunky shoes (out) cropped pants (out) midriff-baring shirts
These are just a few and barely scratch the surface. As with all trends, these will change each year. If your company wishes to define itself by the image of your employees it is imperative you come up with a suggested list each season. Mandatory compliance is key. A partner at a law firm told me he’d had it with casual Fridays. He said that when clients come to his office they don’t care if it’s a Friday, they want to see his staff professionally dressed. After all, the client is paying a large hourly rate, why should they be made to feel it is a casual service. The client wants to feel as thought a real professional is handling their affairs. This is not just specific to law firms; several industries should abandon “Casual Friday.” Many companies are doing away with “Casual Friday” and are changing their image by simply exercising their rights to tell you what you can and cannot wear to work. Years ago this was never a question. Now, it is a constant struggle for companies across America. I have the same problem with my teenager. It’s a battle almost everyday. I simply say, “look and act the part.” Although it will take years to get him to understand the meaning of that statement, it’s starting to sink in. Mind Your Manners specializes in seminars and consulting services in business etiquette and international protocol. For more information, please contact Amy Palec at (262) 376-0515 or visit her web site www.amypalec.com.
© 2005 Amy L. Palec