Community Chat

[CrazyKittyLvr2]

@Meowingkitty   When my DH's niece got her 1st job after college years ago  it was an accounting firm.

It was not just required to dress up, it was black, navy or brown skirt and jacket, no slacks. No heels over 2 inches, small hoop earrings.

If hair was long it had to be up or pulled back.

I nearly fell over when she said what the handbook entailed. I know banking and accounting are typically conservation businesses but holy moly.

[deepwaterdotter]

How disappointing for the taxpayers that support the district where my niece teaches reading.  Their monies are paying the salary of a "grungy"-looking, ineffective educator who paid her tuition to obtain a Master's degree in Elementary Education.  

[gertrudecloset]

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@deepwaterdotter wrote:

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@ALRATIBA wrote:

I haven't seen anything unusual re business attire around here.

We have several hospitals, banks, PD precinct, lots of stores, restaurants, public junor high school and Catholic elementary school.

Everyone is dressed appropriately.

I'm frequently up around Madison Ave .... still seeting men in suits and women in "normal" office attire.

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This is my experience also.  Guess I'm more observant of an employee's proficiency at attending to my business than I am at their fashion choice.  

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[Greeneyedlady21]

I worked in a school a few years ago, the teachers and other staff always dressed appropriately. Teachers often wore dresses. Are they supposed to wear business suits? I paid attention to how they performed as teachers and administrators. It's also still Summer, and many schools have no AC.

There's no way Macy's would allow someone to work on the sales floor in a crop top and bike shorts, my local discount stores don't even allow that. Maybe she was changing, or maybe she works in the stockroom.

Not important to me, there are so many actual indicators of decline in civilization.

[Jordan2]

@paixmcdao my sister and I both work in schools in Nassau County, NY (not the same school) , and I'm telling you there really isn't a dress code. People wear shorts and torn jeans no one says a thing. 

[cjm61]

This was a problem I had when I worked in the school system. Eventually, the higher ups, primarily principals, became much more casual and office staff started dressing in "causal Friday" attire every day of the week. This entailed jeans and t-shirts, including the principal. I was considered, and voted by the students, as the best dressed staff member year after year. I felt good dressing up and gained more respect. 

Some are stating they don't care how others dress as long as the job gets done. Well, Forbes did a study and state "A recent study shows that people who dress better have more confidence, feel more powerful, and are more focused on details. More importantly, people perceive well-dressed people as leaders, and go to them for support at a faster rate than those not as well dressed." There is more to this article and many should check it out. Just Google Does Dressing Up Make a Difference. 

At one site I worked at the entire office staff dressed in office attire every day. There was no policy but once everyone dressed well it continued on. We received so many compliments through the years from parents and outside vendors how they appreciated how nice we always looked. It really did make a difference. 

[chrystaltree]

It depends on where you work and your position in the organization but the majority of employees are allowed to dress more casually these days.  Casual Fridays were from many years ago.  It's just casual now and with companies vying for employees, they have lightened up on dress codes.

[paixmcdao]

@paixmcdao my sister and I both work in schools in Nassau County, NY (not the same school) , and I'm telling you there really isn't a dress code. People wear shorts and torn jeans no one says a thing. 

I was not questioning what you said, @Jordan2.

[Tinkrbl44]

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@millieshops wrote:

I think the trend has been arriving for a couple of decades now, and the large percent of workers who tuned in from home during the earlier days of the pandemic may have cemented the trend into place for many more years. 

I know those who work from home in my neighborhood virtually always dress casually, just adding a bit of neatness and a bit more makeup for Zoom meetings or a few hours onsite.

About 20 years ago, I was in a conversation with a lawyer in San Antonio when he was asked if his office did casual Fridays.  He said they had tried it, but too many didn't understand casual Friday in the workplace isn't the same as a day on the fields or at the beach!  Workers in lots of places would do well to think carefully about what makes most of their clients/customers feel comfortable.

I think I am comfortable with a wide range of outfits, but I still believe there's a difference between what I choose to wear when I'm home alone and what I don when I'm headed into a public place.  I'd like those I do business with to think more about the message their clothes sends.

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@millieshops 

I am astounded by the number of women (and men) who don't realize it's better to dress appropriately, meaning business attire,  in business environments.   

People judge not only you but your employer ... and the business.  If people dress sloppy, they aren't taking their jobs seriously .... and can be passed over for promotions and raises.

Of course, there are also the very young who probably just don't know ... and dress only to "express themselves".  Big mistake.

[gertrudecloset]

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@Tinkrbl44 wrote:

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@millieshops wrote:

I think the trend has been arriving for a couple of decades now, and the large percent of workers who tuned in from home during the earlier days of the pandemic may have cemented the trend into place for many more years. 

I know those who work from home in my neighborhood virtually always dress casually, just adding a bit of neatness and a bit more makeup for Zoom meetings or a few hours onsite.

About 20 years ago, I was in a conversation with a lawyer in San Antonio when he was asked if his office did casual Fridays.  He said they had tried it, but too many didn't understand casual Friday in the workplace isn't the same as a day on the fields or at the beach!  Workers in lots of places would do well to think carefully about what makes most of their clients/customers feel comfortable.

I think I am comfortable with a wide range of outfits, but I still believe there's a difference between what I choose to wear when I'm home alone and what I don when I'm headed into a public place.  I'd like those I do business with to think more about the message their clothes sends.

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@millieshops 

I am astounded by the number of women (and men) who don't realize it's better to dress appropriately, meaning business attire,  in business environments.   

People judge not only you but your employer ... and the business.  If people dress sloppy, they aren't taking their jobs seriously .... and can be passed over for promotions and raises.

Of course, there are also the very young who probably just don't know ... and dress only to "express themselves".  Big mistake.

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If people didn't dress appropriately for the type of business they are employed in they would be fired.  I have no doubt about that.  The places I worked wouldn't stand for it.  The tone of any company starts at the top of the organization.  This all depends on where you work too.  If you work in the Dollar store no one expects you to be a suit or a skirt unless you choose to wear such attire.

If you're a Barista at Starbucks you're likely wearing khaki's with an apron and the appropriate uniform for the store.

People getting passed over for promotions because of how they dress is absurd.  If the powers that be in that person's workplace are not pleased with this ~ at will laws allow them to fire at will.

Some employers, however, PREFER an employee to be good at what the heck they do.  I've worked with some men who for lack of a better word weren't taught to look neat.  Excellent tax attorney.  He was kind of sloppy.  He saved the company I worked for lots of money in tax credits and he won company awards in the form of stocks and shares and cash because he was good at his job.  

These blanket statements about how people dress are amazing.