Casual Clothing In The Workplace
by Joli Andre

Many companies are relaxing their dress codes. Surprisingly they are the one’s who had the most formal images: Chase Manhatten Bank, IBM, Ernst & Young, 3 M Corp and Charles Schwab. The reason these companies decided to go business casual was to appear "more approachable". I personally prefer people who are handling my business and money "appear professional and serious". Business Casual is a way of dressing in the workplace that encourages comfort, professionalism and productivity. In USA TODAY, July 2000 issue many companies found that "dressing casual" caused slacking off and loss of productivity.

There are 4 Levels of Business Casual:

• Management Chic : gaberdine slacks, sport shirt and/or sport coat for men and pantsuit and low heeled pump for women
• Worker Bee: cotton slack and sport shirt/polo tops for men, pants and sweater/blouse for women
• Relaxed & O.K.: clean blue jeans, sweaters, sneakers (clean) polo tops
• Eee-gads!! Short shorts, obscene t-shirts, leisure wear, sandals, tight low tops, dirty/wrinkled

Here are some guidelines about Business Casual:

• Prior to implementing a new dress code, survey your employees and managers to hear their views (pro & con) and what image do you want to sent to your customers?
• Be cautious of the word "appropriate" for some employees may not have the experience to determine what "appropriate" means.
• Do not depend on informal communications to set your standards, be sure to have a written policy.
• Most individuals will emulate management and executive staff. Ensure that management are sending the clearest messages possible.
• Cut out of magazines some examples of what the company feels is "appropriate". Display on the company bulletin board
• Be very clear that what is not "appropriate" is: tight, stained, torn, sloppy, revealing or mismatched.

Keep in mind that fashions are always evolving. Certainly dress standards need to vary for different departments (especially those who interact with clients) and the tasks that they perform. Jeans may have to be deemed "appropriate" for those companies who never interact with clients or do manual jobs that get them dirty. What Image do you want to project? You can certainly still be "approachable" and still look professional.