When business organizations instituted “dress-down” or business casual days in the 1990’s, they created a dilemma which lives on today. Never has there been so much confusion about what to wear to work.
Most companies do not have a clear policy on what is appropriate attire for casual days. As a result, they watch their employees show up for work in everything from the sublime to the ridiculous.
If your company wants to have a casual dress day, put a written policy in place. Make sure employees are aware of the guidelines you have established.
There are few issues more difficult than trying to explain to employees what’s wrong with their choice of clothing. If your policy says, “No jeans, tennis shoes or halter tops,” the problem should not arise.
When employees dress inappropriately, don’t ignore the problem. Most people want to do the right thing. It is unfair not to tackle this sticky issue head on. For those who take umbrage with you, perhaps you don’t need them in your employ.
“Business” is the key word in business casual. Be sure that you and your employees know the difference between business casual and casual. They are not one and the same.
Your business apparel should always be what your clients expect to see. If you have to explain or apologize for what you are wearing, it is not appropriate. When your client comes to your office and you find yourself saying, “Oh, by the way, today is casual day,” rethink what you wore to work.
If your organization already presents itself in a dress-down mode, you may not want to have a special casual day. That will only open the door to even greater challenges.
What you wear not only tells customers what you think of them; it also says what you think of yourself.
If this is a tough topic for you to address, Lydia would be happy to work with your employees on your behalf! Call 912-604-0080 today.
The conference brochures and meeting notices start arriving, and you wonder what to pack. Under “What to Wear,” you read, “The official dress for the conference is business casual. Wear what you are comfortable in.” What in the world does that mean? Those words provide no guidance at all.
Last week I wrote about how women should dress for work during the hot summer months. At the risk of repeating myself, I pointed out out that women have more choices and challenges than men when it it comes to deciding how to dress professionally when temperatures soar. When it comes to business attire for men and business casual, it is pretty straight forward. There are fewer choices.
What to wear to work is challenging enough during the year, but when temperatures rise, it is even more confusing, especially for the business woman. In last week’s blog, I talked in general terms of how to approach your workplace wardrobe in the summer. This week I want to focus on the business woman’s wardrobe. The business woman faces more options than her male counterpart, and therefore has more room for error.
Summer officially arrives on June 20th, and once again what to wear to work is a hot topic. Understandably, we all want to be comfortable in the heat of the summer. However, in their desire to cool down, some people forget that, regardless of the temperature, what they wear to work should always be professional. Summer business dress is not to be taken lightly.