Exchanging ideas to create the well-being advantage

In my last post, my colleague Ivan Robertson wrote about how UK plc is doing in relation to working smarter. On a lighter, but related note, I have noticed a major shift to more informal dress for men in the workplace. In particular, far fewer men seem to wear ties these days, which gives the workplace a much more informal and relaxed feel – I, myself, stopped wearing them years ago so, generally speaking, I support this move!

But I was talking to someone about this trend recently, and they explained it to me as a very positive signal that there is more flexibility and autonomy in the workplace – as well as lower levels of formality. But then I also noticed that The Financial Times just carried a piece about the sales of ties bucking the downward trend in high street sales – and actually increasing! Their explanation was that just as politicians like Gordon Brown and Barach Obama have reverted to wearing ties to project a more serious countenance during the downturn or running up to an election, working men are becoming worried about their jobs and have decided that “smartening up” might help them to avoid redundancy. This is backed up by sales figures from Moss Bros., Tie Rack, Jermyn Street’s Hilditch & Key and John Lewis, who have all reported significantly increased tie sales.

So, if this is true, the more casual approach to wearing ties is not a symbol of new ways of working or the new informality of office life – but instead it indicates that men who adopt it are supremely confident about retaining their jobs!!

You can see the article from the FT at:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/69725d96-4962-11dd-9a5f-000077b07658.html