A major international bank recently issued lengthy, detailed guidelines on what their staff should wear at work. Formal corporate wear was firmly on the agenda, and dressing down was definitely out. The release of the document sparked copious discussions about how people should dress at work and whether it makes a difference to performance. So does it really matter?
There are two main schools of thought on this. One theory is that a professional dress code breeds more professional behaviour while others counter that dressing casually helps create a more informal and less stressful work environment. Obviously the decision depends on the particular circumstances, but if someone is doing backroom or non-customer facing work, why can’t they come to work in more casual dress? I can understand that if someone is dealing with a client or customer they don’t know then a smart appearance can make a good impression; but if they know the customer or supplier very well, and have a good relationship, is it still necessary to ‘dress up’?
My gut reaction is that it’s the second of the two theories that holds true. Given the times we are operating in – substantial job insecurity, heavier workloads and excessive pressure to deliver – casual clothing might help to create a more friendly and less stressful work environment. It might not seem much, but I don’t believe that wearing our business ‘uniforms’ will help defuse the pressure cooker workplaces that this post recession period has brought.
It can depend on the overall company’s working environment. If it’s a healthy one then there’ll be the trust to let staff make their own choices.
I like smart casual myself simply because it promotes a stabile and proud attitude which in these challenging times gives you something to maintain a healthy mindset.
Well i think if you are working in a bank you have to dress formally. And an organisation cannot ask some employees to dress formally as they are dealing with the clients and ask some employees to dress casually as they are not.