SURVEY SAYS: How's Your Summertime Dress Code?
This week, I asked readers if they had issued a reminder/restatement about appropriate attire at their workplace this year.
As you might imagine, we received a wide variety of very interesting (and entertaining) responses this week. Still, when all was said and done, only about half of this week’s respondents have issued and/or been issued such a reminder – though roughly 24% said, essentially, that while they hadn’t yet taken that step, it seemed like a very good idea. The remaining 26% hadn’t issued the notice. “If someone has to be reminded that they can’t wear that Guns & Roses tank top with cut-off jeans and jelly shoes, they’re probably not going to last long on the job anyway,” observed one reader.
“What a timely question! I just had to sign a statement that I understood what business casual meant. And based upon the attire I’ve seen this summer, I think it was long over due,” countered another.
“Interesting you should bring this up now ,” noted another (the timeliness of the question came up repeatedly, by the way). “We had quite a lively discussion on this subject this week. We came to no clear consensus on what is or is not ‘appropriate.’ Multiply that by thousands of people and there’s a real challenge. Add to that questions of diversity and tolerance for different cultural and generational norms and you want to start handing out uniforms!”
“Apparently the business casual dress code had been sinking to beach casual around my office place, because we received a reminder of the dress code from our manager a few weeks ago,” noted another.
However, another, who had issued such a reminder to workers, noted that “having employees actually dress as requested is a different matter.”
Four Themes
While it was hardly a universal perspective, time and again, four themes emerged:
Flip-Flops are creating a real flap.
“Definitely think a reminder is needed in the office regarding business casual attire, especially regarding footwear. Seems flip-flops are becoming more and more common in the office during summer months. Not only are they casual-to-beach attire, but they can’t be safe when navigating the stairs within the office or building. I smell a lawsuit about to happen.” (Maybe that isn’t a lawsuit you smell….)
“We usually get one each summer because our employees seem to have an obsession with flip flops and short skirts,” observed another.
There are more problems with women’s attire than men’s.
“Women appear to be the biggest violators of the policy, often appearing at the office in sheer or brief tops and capris, with flip-flops,” noted one.
“I am seriously considering a reminder to our employees regarding our dress code, particularly ladies with plunging (very revealing) necklines during the summer months,” said another exasperated reader. “The section of the employee handbook dealing with this is being ignored. The problem is with one employee, and if I say anything, is it se.xual haras.sment or discrimination? An occasional infraction is one thing, but this is happening 2 – 3 days a week. Help,” implored another.
Management is part of the problem.
“We have a statement about appropriate dress. However, to my despair, it is not followed by employees at any level. Therefore, I make my statement by always dressing the way I believe the company statement suggests.”
“It is difficult to enforce restrictions on casual attire when members of senior management wear shorts, t-shirts, and flip-flops every day!”
“The dress code seems to be out the window. Key people look like they are ready to wash windows, the only reason I can think of to wear baggy crop pants, a blouse with the tails hanging out, and flip flops.”
“We have reminders periodically; unfortunately, however, if management doesn’t enforce them, it can look more like a beach party than an office environment.”
Adults shouldn’t have to be reminded about this.
“This came up in our staff meeting just last week from our HR Director. By command of the VP, we need to send out a reminder about what is and isn’t appropriate dress/grooming. On a related note, we’re training a new-hire in HR …to whom we aptly described ourselves as the ‘corporate babysitters.’ …Proof positive.”
“Many adults like children will test boundaries, and unless the ‘Parents’ are up to the challenge, the ‘kids’ become unruly. With these types of policies, HR unfortunately becomes the enforcement agency. I’m a firm believer in formal dress policies – work should never be casual – putting on a suit in the morning sends a message – ‘It’s Showtime.'”
“Business casual isn’t what it used to be, that’s for certain. Absent any formal policy, it has developed generational interpretations, too. For example, boomers consider it as a casual sport coat and no tie while Gen X’ers wear a polo and khaki pants. Gen Y’s, on the other hand, treat it as freaky Friday. I think the beach is the only place where there is more skin exposed.”
“Funny you should ask… as my boss and I were driving to a business meeting yesterday, she went off on a long monologue that business casual was not a jean skirt and flip flops and that every other firm in town understood what business casual was, except us. Fortunately, I was not wearing a jean skirt and flip flops, but I had the distinct impression that I was somehow responsible for whoever was.”
“No. Our HR department (me) believes that grown-up people can figure out how to dress. I am right 97% of the time, and embarrassed 3% of the time.”
More Quotes
There were SO many great quotes – I can’t possibly list them all here. A few of my favorites:
“What I fear is a backlash by management, such that we will see a return to the required ‘long sleeve dress shirt, suit, and tie’ days of the 70s and 80s. In Texas in August 2006, that is probably considered cruel and unusual punishment by Amnesty, Int’l.”
“Our manager forwarded an article by a local publication that quoted our company as allowing flip flops. A lady on the dress code committee was livid about this because flip flops were not allowed. It turns out the manager was playing a joke. He edited the article to include the flip flop line.”
“I find it interesting that ‘form fitting attire’ is outlawed by the dress code, but I have yet to see or hear of anyone being sent home to change clothes due to inappropriate dress or for ‘having bad form.'”
“It’s amazing how selective memories can be about what is appropriate attire for the office when the temperature outside rises.”
But this week’s Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who noted, “In our handbook, it tells us that we must wear ‘appropriate undergarments,’ yet, we are not allowed to wear clothes that show our undergarments. I still do not know whose job description includes the enforcement of the undergarment rules.”
Thanks to everyone who participated in our survey!
Funny you should ask. This came up in our staff meeting just last week from our HR Director. By command of the VP, we need to send out a reminder about what is and isn't appropriate dress/grooming. On a related note, we're training a new-hire in HR …to whom we aptly described ourselves as the "corporate babysitters." …Proof positive.
We have reminders periodically, unfortunately however if management doesn't enforce them, it's can look more like a beach party than an office environment.
And I can tell that I am getting older when my views on appropriate office attire are close to that of a retired coworker that 20+ years ago I though was old and stodgy, as were her views...which now I share 🙁
I would like to return to a little less casual dress code (again my age obviously, but have once lived through the "pedal pusher" generation have no desire to revisit "flood pants" and "flip flops") - sometimes the more casual the dress the more lax the attitude.
Yes, our workplace has had a reminder this summer of appropriate "business casual" in the form of a skit with employees showing what is and is not appropriate.
We have reminded staff about what constitutes business casual dress early in the year. That helped get rid of some short cut-offs that were just too casual for work.
What a timely question! I just had to sign a statement that I understood what business casual meant. And based upon the attire I've seen this summer, I think it was long over due.
No and No.
No, dress is typically a symptom of work habit and attitude. If someone has to be reminded that they can't wear that Guns & Roses tank top with cut-off jeans and jelly shoes, they're probably not going to last long on the job anyway.
Our dress code is more casual than ever especially with the hotter weather this summer.
I tend to think this is media hype!
Business casual isn't what it used to be, that's for certain. Absent any formal policy, it has developed generational interpretations too. For example, boomers consider it as a casual sport coat and no tie while Gen X'ers wear a polo and khaki pants. Gen Y's, on the other hand, treat it as freaky Friday. I think the beach is the only place where there is more skin exposed. Now, I'm no fuddy-duddy and still have enough gray matter to remember when my bell bottoms, wide belts and shoulder length hair were counter-culture. But, tongue-in-cheek, I can't pass this opportunity. "Young man, when I was your age..." Thanks that felt good.
Yes I did last week. Some of our female employees were dressing too casual.
Restatements are always necessary. Business casual or appropriate policies are always problematic. Their success or failure depends on your supervisory/managerial team and unfortunately, many of them are not up to the task. Many adults like children will test boundaries and unless the "Parents" are up to the challenge the "kids" become unruly. With these types of policies HR unfortunately becomes the enforcement agency. I'm a firm believer in formal dress policies - work should never be casual - putting on a suit in the morning sends a message - "It's Showtime "
Our company never adopted business casual; it's still suits and ties for men and business dress for women, although some women just don't understand what business dress. I feel sorry for the men because they can't get away with what some of the women consider business dress. For once women have the upper hand on something.
No. And I'm dismayed every time I hear or read about this notion of some employers swinging the pendulum back towards "business" and away from "casual". I haven't worn a dress to work since September of 1997 and I hope to never have to do so again!
Yes, we had a reminder at the beginning of the summer about the appropriate attire. Everyone at my company follows it well, though the reminder did say no thong sandals and many people wear them- including myself.
I would definitely not call our office "professional" in its business attire. Employees have pushed the envelope here so far that flip-flops and t-shirts (for women only, how biased is that?) are the norm, especially on our Friday "casual day". What I fear is a backlash by management, such that we will see a return to the required "long sleeve dress shirt, suit and tie" days of the 70's and 80's. In Texas in August 2006, that is probably considered cruel and unusual punishment by Amnesty, Int'l.
We are a law firm and as such, every summer we have 50 - 70 second year law school students who arrive to play grown up for ten weeks (and are paid exorbitantly for that privilege). We receive reminders every summer about appropriate attire: business casual, no flip flops, jeans, torn clothing, baseball caps, tube tops, exposed midriffs, etc., but there are always young employees pushing the edge. The problem I see with a dress code is that it is usually the body shape or size that "stretches" the limit of what is acceptable.
Call me an old fuddy duddy, but a former school teacher once told me that the children were always the best behaved on picture day. Could it be that dressing better helps performance in the work place too?
Conscientious, dedicated employees like we have need no written reminders on appropriate behavior (he says smugly)
Yes, we have had a reminder about the company dress code. We usually get one each summer because our employees seem to have an obsession with flip flops and short skirts.
We get a dress code memo a few times a year that contains the following regarding business casual:
Business Casual Attire
Dress slacks or neat cotton pants
(like khakis, Dockers or corduroys)
Colored socks
Dress or sport shirts with collar
Casual shoes
Sweater or sweater vest
Casual dress or skirt (at appropriate length)
Casual slacks and blouses
Conservative jewelry
Ladies wear hosiery with dresses or skirts
Casual Attire (Weekends)
Anything that is neat and presentable
Jeans
Sneakers
T-shirts (no plain white t-shirts)
Sweatshirts that are neat
We have the following additional comments:
¨ Summer business casual attire is not appropriate year-round. A short sleeve polo shirt that looks acceptable in July is not acceptable in the winter (unless worn with a sweater or jacket).
¨ In non-summer months, a traditional collared long-sleeved shirt or blouse should be the norm for business casual attire.
¨ Pants such as khakis, Dockers or corduroys, should be worn only if neat in appearance.
…We actually are now allowing employees to now wear t-shirts on Friday that have the company logo on the t-shirt. We started this in May. We had been a stuffy, starched shirt organization for quite some time.....125 years to be exact. We call t-shirt days FN* Fridays, but I wanted to call it FN Fridays!
We send out a reminder at the beginning of every summer on appropriate business casual attire, not that it helps 100% (for some reason some of the women still find the need to show their belly button during working hours).
We were sent a reminder about the dress code at the beginning of summer. It was relaxed a bit to include sandals for the summer months.
Our manager forwarded an article by a local publication which quoted our company as allowing flip flops. A lady on the dress code committee was livid about this because flip flops were not allowed. It turns out the manager was playing a joke. He edited the article to include the flip flop line.
We had a revised dress code distributed a few weeks ago allowing for dressy gaucho's, reminding everyone that Capri pants were not allowed and NO CROCS should be worn to the office. I'll also note that denim is outlawed but many people wear denim skirts, jackets, shirts, and sometimes even brown or black jeans. I find it interesting that "form fitting attire" is outlawed by the dress code but I have yet to see or hear of anyone being sent home to change clothes due to inappropriate dress or for "having bad form".
Yep -- every year we send out a notice reminding everyone -- we quote chapter and verse from the Employee Handbook regarding shorts, skirts, and dresses:
"In an effort to present a professional appearance for customers, suppliers and the public and to ensure safety while working, each employee is responsible for meeting a standard of dress, appearance and personal hygiene that is not distracting or offensive to others."
also
"Stand in an upright position with your arms at your sides, if your shorts, skirt or dress is shorter than the length of your longest fingers they are too short and are not to be worn to work."
We have found some people will push the above to the nth degree but overall do okay.
Yes we had to send out a reminder of the new code we put in effect earlier this year as persons were beginning to wear Capri's and cleavage was popping up-both forbidden in the new dress code.
I send a reminder at the beginning of the summer as well as prior to an expected series of hot days. It's amazing how selective memories can be about what is appropriate attire for the office when the temperature outside rises.
Glad to see we're not alone:
DEPARTMENT HEAD NOTICES
7/17/2006
Casual Dress Guidelines for * Corporate Employees
Following are the guidelines for casual dress for our corporate offices:
For men:
• Full-length pants (Dockers-style slacks are acceptable, if cleaned and pressed)
• Sleeved shirts with collars
• Appropriate dress shoes with socks
For women:
• Pants (includes dressy cropped pants which fall below the knee)
• Skirts and dresses of appropriate length
• Blouses, golf shirts, sweaters, jackets and shirts (dressy, conservative sleeveless shirts are acceptable)
• Appropriate shoes (dressy open-toe/open-back shoes are acceptable)
Clothes should be cleaned and pressed. Our casual dress guidelines do not permit the following:
• Any type or color of jeans
• Any type of stretch or untailored pants (leggings, knits, etc.)
• Athletic/warm-up suits
• T-shirts, sweatshirts, halter tops or cropped tops
• Tank tops or camisole-type tops worn alone
• Sundresses
• Shorts
• Athletic shoes, hiking boots, deck shoes, beach shoes/sandals or flip flops
Keep in mind certain circumstances may call for more formal attire, and you are encouraged to adjust your selection accordingly (e.g., hosting customers or attending formal off-site business meetings). Also, these guidelines do not affect the existing dress code requirements at our production facilities.
In addition to having good grooming and hygiene habits, each employee should use good judgment in selecting attire that is appropriate to the workplace and maintains the image of the company. Managers have the responsibility to discuss inappropriate attire with employees.
The dress code seems to be out the window. Key people look like they are ready to wash windows, the only reason I can think of to wear baggy crop pants, a blouse with the tails hanging out and flip flops. What are they thinking?
Yes we put out a guideline detailing appropriate summer business casual just before we started the summer season. We have found that if we don't we have to go back to people on a one-to-one basis and do counseling.
No reminders. We've had a few people who had to be reminded individually, but that's it.
Executives at our company periodically have to remind people what is considered acceptable attire in a business casual environment, and reminded everyone again in a company wide memo just last week. Women appear to be the biggest violators of the policy, often appearing at the office in sheer or brief tops and Capri's, with flip-flops. Most of the men tend toward the acceptable khakis-and-golf-shirt look. Few people (although there are some) violate the no-denim rule. It was recently clarified that gauchos are OK, but Capri's are not. I wish they'd start sending some of these people home; I'd be embarrassed to see some of their outfits at a mall, let alone at work!
We have a statement about appropriate dress. However, to my despair, it is not followed by employees at any level. Therefore, I make my statement by always dressing the way I believe the company statement suggests.
We receive at least 2 dress code notices every year. But check this out - in our handbook it tells us that we must wear "appropriate undergarments", yet we are not allowed to wear clothes that show our undergarments. I still do not know whose job description includes the enforcement of the undergarment rules. It also tells us that we are required to wear shoes. I know our main office is located in the south, but c'mon!
Thanks for the chuckle this morning.
It is difficult to enforce restrictions on casual attire when members of senior management wear shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops every day! So, will a reminder be sent out and should a reminder be sent out can be answered with a firm "no". :o)
We have had a reminder e-mail about what (and what not) to wear to the office this summer. E-alerts to violators would be a good idea.... 🙂
Last week we put out a memo about attire, no jeans, shorts, flip flops etc. We are a small office of 12 people and are surprised that we have to remind them of the dress code.
Interesting you should bring this up now. We had quite a lively discussion on this subject this week. We came to no conclusions. A group of reasonable people in the room and no clear consensus on what is or is not "appropriate". Multiply that by thousands of people and there's a real challenge. Add to that questions of diversity and tolerance for different cultural and generational norms and you want to start handling out uniforms!
We have a business casual attire office. We did have a reminder of what was appropriate, but I think it needs to be updated. They still talk about wearing nylons and skirts as appropriate for women for gosh sake! Women wear slacks now too people!
However, they did update it in terms of shoes and reminded everyone that flip flops are not appropriate. I should hope so! I love my flip flops as much as the next person but that is a little to casual for me in the office!
Definitely think a reminder is needed in the office regarding business casual attire, especially regarding footwear. Seems "flip-flops" are becoming more and more common in the office during summer months. Not only are they casual-to-beach attire but they can't be safe when navigating the stairs within the office or building. I smell a lawsuit about to happen.
For all the years I've worked here, we routinely receive a periodic reminder about confidentiality and work attire. It's routine. Although now that you mention it, I can't recall the last time I saw one of those memos. Wish it would come out again. If we could just ban flip-flops…that would be a nice start! I welcome a move from the informal attire that seems to have become the norm back to more formal business attire. Remember when wearing jeans on Friday was a treat? I will believe there is a trend "back to business" when I see it, though. Grunge seems to be everywhere - even at church. Sigh.
I am seriously considering a reminder to our employees regarding our dress code, particularly ladies with plunging (very revealing) necklines during the summer months. This section of the employee handbook dealing with this is being ignored. The problem is with one employee and if I say anything, is it sexual harassment or discrimination? An occasional infraction is one thing, but this is happening 2 - 3 days a week. Help.
Apparently the business casual dress code had been sinking to beach casual around my office place, because we received a reminder of the dress code from our manager a few weeks ago.
We haven't had to communicate anything about the dress code for awhile. A couple years ago a strongly worded memo was issued about appropriate work attire. During that summer a few employees were dressing way too casually. Since then there have been no problems. The message came through loud and clear that even though we are an office for a manufacturing plant, shorts and flip-flops are not appropriate business wear. Thank goodness for common sense!
Funny you should ask… as my boss and I were driving to a business meeting yesterday, she went off on a long monologue that business casual was not a jean skirt and flip flops and that every other firm in town understood what business casual was, except us. Fortunately I was not wearing a jean skirt and flip flops, but I had the distinct impression that I was somehow responsible for whoever was.
I just wanted to let you know that the "What happened on this Date" was highly missed today, at least by me.
As to dress codes, we have one, but unless someone really runs amuck, nothing is said. (With the heat wave and storms in July we had no electricity {no air conditioning} for a day. Many employees also did not have electricity at home, yet they reported to work, dressed as they could.) We are not allowed to wear sandals or sleeveless tops and hose must be worn at all times. Needless to say, the hose is shucked, the sandals are dawned, and some even venture out in sleeveless tops, sculpted arms or not.
We're a family friendly municipal utility in Jacksonville Fl... 2500 employees. Our business casual has become sloppy in a lot of areas. We had published business casual dress code here several years ago. - but we are in need of reminding our employees what the original rules were.
The golf shirt, khakis and loafers uniform of several years ago has become jeans, t shirts, and dirty sneakers...UGH!
YES- we're thinking of restating the policy!!
When I started here 4 years ago, I was informed it was business attire. Men here still wear suits and some of the women's clothing has relaxed to the point where it's not appropriate. I've seen flip-flops, skirts with uneven hems; we won't even discuss the tops that are way too tight or the fishnet tops with a tank underneath.
But the killer is the opened toe shoes with the toe rings! People just don't realize that they are representing the company and it makes the company look sleazy.
I went to a secretarial technical college and we had to wear skirts with nylons everyday, no opened toe shoes and clothes could not be any tighter than two fingers (at waist, bust, hips etc.). I personally like those rules, some women don't realize the difference from the corporate attire vs. club attire and I've seen women in their 40's and under doing this.
Our agency takes the dress code very seriously.
No. Our h/r department (me) believes that grown-up people can figure out how to dress. I am right 97% of the time, and embarrassed 3% of the time.
I think that someone should since some of our ladies wear jeans that I would wear to work in my garden and we need to get back to a more professional atmosphere!
We received a page of dress guidelines at the beginning of the year. I'm not sure it was necessary, since people seem to exhibit good judgment.
*'s usual dress code is "casual." When people visit from outside of the office, we have "business casual" days (no jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, etc.).
Yes, our headquarters did receive a reminder this summer about what constitutes business casual vs. casual (Fridays) along with some amusing do's and don'ts of appropriate attire. I don't think we'll see a move back to business dress here (our headquarters is in South Florida) but it's amazing that grown adults still need to be reminded that flip flops and exposed body parts are not appropriate, even on casual days.
No, not at work but I did go to the beach for a vacation. Some ladies needed to be reminded not to wear two pieces anymore and most men not to wear Speedos. Oh yes, I know better than to wear Speedos.
I work in a small office. We wear shorts, golf shirts and flip flops when not visiting with clients. Very comfortable.
New prospects we suit up. Existing clients, business casual, no golf shirts.
At my last job in the corporate world I did have one of my sales reps show up in full Kobe Bryant gear for casual Friday. Bad idea since his boss is a Celtics fan. I sent him home.
Business casual ~ not only have we seen more cleavage and tattoos than necessary, but we have had to deal with back hair as well. We had to bring in an image consultant to remind staff that we are here to provide our products and services to our clients, and NOT let them feel we are here to just SERVICE them.
We have a very casual office. We were bought out in March & the new E'ee handbook says "business attire" but we've had no special notice from anyone. Thank the gods and pass the bar-b-q sauce.
We have a "business casual" dress code everyday between Memorial Day and Labor Day and every Friday for the rest of the year. The current CEO is not in favor of the dress code but inherited the practice back in the mid-90s. At the beginning of every summer an announcement is sent to all employees 'reminding' them what 'business casual' means. It is tweaked to cover whatever the 'new' fashion statement of the year is and whether or not it is allowed. It seems that women are more apt to try and bend the rules more than men during the summer.
We are constantly reminded of appropriate work wear. Every time we have a 'Charity Jeans Day' a reminder of what we can and can not wear is attached.
Luckily, our company is trying to improve employee moral so they have lightened up on the dress code for the summer and even extended. Although we should all be adults, some need to be reminded that mini skirts and see through tops are not considered 'business casual'. I guess high school never ends after all.
On occasion when there are no partners (CPA firm) in the office for the day and no expected clients, by "executive" vote, we remaining few declare a casual day which consists of jeans (no sneakers). Since that's as casual as we are allowed to get, there are no reminders to dress appropriately. Otherwise, golf shirts, usually with company logo, is as low as it gets. Sigh.
We are a "Business Dress" environment. On the days that we go casual we have an outline with examples of proper and improper dress that is email to all impacted employees. Casual days tend to happen on work days before holidays and a couple of days due to weather etc. All in all about 9-11 days a year are "Casual".
Having employees actually dress as requested is a different matter.