The Business Casual Trend

Having worked in both formal and casual environments, I have developed my own opinions about companies and their dress codes.

Previously working as a receptionist for a private mortgage company, and as a manager of a small business, I was required to dress formally for work - a suit, or at the very least, dress pants with a collared shirt. As the first point of contact for clients or as a supervisor, I find this type of attire to be suitable (though often uncomfortable!). I believe that dressing business appropriate when meeting clients is crucial. I would not feel confident walking into a lawyer's office to find a receptionist in track pants or shorts - it is not professional or appropriate for that type of environment, and would likely lead to a preconceived notion about that lawyer's abilities. Though necessary in my opinion (in the appropriate environments), I find suits to be boring and uncomfortable, and subsequently the day spent in a suit is the same.

I have also worked in an office where the dress code was business casual. There was no specific outline of what was appropriate and what was not, and in my opinion, the casual code was pushed to the limits. Shorts, track pants, see-through shirts, and even pyjama pants were worn on any given day! Again, if I was a customer walking into this type of environment, I would not feel confident with the company or its staff. Surprisingly, this is a rapidly growing multi-million dollar company! The energy of the room was amazing - whether that can be attributed to the dress code or the general nature of sales, I could not say for certain.

Based on my experiences, I feel that casual dress codes only benefit the internal employees for which it affects. From my understanding, dressing casually at work allows employees to feel more comfortable and relaxed, and increases productivity. With that being said, I do feel very strongly about companies that have frequent interaction with clients or customers. Formal dress codes should be implemented in these types of environments because it promotes a better company image, and makes a client feel as though they are dealing with professionals from the start.

Agree or disagree?