28 May 2008
"Smart casual" takes pole position in the workplace
Will this relaxed approach be mirrored in communication practices too?
New research suggests the business suit is on the way out of the British workplace with fewer than a quarter of employees now required to wear one. In its place, smart casual and even completely casual wear on certain days is becoming the norm.
The research, carried out by the Aziz Corporation, found a slide in suit-wearing requirements from 37% in 2004 to less than 24% now with most companies adopting a more relaxed approach to office dress.
Appearance still important but attitudes changing
Professor Khalid Aziz, chairman of The Aziz Corporation, says while the business suit is still the norm for formal meetings, for everyday use employees much prefer a more modern appearance.
But does this casual attitude to workplace attire also reflect more casual working practices – for example, more informal meetings or communication channels?
“Far from wishing they could get away with ripped jeans and T-shirts, most employees take their professional image at work very seriously and will dress smartly by choice. However, there is no longer a perception that we have to wear suits in order to be smart. Enforcing a suits-only dress code is seen as outdated and perhaps a little insular in an increasingly international workplace, an image which savvy modern companies want to steer clear of.”
Job threat would change the situation
However, further statistics suggest that if the current economic downturn worsens, many workers fearing for their jobs may want to smarten themselves up.
Almost half (47%) would seriously consider dressing more smartly if they felt their job was at risk due to financial conditions, according to Professor Aziz.
Have your say
What communication issues wll a more casual dress approach bring up? Do you think smart dress is conducive to a more productive workforce or are you all for "dress down Friday"?
Is your office still full of suits or have shirt and tie combos gone the way of the typewriter?
Discuss these issues and more with your fellow peers on the Internal Comms Hub members group on The Communicators' Network.
Related news and resources:
New uniform for MacDonald's UK employees (the Melcrum blog)
How will tomorrow's employee behave?
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