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Should Companies Have Dress Codes?
The American workplace has become increasingly casual over the years. But does comfort foster creativity or reduce productivity? Our always-stylish Board of Directors weighs in.
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"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."Sure, Mark Twain had a point, but his well-worn (pun intended) axiom doesn't offer much guidance if you're a business owner trying to establish a dress code. And that begs an even bigger question. With someone like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg presiding over an estimated $70 billion company from the comfort of a hooded sweatshirt, are dress codes even necessary anymore?
It's easy to watch Mad Men and get a little nostalgic for the office chic of a bygone era -- so bygone that the show's characters and their wardrobes now inspire Halloween costumes. But with the exception of a few traditional industries, America has wholeheartedly decided to dress down. Despite a few glaring infractions (Crocs, really?), the only real side effect seems to be that we're a lot more comfortable at work these days. Nothing wrong with that, right? (Editor's note: As I write this, I'm wearing a T-shirt, jeans and Chuck Taylor sneakers.)
On the other hand, some argue that a little formality in the workplace, sartorially and otherwise, creates a more professional environment, keeps employees more productive and communicates the right message to customers and clients.
The members of our Board of Directors have their own unique styles, in every sense of the word. At least a couple of them even have their own clothing lines. And one literally wrote the book on workplace rules (Clint Greenleaf's The Unwritten Rules of the Workplace). So we decided to get their take on dress codes. While you'd generally expect a group of entrepreneurs to err on the side of casual, they're also savvy business leaders who understand that every so often, you have to throw on a suit and tie to close that big deal.
Rob Dyrdek
President, Dyrdek Enterprises
"Depending on what you do dictates your dress code. When you've got TV shows and a famous pro skateboarder with endless amounts of signature products, it's one thing. If I was a lawyer, I wouldn't have on baggy jeans and a backwards hat. I would have a nice slim-fitting suit. As long as you feel comfortable, no matter what, the dress code should be what's comfortable. Which can be a suit. Donald Trump probably isn't going to feel comfortable in acid wash jeans."
Jennifer Hill
Chairwoman, Astia NYC Advisory Board
"Absolutely. Dress codes demonstrate how you view yourself and the workplace. We employ the use-your-best-judgment dress code. For example, if I'm meeting with a group of investors at the office, I tend to be in a suit. If it's a new tech startup client, I'm likely in chic business casual. If done right, casual can still be stylish, cool and make a positive strong impression -- which is the goal. People inevitably violate the code in extreme ways, so communicate policy and set the example from the top down."
Warren Brown
Founder, CakeLove and Love Café
"At CakeLove, clean, branded shirts or swag provided for our employees -- generally hats, T-shirts or bandanas. Beyond that, not much."
Tom Szaky
Founder, TerraCycle
"I think only if you are a service company trying to inspire confidence in your clients -- i.e. lawyers and accountants. If you are not one of the above, I wouldn't have a dress code. In fact, at TerraCycle, we have a "negative dress code." You shouldn't show up in a suit and tie. You'll be asked to dress down."
Clint Greenleaf
Founder and CEO, Greenleaf Book Group
"Some companies can benefit from making their employees have dress codes -- cops, firemen, professional athletes, flight attendants all should have uniforms and dress codes. It's hard to say a company should or shouldn't have a dress code because it's so dependent on the leadership, the type of business, whether the company has visitors, what the objective of a dress code is. We are a casual office unless we have visitors, when we wear business casual."
Jodie and Danielle Snyder
Co-Founders, DANNIJO
"It depends on the company. A financial organization, where the culture is deeply rooted in the dress code? Yes. But working in fashion, specifically with accessories, which are so personal, it would be stifling to have a strict dress code for our company. Instead, we want our employees to embrace their personal styles. Our brand is about fashion taking a point of view. Working without a dress code helps foster a creative environment for our employees, and this ultimately benefits our business."
Ken Yancey
CEO, SCORE
"We have a dress code that is not strict. I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all answer to the question -- it depends on the business and the culture."
Gary Whitehill
Founder, The Relentless Foundation and New York Entrepreneur Week
"Depends on the CEO and what type of culture he or she wants to instill within the organization. The industry of the company is also a factor, as well as the type of branding the company seeks to project publicly. "Many CEOs firmly believe that freedom of choice (within reason) creates a more cohesive and motivated culture. I would absolutely agree on this point, and as such, our team does no have a dress code – except to feel comfortable every day."
Phil Town
Investor and Author of Rule #1 and Payback Time
"IBM thought so for a long, long time and used blue suits and red ties to become something special. But times change and what was a dress code for the '50s didn't work so well in the '70s. They couldn't attract the talent they wanted, and they got their butts handed to them by a couple of companies that had a different dress code -- T-shirts and jeans -- by the name of Apple and Microsoft. Coincidence? Maybe, but beware the dress code that alienates talent as well as the one that alienates customers and recognize that you'll probably have a dress code of some sort no matter what based what you're wearing. After all, you're the person who hires and fires and you set the bar for what to wear to work by what you wear to work. And company culture? Well, you're wearing a piece of it."
Lexy Funk
Co-Founder and CEO, Brooklyn Industries
"In our stores, you have to wear Brooklyn Industries -- this is important as we are selling a lifestyle and our designs. The associates interact with the designs and can speak more personally about fit and experience to our customers."
Tate Chalk
Founder and CEO, Nfinity
"Absolutely. Every company does, whether it's written down in a manual somewhere on not. Company norms develop on their own. For us, we have two different dress codes. The first one is in the office when it's just us. The other is when we are in public or represent the brand. We are a lot more flexible on one side to set a higher standard on the other."
Bob Parsons
Founder and CEO, The Go Daddy Group
"It depends on how your company interfaces with customers. In most Internet-based companies, where there is little face-to-face interaction with customers, a basic dress code is all you need. Ours is simple -- employees must wear appropriate and non-offensive (think T-shirts with rude slogans) attire. We also don't permit a few minor things, like hats, while on the job, mostly because we think they are distracting to a business environment."
Comments (Page 3 of 4)
More money is stolen in 1 hour by men wearing suits and ties than by people wearing jeans and t shirts in an entire year.
I love dropping my son off at school in the morning, his school has a dress code in place
which has morphed into something of a fashion show right out of J Crew & AF. it seems the fashion influences are starting earlier. When they get to the work the majority will be prepared for all seasons & occasions their employers will only have to worry about their social graces.
I worked for over 45 years at two different firms. Supervisor at one of the businesses. Talking about males. The best dressed were the worst employees. They cared more about their appearance than they did their job.
My wife says the same thing where she has worked. The women spend half the day in the restroom trying to look pretty for the bosses. And yes.. sometime they get the best raises. Know what I mean? ; )
like a theorist...
I'm in the business of fashion. Dress down became dress slob. People go to work with dirty sneakers un pressed clothing, un shaven like a theorist. When they go to theater or dinner they look like there going to the beach, America take a good look at us. We think its cool to look like Bill Gates with all his money he dresses's down. Host on TV need a make over they cant even put a tie togather that's works with the rest of the outfit
Most eyes don't see that there is a considerable difference between dressing casual and dressing like a monkey.
No ... I'm a guy ... I simply refuse to wear a dress. This has gone far enough. I'm not wearing a dress. Must be some Liberal conspiracy down in Washington. Harry Reed and all you guys want to go drag fine, just count me out. I am not going to wear a dress
It is a no-brainer; dress like your customers!
I prefer causal to business causal dress code or scrubs if you work in a medical facility.
You get MORE out of me, if I am comfortable in what I am wearing, while I am working. I am less productive if expected to meet such a high standard to just sit at a desk and push paper for the big wheels who treat their employees like peons. I've been on both sides of the fence and prefer casual to business casual or scrubs.
And if these big time employers want and expect their employees to "Dress Up" then you better pay me well for the job.
Only if they have contact with the general public. Then they should dress what the public expects of them.
APPROPRIATE dress should always be required. What is appropriate depends on the situation. I own a small feed store. I deliver hay and do other heavy work. Natually, I wear jeans, athletic shoes and nice t-shirts, polos, or other types of work shirt. In the hot months (it gets very hot here) I will wear sleevless t-shirts or polos but not tank-tops, which show too much skin. As casual as my place is, I have had to tell some of my young employees to dress appropriately. I sent one girl home to get shoes...she was wearing flip-flops! I also do not want to see shorts, pants so baggy they won't stay up (sent one guy home for this) or inappropriate slogans on t-shirts. It is amazing what poor sense people show.
I prefer business casual even for more formal work-places but unfortunately, some people see that as a free-for-all. Women showing too much cleavage or too much EVERYTHING, men just plain sloppy, that is not good. People should be able to be comfortable and still look appropriate. What is so hard about a nice shirt, comfortable pants or skirt of appropriate length and comfortable shoes?
For the most part, male managers on up seem to dress more appropriately. I blame the entertainment industry for leading women astray in style. Starting with the portrayal of professional women (think doctors, lawyers, lead detectives) constantly pushing long hair way from their faces as well as those of their patients, legal briefs and bad guys (who could easily grab a handful and then escape.) Think plunging necklines and clothes so tight they look painted on. On TV and in movies, men's clothing fit well and, for the most part, appear appropriate to their work. The women are dressed to appear that the thrift shop didn't have their size, but they bought it anyway and layered it with other clothing that shrunk in the laundry. That, or they border on dressing the actresses portraying professional women as hookers-in-training. Sad and very confusing for the real world professional women I am sure.
You are so right. Dress codes are necessary for most businesses because there are too many employees today who are oblivious to appropriate attire. Women show up to work dressed like streetwalkers and men in pants so tight, you're reminded of the days when men wore codpieces. Inappropriate dress not only presents a bad image for a company when employees are in the public view but are distracting to others who have to work with them. I don't care to see some gal's boobs falling out of her top or some guy's scrawny legs in shorts, an overweight woman's fat thighs in a miniskirt or a middle-aged man's butt cheeks peeking out of low riding baggy pants. Even in a casual dress environment, there need to be guidelines. Unless you own the company, dress appropriately.
I'm so sick of schleppy schleppos everywhere you go- piercings, tattoos, tshirts- they have no place in the workplace. My husband is a military officer and has to look impecable, but the civilian employees on base- what a bunch of slobs!
I think it is up to each company to decide what their dress code should be.If you do not like their rules ,you can naturally look for work elsewhere.The same goes for a government job.
When I walk into the work office, it's discouraging to see so many of my coworkers dressed like slobs. It's depressing and makes it hard to have a positive attitude about what I do. A dress code would make a world of difference, and I would welcome it.
Casual is one thing; slovenly and unkempt is another.
Any company paying a wage, can require anything they wish, as long as it is in the scope of the law. Workers that are serious about a job, have no problem addressing this requirement.
I'm a Quality Control Scientist working third shift. I have to do everything in the lab including emptying waste containers and changing hydrogen cylinders for the gas chromatographs. My company will not allow me to wear jeans. I've had many discussions about this. I am the only person in the lab alone at night, I am doing the dirty work in addition to the analytical testing, there are no customers coming through the lab at 2:00 am. Yet, they still make me dress-up for work. So silly. My previous chemist positions allowed jeans as long as we had on a lab coat. I find the whole thing at this company to be silly. My jeans are not ripped, too tight, offensive or dirty. Just doesn't make sense to me. Thanks for allowing me to vent.
yes there should be dress code, t-shirt and jeans! No one is comfortable dressed like Trump or Barbara Walters. If you are comfortable you will work better. I don't respect someone wearing a suit. A suit just makes people think they are better than every one else.
Thank you Elizabeth! Great Post!