The workplace dress culture has evolved over the course of time. Arguably, the biggest shifts have occurred in the late 20th century to the present day.
In this blog, we’ll:
- Break down the history of workplace dress codes and some key turning points and influences.
- Describe the four most common types of workplace dresses.
- Outline human resources’ role in managing the dress code.
History of Dress Code in the Workplace
In the mid-20th century, workplace attire was predominantly formal. Men wore suits, ties, and polished shoes, while women donned dresses, skirts, and blouses. The formal dress code was seen as a symbol of professionalism and respect.
However, the 1990s marked a significant shift towards more casual workplace attire and the birth of the phrase “business casual” to describe those work outfits.
There are several reasons why the workplace has become less formal.
The Silicon Valley influence
The 1990s experienced a huge technological boom. The Internet burst onto the scene, which led to the rise of many online retail and tech businesses.
Founders working in tech were creating revolutionary new tools, and with that, they embraced non-traditional workplace practices. Their priority was comfort over keeping up appearances.
The idea was simple: if people dressed in their preferred attire, they’d feel confident and produce their best work, which mattered most.
The introduction of Casual Fridays
Casual Fridays (also known as dress-down Fridays) became popular in the 1990s. According to the New York Times, 497 of the top 1,000 American companies observed Casual Fridays in 1994. Naturally, others followed suit.
Work-from-home and remote work
Fast forward to 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic gave workplace attire another shakeup.
There was little need to wear suits or formal blouses at home. As a result, people became more casual, and some even started wearing their pyjamas. Others who sat for video-conferencing meetings would make their top half formal, making for some hilarious memes!
As people returned to work, there was some but not a full reversion to traditional attire. Of course, some things (like wearing pyjamas) were off-limits!
Types of Dress Codes
Currently, what constitutes professional attire has changed, while dress code policy is more subjective rather than standardised, but broadly fits into four categories.
Work From Home Dress Code
The differences between remote work and in-office dress codes are quite striking.
In-office dress codes emphasise formality and uniformity, especially in traditional corporate settings where professional attire is the norm.
Employees wear suits, ties, dress shirts, polished shoes, or tailored dresses and skirts to convey professionalism and cohesion. The idea is to reflect to external partners (clients or prospective new hires) that work is a serious place of business because a casual dress code could make the wrong impression (depending on the industry).
But if you’re embracing flexible working from home, you can go as chilled as you want. The absence of a formal office environment means employees opt for loungewear and other forms of casual attire, such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, and leggings.
Should you have any work meetings virtually, your employer will expect you to at least have a polished top half.
It comes as no surprise that people prefer casual wear over business professionals. Apart from being more comfortable, casual wear increases feelings of authenticity.
Uniforms
Employers generally have the right to require uniforms as part of their dress code policies, provided these requirements serve a legitimate business purpose, such as promoting a professional image, ensuring safety, or creating a uniform brand identity.
There are limitations to these demands.
Employers must be cautious about imposing unreasonable weight or size requirements on uniforms, which could lead to claims of discrimination or unfair treatment.
Uniforms make sense for some professions. A medical courier agent must prioritise the balance between professionalism and security, so the courier company’s uniform will always be the best option.
It’s important to display a consistent and professional image, and a uniform with the company logo provides just that. Furthermore, considering the security measures required in this type of scenario, it’s extremely important that agents are easily and quickly identified in any environment.
Additionally, uniform costs are governed by state and federal laws, particularly those concerning deductions from employee wages.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers can’t deduct uniform costs that reduce an employee’s wages below the federal minimum wage. This means employers often need to cover the cost of uniforms themselves or reimburse employees if the cost would otherwise cause their pay to dip below the minimum wage threshold.
State laws further regulate uniform reimbursement, with some states requiring employers to cover the cost of compulsory uniforms and maintenance.
For instance, in California, employers must pay for the uniforms and the upkeep, ensuring that employees aren’t financially burdened by uniform policies.
Formal Business Attire
Clean, conservative, and well-coordinated clothing characterises formal business attire.
The requirements for formal business attire are strict, ensuring that employees present a unified and professional appearance.
These are typically classic pieces like double-breasted tuxedos for men. These suits convey a sense of sophistication and uphold the company’s image. Incorporating such attire into your wardrobe can elevate your presence in formal settings, ensuring you present yourself with confidence and authority.
Women are expected to wear tailored suits or dresses, often complemented by hosiery, closed-toe shoes, and understated jewellery.
Several industries and professions maintain stringent formal business attire policies to uphold a professional image, including law and the finance sector. They rely heavily on public perception and are expected to carry themselves with class and elegance.
For other industries, traditional formal attire doesn’t make sense.
A tailored suit might be ideal for a C-suite executive, but for a Normandy tour guide, it wouldn’t project the right image. Dressing appropriately for your industry and specific role demonstrates respect for the workplace and your clients.
A tour guide might opt for comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing that allows for movement and reflects the historical setting of their tours.
Business Casual
A casual dress code allows employees to dress more comfortably and express their personal fashion sense (within limits) that business formals wouldn’t permit.
Characteristics of casual attire include jeans, chinos, casual trousers, and various styles of skirts for bottoms. Tops can range from t-shirts and polo shirts to casual button-downs and blouses. Footwear is more relaxed, including sneakers, loafers, and casual flats.
Travel physical therapists have some flexibility in how they dress for work since they don’t necessarily see patients in hospitals, but it’s still important to ensure both professionalism and practicality.
Scrubs, the typical doctor uniform, are the most common and convenient option, especially in hospitals, and give a clean and professional appearance. However, the business-casual style is also suitable for them, as it adapts perfectly to private practices and gives a better presence when making visits at home.
The primary advantage of a casual dress code is the comfort it offers employees, which can increase productivity and creativity. Casual attire can also contribute to a more positive and inclusive workplace culture, where employees feel free to express their individuality.
However, casual dress codes also present challenges, especially when casual dress spills into unprofessionalism, especially when facing clients or attending industry events.
Due to the subjective nature of casual dressing, many employees are confused about what to wear.
It’s up to the employer to provide clear guidelines to ensure that casual dress doesn’t compromise the company’s professional image and adheres to basic standards of appropriateness.
To ensure appropriate casual dress codes, companies can set clear boundaries for appropriate attire.
For instance, they can ban overly revealing clothing items, such as midriff-baring tops, and prohibit wearing sandals or flip-flops, which may be considered too informal.
Additionally, guidelines can stipulate that jeans should be free of rips or holes and that T-shirts should not display offensive or controversial graphics or slogans.
HR’s Role in Managing Dress Code
As we live in an increasingly subjective world, where sometimes an offence is caused by an accident, being in HR is as challenging as ever. HR departments would need to manage the dress code from several angles.
Legal Concerns
In industries where safety is a paramount concern, such as manufacturing, construction, or chemical processing, dress and hygiene policies are crucial.
These policies often mandate specific types of clothing, such as protective gear. The regulations are there to safeguard employees from hazards like:
- Entanglement in machinery
- Workplace dangers
- Chemical spills
In manufacturing and construction, attire that could get entangled in equipment, such as loose clothing, jewellery, or long hair, is strictly prohibited. To prevent injuries, you must enforce guidelines requiring protective clothing and gear, including helmets, gloves, and steel-toed boots.
Another legal concern is avoiding discrimination based on gender, race, religion, or other protected characteristics.
Anti-discrimination laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Dress codes and sex discrimination: what you need to know guidance prohibit employers from implementing dress codes that enforce traditional gender roles or disadvantage employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. For example, a policy requiring women to wear skirts and men to wear ties could be challenged as discriminatory.
Cities like New York and San Francisco have enacted ordinances that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on hair texture, hairstyles, and other aspects of personal appearance, ensuring a more inclusive work environment.
Dress codes must be applied uniformly and shouldn’t disproportionately impact or burden any specific group of employees.
Religious Expression
Policies should also respect employees’ rights to express their cultural or religious identity through attire, providing reasonable accommodations where necessary.
Determining whether a religious belief exemption is legitimate involves assessing the sincerity of the employee’s religious beliefs and whether the requested accommodation is necessary for religious observance.
Courts generally defer to employees’ assertions of their beliefs unless there is evidence of insincerity. The extent of flexibility offered would depend on the role.
For example, there may be less room to manoeuvre in customer-facing roles compared to non-customer-facing office jobs.
People With Disabilities
Employers have a legal responsibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, which can include modifying dress and appearance policies. This guarantees that employees with disabilities are provided with equal employment opportunities.
For example, employees with foot conditions may need to wear orthopaedic shoes instead of standard uniform footwear, and those with severe allergic reactions to certain fabrics or chemicals may require alternative materials.
These accommodations enable employees to perform their duties comfortably and effectively without compromising their health or well-being, thus improving their retention rates.
Advancing Professional Image in the Workplace
Clear and effective dress code policies are essential for balancing comfort, inclusivity, and professionalism in the workplace.
Employers can create a respectful and productive work environment by addressing safety, hygiene, and legal requirements.
Author: Guillaume Deschamps – Content Manager, Wordable.io & PR Manager, uSERP
Photo credit: Cottonbro studio
