Page 8 - Al-Rashed Newsletter December 19

POTPOURRI
WHY? DRESS CODE

Many workplaces have dress codes, particularly workplaces in industries in which image is highly valued and workplaces in which
employees have regular face-to-face contact with customers.
Employees dressed in business casual attire while meeting with clients can give a less professional impression than your company
might desire. Executives and employees alike often are resistant to a less professional look, afraid that they won't be taken it
seriously. Also, some employees prefer having to make fewer choices when dressing for work and appreciate the simplicity of a
stricter dress code. Employees often are confused about what clothing is acceptable with a business casual dress code, as
standards usually vary among industries and are not well-defined.

One of the biggest problems with a business casual dress code is that it has no universal definition. Falling anywhere on the
spectrum between suits and jeans, what constitutes business casual is open to interpretation. If you decide to go with a business
casual dress code, provide clear examples to employees of what is and is not appropriate. Examples of widely accepted business
casual attire include shirts with collars for men and tailored slacks for women. Conversely, Hawaiian shirts for men and Capri pants
for women often are frowned upon.

Appropriate dress, along with basic protocol, is one of the most common associations made to professionalism. We form first
impressions and overall judgments about people by the way they dress. If the way someone dresses affects the perception of your
company's customers or business partners, it is important to maintain a standard of dress that creates a positive impression. No
standard or casual dress standards may make employees comfortable, but the point of professionalism and etiquette is to make
others comfortable.

Corporate Dress
Traditionally, corporate dress is required of those in specific positions, such as company executives, sales representatives and
those in direct contact with customers and the public. For men, corporate dress involves a suit, tie and dress shoes. Personal
appearance and grooming habits should also meet the standards of those in a professional position. Long-sleeved shirts are more
professional-looking than short sleeves, so stick with those even in the summer. You can always wear a lighter-weight cloth. Until
you get a feel for your office culture, wear white or light blue shirts, or those with muted stripes.

Coordinating clothing is essential to create a professional business appearance. Avoid a suit jacket and pants in different colors or
a shirt color that clashes with the suit color. Even your socks are a factor when it comes to how well your outfit matches. Light-
colored socks with a dark suit stand out when you sit down, making your outfit look mismatched. Your shoes also need to
coordinate with the suit color, preferably in either black or dark brown.

PROS
A business casual dress code offers employees flexibility and the opportunity to express a personal style. It can boost morale,
which in turn aids productivity and creativity. Business casual attire often makes the differences between upper management and
rank-and-file employees less obvious, which many employees appreciate.
Employee Ease: no worries about whether they are dressed too casually or too formally.
Employee Productivity: feel professional and are more apt to conduct themselves in a different manner

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/weighing-pros-cons-business-casual-dress-code-39360.html
Sibi Alex Mathew
Dy. Manager ( Sales & Marketing)