From apprenticeships and qualifications to professional development and employability skills. Supporting learners, partners, and centres with tools to deliver, assess, and grow.
Join a professional community committed to excellence in management and leadership. Access exclusive resources, and recognition pathways including Chartered Manager.
Connect, celebrate, and lead with CMI’s vibrant community. From events and awards to networks and campaigns, get involved and help shape the future of management.
Stay informed with expert insights, thought leadership, and the latest in management. From in-depth features to practical guidance, explore the ideas shaping today’s workplace.
Learn about CMI’s mission, values, and impact. From our Royal Charter to governance, careers, and sustainability commitments, discover who we are and what drives us.
12 June 2012 -
So the sun has stuck its neck out for about 10 working days of this “summer” 2012 so far. But that was enough for the summertime working wardrobe to rear its ugly head before the June monsoon put it on hold?
It may be raining now, but summer will surely come back at some stage. So is it so hard to get dressing for the workplace right when the mercury rises? And why does it fill us all with such panic? Something marvellous happens when the sun shines over this little island, as a nation we seem to celebrate by discarding all sartorial sense and fully embracing the opportunity to bare our limbs, either that or we continue to ignore all weather warnings and struggle through the day with the same 70 deniers we have been wearing all winter.
What makes dressing for the office so difficult is not just our temperamental weather, but the many variations on the rules. What is considered appropriate work attire is always going to be different for a newly graduated media player versus a top banker or corporate CEO. Dress code doesn’t just differ between sectors, but changes with the different levels of responsibility and the different age ranges represented within the workplace too. Many Generation X and Y employees are no longer content to wear different ‘uniforms’ for work and play. For many of us the way we dress is a form of self-expression and quashing this can dampen creativity and consequently overall productivity. Ideally, you want employees to be comfortable and unrestricted yet professional and appropriate.
On an ethical level ‘appropriate’ dress for the office is a slippery subject. What some consider fashionable or acceptable, others may find offensive. Bare legs above the knee, over exposure of the décolletage and feet on show (particularly if you are a man – in fact if you are male please don’t ever wear a sandal in the office) are established workwear controversy; deeper issues are encountered when we consider expression of religious and cultural beliefs through clothing; and potential hierarchies established by competitive fashion-slavery and flashing the cash.
In a recent article, Sir Richard Branson declared his disregard for sartorial top trumps in favour of individual expression. “Suits and ties in an office are just another type of uniform,” he said. “But in an arena where uniforms no longer serve any useful purpose. At one time they probably showed that the wearer was, at the very least, able to purchase and maintain a fairly expensive piece of fabric. Now, however, in an individualised, interconnected culture, your achievements speak for themselves. The suit and tie is an anachronism.”
Whether you agree that the suit and tie is dead, Branson’s message about the importance of judging potential (and current) employees on their ability to do the job and personal achievement rather than an ability to look good in their workwear is a positive one for all.
As long as someone presents their self well and takes pride in their appearance then they should be allowed to express their individuality through their choice of outfit. And I suppose that is the crux of the issue: 9 times out of 10 if you are taking pride in your appearance you will be representing yourself and your company properly. Read the dress code, think about what kind of meetings and external facing business you have to do that day and don’t leave the house wearing an outfit that you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious wearing. If you don’t think it works, it probably doesn’t.
› The persistence of presenteeism and other nuanced nonsense
› A new age of vulnerability: why inclusive leadership matters more than ever
› Ask yourself: "How do I make my employees feel?"
› Finance and the Diversity Dividend
For more information or to request interviews, contact CMI's Press Team on 020 7421 2705 or email press.office@managers.org.uk
› The 5 Greatest Examples of Change Management in Business History
› Four companies that failed spectacularly, and the lessons of their premature demise
› 6 companies that get employee engagement – and what they do right
› 4 Signs That Racism May Be An Issue In Your Workplace
› How to build an Effective Team: focus on just 3 things