One in Five Managers Say Employee Attire Is Less Formal Than Five Years Ago
Office attire gets complicated. (CNW Group/OfficeTeam)
TORONTO, June 1, 2016 /CNW/ – Dressing up for work continues to go out of style, new research from staffing firm OfficeTeam shows.
One in five (21 per cent) Canadian senior managers interviewed said employees wear less formal clothing than they did five years ago. In addition, 19 per cent of office workers stated they would prefer to be at a company with a business casual dress code; 32 per cent favour a casual dress code or no dress code at all.
But there are limits to what passes as acceptable office attire. When senior managers were asked about the most common dress code violation at work, wearing overly casual clothing was the top response (35 per cent), followed by showing too much skin (20 per cent).
Senior managers were asked, “Do you think employees at your company dress more or less formally than they did five years ago?”
Their responses:
|
Much more formally |
1% |
|
Somewhat more formally |
16% |
|
No more or less formally |
62% |
|
Somewhat less formally |
19% |
|
Much less formally |
2% |
|
100% |
Workers were asked, “Which of the following statements most closely describes how a company’s dress code impacts your decision to work there?”
Their responses:
|
I would prefer to work at a company that has a formal dress code |
5% |
|
I would prefer to work at a company that has a business casual dress code |
19% |
|
I would prefer to work at a company that has a casual dress code or no dress code |
32% |
|
A company’s dress code doesn’t impact my decision to work there |
45% |
|
101%* |
*Responses do not total 100 per cent due to rounding.
Senior managers were also asked, “Which of the following is the most common dress code violation at your company?”
Their responses:
|
Dressing too casually |
35% |
|
Showing too much skin |
20% |
|
Having visible tattoos or piercings |
15% |
|
Having extreme hair colours/styles |
13% |
|
Having ungroomed facial hair |
8% |
|
Wearing excessive accessories |
7% |
|
Other/don’t know/no answer |
2% |
|
100% |
“How employees present themselves, including how they dress in a business environment, reflects their level of professionalism and may effect perceptions of the company itself,” said Koula Vasilopoulos, a district president for OfficeTeam.
“Workers should be aware of business guidelines and take cues from their peers, particularly as they look to advance their careers, in order to ensure they leave an impression that is consistent with their desired roles.”
OfficeTeam offers seven questions employees should ask themselves when choosing what to wear for work:
- Does this follow company policy? If there’s a written dress code, abide by it. Also consider what your manager and coworkers wear, and use that information to guide your choices.
- Am I revealing too much? If you have to ask yourself this question, the answer is likely “yes.” Avoid clothes that show too much skin, and err on the side of caution when displaying tattoos or piercings.
- Is this distracting? Wearing wild or bright prints can attract attention for the wrong reasons. In most workplaces, neutral colours and simple patterns, such as pinstripes, are a safe bet.
- Am I overdoing it? Take a subtle approach to jewelry, makeup, perfume and cologne. Also note that unconventional hair colours or styles and unkempt facial hair may be frowned upon at more conservative companies.
- Do I feel confident? If you’re uncomfortable in your outfit, it’ll show. Make sure your clothes fit well and don’t require a lot of readjusting.
- Will I offend anyone? Steer clear of wearing apparel with profanity, political statements or other questionable material.
- Does it pass the final check? Give yourself a once-over from head to toe. Look out for wrinkled, torn or stained garments and scuffed shoes.
About the Research
The surveys of senior managers and workers were developed by OfficeTeam. They were conducted by independent research firms and include responses from more than 300 senior managers at Canadian companies with 20 or more employees, and more than 400 Canadian workers 18 years or older and employed in office environments.
Andrew Phillip Chernoff 