CASUAL DRESS DAYS

CASUAL DRESS DAYS

INTRODUCTION

Many businesses have begun using a casual dress policy on certain days. Implementing dress-down days may be an effective way to boost employee morale. The question that seems to pop up too often is whether dress-down days are a benefit or burden to the company. Many companies have adopted Friday as a casual or dress-down day, while others have made casual business attire a full-time policy. Some employees view wearing casual business clothing as an employee benefit. To others, it is a disaster. Both men and women are often confused about what "casual" means and about how to dress casually and still look professional. Some people in management positions feel employees goof off on casual dress day. This report will look at all these issues as well as a conclusion about the effectiveness of casual dress days.

CASUAL DRESS DAY DEFINITION

Definition and Description

The definition of casual-dress days is dependent upon such variables as gender, geographic location, type of firm, and the day's activities. For instance, dressing casually for an accountant means khakis with a nice shirt. Someone who works as a high school teacher may be able to wear jeans and a nice shirt. Most

businesses do not see T-shirts as an acceptable form of attire. Although it may be a casual dress day, clothing should still be neat, clean, and pressed. Clothing should not be offensive, tasteless, revealing, or sloppy. If an employee feels he or she might be underdressed, he or she probably is.

Businesses That Have Casual-Dress Days

Many businesses have adopted casual-dress days as a tool to boost employee morale. Management likes to use this as a benefit because it is free. Types of businesses that have casual-dress days are businesses in which employees do not have many interactions with clients. Accounting firms, insurance companies, and many corporate offices use the casual-dress policy. These businesses have casual-dress days to increase worker productivity, to have more open communication between staff and managers, cost savings to employees because casual business wear is less expensive, and improved work quality. Many companies do not have casual-dress days because there are many ways wearing casual clothing can hurt business. Employees may interpret the word casual too liberally and wear inappropriate clothing. The professional image may also be weakened if clients feel employees are too casual to be entrusted with their business.