Death of the Suit? Dress Codes Post-Pandemic

Before pandemics, lockdowns and working from home, dress codes were a common feature across most industries. Whether it was the formal suit and tie, the smart casual look, or the ‘trendier’ anything-goes fashion of t-shirts and shorts that came to dominate sectors like Tech, having a way to dress was the norm.

But after multiple months of lockdown and working from home outfits of a ‘nice top’ and tracksuit bottoms for video calls, is this the death of the suit? We take a look at the pros and cons of dress codes and how your business can move forward to balance professionalism with workplace happiness.

Dress Codes: Are they needed?

For some, a dress code has come to signal an outdated, traditional form of workplace control. For others, a dress code can help provide order and routine to their working lives.

But are dress codes really needed? After all, surely it’s about the performance, quality and productivity of an employee and not about how they look? Here’s the pros and cons:

Pros

1. Order & Expectation

Whilst the term ‘order’ can seem controlling, dress codes for many can bring routine and expectation into the workplace. When a dress code is in place, workers do not have to worry if they will be under or overdressed, taking away distraction from the job at hand.

2. Reputation

For many, a dress code can add to a company’s reputation. Whether this dress code is formal or smart casual, it can help to showcase your company as professional, boosting your reputation amongst customers and competitors.

Cons

1. Lack of Expression

A dress code can make an employee feel stifled in their place of work. No matter what their interests, a dress code can take away their feeling of expression or personality.

2. Uncomfortable

In simple terms, a dress code can be uncomfortable, especially after the months of lockdown spent in tracksuit bottoms and yoga tops. Whether it’s a restrictive tie or wobbly high heels, a dress code can lead employees to feel anxious in meeting expectations, leading to being stuck at a desk uncomfortable all day long.

3. Distraction

A dress code can also lead to distraction away from a job and tasks, with focus being placed on whether a blazer goes with a pair of shoes, or a tie matches a shirt, rather than the performance or quality of work.?

Dress Codes Post-Pandemic?

For many, Covid-19 has brought an end to dress code expectation. No longer are employees willing to spend 40+ hours a week in a restrictive suit or uncomfortable shoes, with a lack of expression for their own dress sense and personality.?

However, as a business, it’s important that you consider what you want from your employees in terms of dress codes, and how this fits in with your wider company culture.?

Perhaps your clients call for a need for a more formal dress code. Or maybe in the past you have been too stringent when it came to dress codes, and it’s time for a company-wide relaxation of these rules.

Whatever you decide, make sure you take the time to listen to your employees’ opinions on the matter, analyse your clientele and how a dress code change could affect company culture and reputation, and incorporate any changes you decide company-wide.?

Strike the balance of professionalism, culture and workplace happiness by making robust decisions that make sense when it comes to dress codes - after all, it’s about the performance, quality and productivity of your staff, not always how they look.

David Bell is CEO at The HR Department