At least, that’s what you, our readers, told us when you responded to our dress code poll in our August, 2004 issue of CareerThink. What we learned was that today’s dress codes run the gamut between super-casual “one step above jammies” to so strict that female employees must have their hemlines measured.

CareerThink Poll results

You’d better believe we got some passionate responses on the subject from you! First, let’s look at our poll results:

What’s your current dress code?

• 67% business casual
• 18% suits for men, suits or dresses for women
• 9% no dress code
• 6% grungy as you want

Does dressing up for work make you more productive?

• 54% believe dressing up has no effect on your productivity
• 41% believe it makes you more productive
• 5% believe it makes you less productive

What should your company do about the current dress code?

• 34% would like your company’s dress code tightened up
• 28% would like your company to get rid of the dress code entirely
• 24% would like to see a more casual dress code
• 15% would like a company “uniform” that makes it easy for employees to know what’s appropriate to wear

No clear consensus

The split vote on the last question points up the main issue when it comes to workplace dress codes: there’s not a clear, large majority of agreement one way or the other. There’s only a slim 10% difference in the number of you who want to make your dress code more strict and those who want to make the dress code more casual.

Clothes don’t impact productivity

However, this comment from Jason followed our poll result showing that most believe your attire has no impact on your productivity.

“The notion that casual dress equals casual attitudes is outdated. Individuals who are star performers will remain star performers despite what clothes they are or are not wearing. Being required to wear a wool suit in 100 degree heat is cruel and unusual punishment and the intended boost in confidence, poise and productivity drains away as sweat beads up on your forehead and soaks your crisp, sharp, conservative shirt.”

Tina agreed:

“I don’t believe a dress code is an answer to pride in one’s work. If a person has pride in their work and feels that their work is exemplary, it will show in whatever they wear to work. This would be evident in the person who works from home wearing their ‘comfy robe and slippers’ to the person who is dressed in black tie and tails. In this case ‘clothes does not necessarily make the man.’”

But if you think office dress codes aren’t that serious of an issue, check out this doozy of a response from Carrie:

“I just wanted to write in and respond to the dreaded dress code issue. We work in a small office of about 40 people and we rarely have outside visitors come in to the workplace. Our dress code is business casual, but lately we have gone a little overboard. We used to have (a rule of) a hemline (no more than) 4 inches above the knee for shorts and skirts, but this year they lowered it to 3 inches above the knee. Now I am a conservative dresser at work and I consider myself a pretty good judge of what is appropriate to wear, but I have had my Office Manager measure the length of my hem to make sure I am abiding by the dress code requirement (which I was), but I felt as if I was in a Catholic school and the sister was going to crack me with the ruler if I was a half inch too high above my knee. I feel that you should ‘dress for success,’ and there are people who push the envelope sometimes, but for the most part we are all adults and should be given the freedom to dress ourselves for work …”

Armor for Corporate Combat Zones

While the majority of you who responded told us that what you wear doesn’t affect your productivity one way or the other, a clear majority of you indicated that professional dress fosters a more professional attitude — and a more professional image. This comment from Jennifer was a common theme:

“While I do not see any difference in my production levels depending upon my attire, I do feel as if I act in a more professional manner when I am dressed for the part. I would like to see my company adopt a more professional dress code, at least ‘business casual’ rather than simply ‘casual.’ I would feel more like a grown-up and less like a college student in a business casual environment.”

Carla echoed that sentiment …

“If I have an important meeting with someone from outside the company or someone higher up within our company, I generally pull out the power suit to give myself a little added confidence. I tend to think of it as body armor for corporate combat zones.”

And this from Susan H.:

“It is great not to have to purchase a wardrobe just for work. Or have astronomical dry cleaning bills any more. Or to have to wear the pantyhose in 98 degree temperatures. However, what I have noticed is that professionalism has declined with the change in dress code. It seemed that there was more respect and better treatment of people when we wore ‘grown-up’ clothes, like our parents did when they went to work. I know on those occasions when I do need to dress up (to meet a customer or when giving a presentation) people react to me differently and I feel different. I feel like I have on my game face, I am focused on business and I expect to be treated as the professional I am, not just the coworker in the next office.”

Marilyn M. was even more adamant:

“There is much to be said for proper dress. A definite correlation exists between appropriate dress and pride, productivity, performance and self-worth. It has already been documented throughout history that dress plays a very important role in behavior. So, too, does it play a major role in business. You can’t be dressed casually for school or work, and not carry that attitude with you. Poor performance is a direct result of that attitude … and the horrible mediocrity that is the ‘acceptable norm’ in business, is leading us down the path of internal destruction in this country. The idea that anyone can wear what he wants, when he wants, where he wants, how he wants, and in essence do whatever one pleases, has completely destroyed the true self-confidence of individuals. Everyone does his or her best when structure, rules and regulations govern their lives. I pray that change will happen soon. Our future depends upon it!”

Flip Side: Comfortable Is Better

A smaller but thoroughly convinced group of you were firmly in the “casual is better” camp, as suggested by this comment from Gregory S.:

“I don’t believe the theory that dressing up makes you feel more professional and, therefore, makes you more productive. In reality, being dressed up for nine hours (especially on a hot summer day) is exhausting and very uncomfortable to work in. Psychologically, what good is dressing up if no one sees you? By the end of the day, you just want to go home, crawl in bed, and neglect your family. What should motivate you is the job itself, not what you’re wearing. What makes casual Friday so successful to some is with the reduced staff (if flex schedules are allowed) and the casual clothing, I hear statements like, ‘I get the most work done on Fridays.’ ”

And there was this comment from Dawn L.:

“Dressing up or dressing down? Down definitely wins! If you are comfortable and relaxed, your productivity increases. Does dressing down mean I take less pride in my work? Most certainly not! Why should it? The morale it creates in people is a big plus. In today’s society where raises are getting thinner and thinner and the benefits are declining, one of the best offers my company has is its relaxed dress code. This is an all-year process. Can I wear jeans to work — no, but do I HAVE to wear suits? NO!”

Suzanne C. had this experience to share:

“I have worked for companies that had dress codes from both ends of the spectrum. I can honestly say, the productivity was much higher in the office environment where there was no dress code — especially in the summer. People felt much more comfortable dressing for the weather and work conditions than being forced to wear something hot and more restrictive. It even surprised me how often people were more ‘dressed up’ than need be. Let’s face it, how many people come in to work on the weekend to catch up — in their more casual clothes — and can’t believe how much more they are able to accomplish. The way I look at it, we are all adults. If we do not know how to properly dress for work by now, then perhaps we should not be working.”

Dress Code Abuse

But her final comment, “If we do not know how to properly dress for work by now …” brings up another hot issue that you gave us an earful about: Dress code abuse. Like this comment from Terrie:

“As a woman who grew up in the sixties and pantsuits for women were not allowed in the workplace I find the way many young women dress today a bit disconcerting. Low riser pants, blouses with scoop necks that don’t cover their breasts and don’t even find their way to meeting the waist band, flip flops for shoes, etc. I wonder if I work in a bar, at a beach, or in an office.

One day I walked into the kitchen and saw one young female employee baring her low back to another young female employee to show off her tattoo! This was being done while a young male who waters our office plants was at the sink filling the containers to water the plants. Oh yeah, his head was turning!

A few minutes later one young female employee (not the one with the tattoo but the one who viewed the tatoo) was bending over at the copier and her thong underwear was in full view of me and a male manager. She was wearing low riser cargo pants! I realize it may be difficult to find dress pants for the office that are not low risers, but ladies please cover up!”

Leah had this comment:

“We have had casual dress before and even went as far as jean day on Fridays. We found that you will always have one bad apple in the group that takes it to the extreme. Can people actually make the right choice on their own? Our Jean Day turned in to Slum Day for one coworker, and it then took away our Jean Day on Friday. Why should one bad apple always spoil it for everyone? What ever happened to management directly addressing the issue with employees vs. taking the easy way out and just changing policy for all?”

And finally, we got a reality check from Denise:

“I would love to be able to dress up a bit more at work, but until they stop cutting the budget, and start giving raises again, I can’t afford to buy better than Walmart!”