Aaroona: So I work at a somewhat large company in AKL CBD - we, like most other companies, have a dress policy. This policy is universal in our office and has no bearing on whether you sit at a computer all day, have to climb under desks to plug computers and phones in, or go and visit customers (i.e. externally facing).

This means you are wearing business trousers, shirts (often ties, though option without), dress shoes and whatever your wardrobe includes (waist coat?), crawling around on the floor.


Personally, I think this is a little overkill, I can completely understand having this dress code when you are out and about representing the company to customers etc. But when you're sitting here behind a screen all day, or under a desk patching, installing or removing gear, what would you consider reasonable dress ware?


Do you feel that is should be a universal policy like we have now? or split it out based on your external interaction?
What is considered business casual to you? (acceptable)


I am not saying get rid of the dress code all together, there are reasons to have them, all of which are valid. But in my opinion it needs to be proportionate to the job you are in, not something that can be smacked on universally. 

Thoughts?


EDIT: Just to make clear, this doesn't just apply to IT, this also applies to CSR's who are sitting on the phone all day too! 

Geektastic:

Aaroona: So I work at a somewhat large company in AKL CBD - we, like most other companies, have a dress policy. This policy is universal in our office and has no bearing on whether you sit at a computer all day, have to climb under desks to plug computers and phones in, or go and visit customers (i.e. externally facing).

This means you are wearing business trousers, shirts (often ties, though option without), dress shoes and whatever your wardrobe includes (waist coat?), crawling around on the floor.


Personally, I think this is a little overkill, I can completely understand having this dress code when you are out and about representing the company to customers etc. But when you're sitting here behind a screen all day, or under a desk patching, installing or removing gear, what would you consider reasonable dress ware?


Do you feel that is should be a universal policy like we have now? or split it out based on your external interaction?
What is considered business casual to you? (acceptable)


I am not saying get rid of the dress code all together, there are reasons to have them, all of which are valid. But in my opinion it needs to be proportionate to the job you are in, not something that can be smacked on universally. 

Thoughts?


EDIT: Just to make clear, this doesn't just apply to IT, this also applies to CSR's who are sitting on the phone all day too! 

One of the reasons I won't work for anyone other than myself is that I hate being treated like a child by my employers...!

andrewNZ: So what about a pair of overalls? sounds silly, but you can meet the dress code and not ruin clothes.

andrewNZ: Way OT, but..

At an old workplace, a director was showing someone through. Suddenly there was screaming coming from across the room (think screaming monkey). The "clown" had spent the previous 10 minutes winding up a tradesman, and was being beaten as a result...

Good first impression.

kingjj: My employer has always stated along the lines of 'dressing professionally helps you act professionally' and I'm inclined to agree.