Now that summer has officially started, you can expect your employees to start dressing for the warmer temperatures. Do you have to send out a dress code reminder at the beginning of the summer to remind employees about what’s inappropriate and what’s not? New research from Robert Half may make you want to send a reminder for precautionary measures.
According to a new Robert Half survey, 54% of Millennials (ages 18 to 34) say they are unsure of what constitutes “appropriate” work attire. When asked “Which office dress code for you prefer?” 35% of respondents say they prefer somewhat casual attire, with “somewhat casual” being labeled as “khakis and a polo shirt or sweater.” Other responses include:
- 28% of respondents prefer somewhat formal attire, like dress slacks or skirt with a button-down shirt.
- 20% say they prefer very casual, as in jeans and t-shirts.
- While 16% say they prefer very formal, like suits and ties.
Additional findings from the survey include:
- Those aged 18 to 34 (56%) have the greatest preference for formal dress codes. They’re also most commonly unsure if their clothing is appropriate (54%) and comprise the age group with the largest number of respondents interested in wearing a uniform (59%).
- More men (54%) prefer formal attire than women (30%).
- Nearly one-half of men (48%) are at least sometimes confused about whether their apparel is OK for work, compared to 31% of women.
- Most employees (86%) reported they like casual dress codes because they can wear more comfortable clothes.
- About one in four respondents (23%) said their company policy isn’t always clear about what attire is acceptable.
Being a woman, I can easily agree with these findings, as “formal attire” for women can often times be uncomfortable—high heels for 8 hours a day, no thanks! Respondents were also asked to share some of the items they considered wearing to work, but were unsure if it was appropriate. These items include:
- An off-the-shoulder (“cold shoulder”) top
- Leggings
- A Hawaiian shirt
- Flip-flops
- A baseball hat
- Jeans
- Pajamas
- Fishnet stockings
- A tight sweater
- Capri pants
- A track suit
- A low-cut top
- Dressy sandals
- A hockey jersey
- Shorts
- Cargo pants
- A political T-shirt
- Colored jeans
- A tank top
- Tennis shoes
- A short skirt
- A sheer top
A sheer top and pajamas are definitely not work attire, here’s hoping these people thought better of wearing them! “As work attire skews more casual, the rules about acceptable office wear aren’t always clear-cut,” said Brandi Britton, district president for OfficeTeam, in a press release. “Besides following official company policies, employees should pay attention to the wardrobes of managers and colleagues. If you’re uncertain about whether it’s OK to wear something to work, it’s best to play it safe by skipping it.”
 Melissa Blazejak is a Senior Web Content Editor at BLR. She has written articles for HR.BLR.com and the HR Daily Advisor websites and is responsible for the day-to-day management of HR.BLR.com and HRLaws.com. She has been at BLR since 2014. She graduated with a BA of Science, specializing in Communication, from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2008. Most recently, she graduated in 2014 with a MS of Educational Technology. |