PROJECT REPORT

ON

DRESSING CODES AND PERFORMANCE OF

EMPLOYEES

Submitted to:

Mr. Abhay Anand Tiwari

IILM Institute for Higher Education, Gurgaon

Submitted by:

“THE PARALLELS” (Group ‘K’)

Section ‘I’

Deepshikha Dev

Janak Deora

Jnana Ranjan Pati

Neha Goyal

Sudeep Khokhar

Sumesh Yadav

Vijay Dahiya

CHAPTER PLAN

1. Introduction

2. Dress code and conduct

3. Formal Dress Codes

4. Casual Dress Codes and Dressing down

5. Formal versus Casual Dress Codes

6. Dress Codes and Organization’s Environment

7. Problems with Casual Dress Code Policies

8. Analysis of Data and Questionnaire

9. Limitations of the Project

10. Recommendations and Conclusions

IntroductionMost organizations have formals to be worn at work. But some of them have Fridays and Saturdays as dress Down syndrome.

Dressing is of two types:

Business Formals

Business Casuals

Where a formal wear gives an employee a confidence in himself, in other hand a casual wear or dressing down seems to lighten everyone’s mood.

The happier the employee the more productive that employee will be.

Big companies like DELL, GENPACT, IBM-DAKSH, HSBC, VASANT SQUARE MALL (SUNCITY PROJECTS) are all moving towards accepting casual dress codes.

HSBC, the leading bank has Friday’s as casuals day, where the employee is free to wear according to his/her own will. Employees (except higher and lower management) of DELL, GENPACT and IBM are also seemed to be in casuals most of the time.

So, the dilemma arises, why is it that the management of such organizations is introducing casual dress codes for its working force? Do dress codes have any linkage with the performance of employees?

Of course, the main motive behind each organization’s management decision is to maximize the profits and achieve its desired goals or targets. So it can be assumed that the dress codes play a significant role in employee’s performance and also had an effect on the working environment of the whole organization.

The Company's objective, in establishing a dress code, is to enable employees to project a professional, business-like image while experiencing the comfort and advantages of more casual and relaxed clothing and also to enhance an image keeping in mind the needs of our clients and customers.

DRESS CODE AND CONDUCT

Appropriate attire is an important part of this professionalism. In order to maintain this

standard of professionalism, it enforces a "Business Casual" code of dress. Failure to dress in

accordance with "Business Casual" guidelines will result in the employee being requested to

immediately make the necessary corrections. The following are acceptable standards of

personal attire that define "Business Casual":

FOR MEN:

• Business Suits.

• Sport coats with dress-casual slacks.

• Shirt options:

o Long / short sleeved collared dress shirts with tie.

o During cooler times of the year (e.g. Winter) a sweater may also be worn as long as a collared dress shirt and tie are worn underneath.

• Hairstyles should be businesslike and neat. Facial hair must be neatly trimmed, of reasonable length and clean.

FOR WOMEN:

• Business dress / coordinating pant suit.

• Coordinating jackets, with dress-casual skirts (preferred) / slacks.

• Dress blouse, with dress-casual skirts (preferred) / slacks.

• Shirt and blouse options:

o Long / short sleeved dress shirts / blouses.

o During cooler times of the year (e.g. Winter) a sweater may also be worn in addition to the above.

• Hemlines should be conservative (not greater than four inches above the knee); make-up, jewelry, hosiery, and accessories should be appropriate and worn in moderation.

• Hairstyles should be businesslike and neat.

UNACCEPTABLE ATTIRE: The following are considered

• Casual clothing of the following type: short pants, sweat suits, culottes, pedal pushers, divided skirts, leather, suede or T-shirt clothing of any description.

• Denim jeans of any description (with the exception of maintenance personnel): jeans, slacks, jackets, suits, dresses, skirts, and jumpers.

• Dresses or skirts with high splits; dresses or blouses with plunging necklines; formal dresses, sweater dresses, spaghetti-strapped dresses or sleeveless tops without jackets, and see-through fashions of any description unless worn with appropriate undergarments such as camisoles and jackets.

• Excessively tight or "conforming to body" clothing.

• Extremes in make-up, hairstyles, jewelry and other accessories.

• Hats/headgear (unless a job requirement or of religious significance to the wearer).

• Casual sandals, sneakers, beach shoes, soft plastic footwear, bedroom shoes or slippers, etc.

Developing Dress Code Policies In today's business world there are many changes going on. Whether it be using the Internet or talking to someone online, we all have to change with it or be left behind. One thing that has not gone over a whole new transformation is the dress of the employees. Most businesses want to portrait a professional standard with the public and themselves. In order to do this; they must use dress codes for their employees. To do this you must start with a reason to start a dress code, then you must develop policies in the dress code, and then you must implement procedures to accommodate violations.

There are several reasons to start a dress code. First you want to convey to the public your professionalism. For example, if a person has a legal issue that they need to be settled and they need to choose a legal firm to represent them, they want one that has a good record and a professional image. Another reason to have a dress code is to make your employees comfortable in what they must wear. In today's business world, the allowance of casual wear was on the rise but is now declining because of habitual violations. Still, you must allow for some casual wear so that your employees are comfortable in what they wear. You do not want to make it too casual because you will lose the professional image of your business. According

to Hari Bedi, "If the only thing the corporate world is going to lose is the tie, managers really haven't anything to fear".

When dealing with the public, the employer wants his or her employees to give a professional image. According to the Business Owner’s Toolkit, "If your employees deal extensively with the public, it may be appropriate to require certain standards of appearance… If your employees have no contact with the public, perhaps it’s okay if they wear casual clothes. But how casual is appropriate in the office?" This is a question that many employers deal with in deciding the policies in the dress code. It has a lot to do with how conservative your company is. For instance, if your company is a highly ranked legal firm in the United States, you might not allow any casual wear, as opposed to a newly developed consulting firm that is very contemporary in the ideas. The Business Research Lab makes a valid point when it says, "Casual dress codes only should apply to employees who cannot be seen, or who rarely are seen, by clients. Professionalism is paramount when it comes to client contact. The employees at Microsoft are allowed casual wear, but the public does not see them on a frequent basis. It is a proven fact that casual wear does not harm employee productivity. In some cases it helps productivity because the employees are more comfortable and work harder. Another reason it may help is that the employee does not feel that their employer is trying to "control" them.

Another reason to apply a dress code is safety standards for the employee. If the employee does work that requires heavy machinery, you do not want to allow that employee to wear loose clothing that may get caught in the machine and harm the employee. Different types of work demand different types of clothing options. You do want to give employees options in choosing what they wear. Always put safety first in applying a dress code because you do not want any type of legal action against you when an employee gets hurt on the job.

Employee privacy must be acknowledged when applying a dress code. Any type of handicap that might interfere with the dress code must be dealt with on a one-to-one basis. You must not disregard the privacy of any employee who has an issue with the dress code. Always listen to what an employee has to say and try to compromise to a solution that will make both happy.

Before starting your policy you must consider these things:

Find areas of conflict that might occur in your business about the dress code. Make sure employees know about the positive image it gives to customers. Try to be somewhat current on what is allowed to keep the business’s image up to

date. Keep in mind any expectations. You might have to prohibit casual wear when an

employee is dealing with clients. Do not assume broad terms like "proper", "pressed", "reserved", or "appropriate" has

the same meaning to you as your employee. If you allow casual wear, set up a review date down the road to determine if the

policy is working well.

If your policies are constantly being broken because of it allows employees some freedom, review your policies and make them stricter.

After reviewing all possibilities, you want to narrow down your policy so that it is not too broad. A typical dress code policy might be:

DRESS CODE POLICY

I. Males: Must wear full business suit with dress jacket, dress slacks, collared dress shirt, tie, and dress shoes. Hair must be neatly combed and not spotted colored

II. Females: Must wear business suit or pantsuit, dress or skirt, blouse/sweater/blazer, and dress shoes. Hair must be neatly done and not distastefully died (e.g. Green or purple).

III. Not allowed: Slogans or pictures on any dress attire including ties. Torn or baggy pants and shirts. Revealing attire. Casual footwear. Hats or gang attire.

IV. The allowance of casual wear on specified days: a. Males: No jacket is required. Khakis or corduroys may be worn. Casual dress

shoes may be worn. These are the only changes. All other attire must be worn according to policy.

b. Females: No dress jacket is required. Slacks may be worn. Casual dress shoes may be worn. Casual dress shirt may be worn. All other attire must be worn according to policy.

You want to make sure that your allowance of casual wear is not too broad because it may cause confusion to the employee. This dress code policy example is not one that can be used by all different companies. A more conservative company might not allow casual wear, and may be stricter on what can and cannot be worn. A more liberal company might not be so strict as to what is worn on casual days or might allow a more casual everyday dress policy. As a supervisor or a CEO of a company, situations in dealing with then dress code may arise. A situation like an employee who does not agree with the dress code may continually violate it and cause problems in the workplace. In dealing with this employee, the manager should not fire him or her, but rather talk to the employee to see what he or she does not like. It would be silly to lose an employee because he or she has a problem with the dress code. A compromise in this situation should be able to clear all concerns about the dress code. Another situation that may arise when a company installs a new dress code policy is the violating employees and what should be done to punish them. As an employer, one should not question the tastes of their employee, and always talk to the employee in private because it should not concern other people. A good way to deal with an employee who is in violation of the dress code policy is to send them home, without pay, to change. If an employee comes to work improperly dressed several times over a relatively short time frame, consider documenting the behavior and using an internal disciplinary system to deal with the policy violations.

When dealing with a dress code, the employer must keep in mind any legal liability that they have. This pertains to discrimination of religion, disability, and gender . If you have an employee whose religious beliefs require they wear some kind of garment or apparel, you should do one of the following:

1. Show business justification for your requirements. 2. Reasonably accommodate their religious beliefs. 3. Ask the employee to seek an exemption from wearing religious garb while on duty.

When dealing with some type of disability, an employer must try to reasonably accommodate an employee with a disability that makes it impossible for them to conform to the dress code policy. If an employer has a situation with gender discrimination, they need to look over their dress code policy to make sure that none of the following are in it:

1. Inhibit equal access to employment opportunities between men and women. 2. Attempt to deny employment to a particular sex. 3. Give a significant advantage to one particular sex. 4. Discriminate the apparel of choice to a certain sex.

When dealing with your dress code and violations, you can obtain information from a consulting service. Their knowledge of the policies and experience in the field may help the employer to make wise judgments about certain situations that may arise in the future. A consulting service might:

1. Meet with a selected core group of company employees to discuss defining acceptable business casual attire.

2. Create the new dress program name. 3. Position a start date. 4. Recommend a trial period. 5. Develop a violation policy. 6. Reinforcement of policy and designated individual(s) responsible for monitoring.

With these services from them, an employer could make the dress code policy work well with the employees.

Dress codes are a rising part of business and will continue to grow as the years go on. When implementing a dress code, you want to:

Maintain good standing with employees Establish a good reputation with the public Allow for some casual wear (depending on the company’s view: liberal vs.

conservative) Establish a fair and upstanding policy on violations.

Formal Dress Codes

First impressions count. A professional consultant who doesn’t take the time to maintain a professional appearance presents the image of not being able to perform adequately on the job. This professional dress code is codified because many professionals have never been taught appropriate professional appearance and demeanor.

Professional dress code standards are alive and well in major financial and executive management. Anyone who aspires to top management knows that personal appearance counts.

If you look and behave like a highly trained and well-groomed professional, you will win the respect and honor of our valued clients.

A fresh haircut, spit-shined shoes and a crisp suit go a long way in establishing a professional demeanor.

It's also about quality; most professionals can spot a cheap suit at twenty paces and high quality dress shoes are de-rigueur.

If you have never worked in a professional environment and you are not sure how professionals look, watch the lawyers on an episode of Law & Order on television.

 Dress Codes are protected by law

Remember, employers in the USA have a legal right to ask you to adhere to dress codes: "A person can be fired because the company doesn’t like your shoes.

"In 1998, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Harper v. Blockbuster Entertainment upheld Blockbuster’s dress code that mandated male employees to cut their long hair, but not female employees."

Inappropriate dress and grooming

Have you ever gone to church on Sunday and instantly noted the people who normally do not wear a suit? You know, the men with striped shirts, plaid ties and lime green sport coats? Sadly, professional dress and grooming standards have fallen from popular culture, and we don't have to look far to find examples of unprofessional dress. Here are some examples of inappropriate male grooming:

No Neanderthal-style single eyebrows are allowed, and you should shave any loose hair on your forehead or the palms of your hands. All ear hair must be shaved, and remove any "Admiral Zumwalt" style giant eyebrows. If you must wear a toupee, have it custom fit and glued on securely and no Trump-style comb-overs.

Here are some examples of inappropriate female grooming:

 

Prejudice still exists within corporate about tattoos, and there is a clear correlation between income, education, and the population who have tattoos. It's no surprise that tattoos are more popular among the poor and undereducated.

Let's take a closer look at specific dress codes for male and female professionals.

Dress Requirements for Male Consultants:

Body Art - Of course, tattoos are considered unprofessional, low-class and ignorant, and at no time may a consultant have a visible tattoo.

Suit – A suit means a SUIT; sport coats and slacks are not allowed. The suit must be dark blue, gray or charcoal, (except for tropical engagements) be “well tailored”, and have no loose threads, "pills" or "nurdles".

Shirt - A crisp white shirt is always required. French cuffs are optional. There are live examples of consultants who are turned away at the door of banks because of their hot pink dress shirt.

Tie - Must be conservative, something a bank VP might wear.

Shoes - High quality black lace-up shoes are required, polished to a mirror quality spit-shine. You would be surprised at how many people judge you by your shoes.

Accessories - No phony Rolexes, body piercing or earrings.

Grooming - All hair, moustaches and beards must be neatly groomed and cologne must be used sparingly. Protruding nasal hair is prohibited, and all tattoos must be fully hidden. If you have been working all night and have an early morning meeting, you can use an anti-inflammatory hemorrhoid cream (e.g. Preparation H) to quickly shrink those unsightly puffy bags under your eyes. Just carefully dab the roid cream on your lower eyelids (being careful not to get any in your eyes) and you will look fresh and well-rested.

Cologne - Cologne and after-shave are optional, but if used, it must not be so strong as to call attention to you in a closed elevator.

If the client wants you to wear tattered cut offs, that's fine, just make sure that you check with the client first to ensure that you are not dressed inappropriately for their environment.

Dress Requirements for Female Consultants:

Many of the client organizations have standards for professional appearance, and it's better to be safe than to be embarrassed. So these are the tips:

Suit – Pants and skirts, both are allowed. The suit must be dark blue, gray or charcoal.

Blouse - A crisp white blouse is great, and you may have ruffles and other decorations.

Tie - Optional, but it must be conservative.

Shoes - High quality black or brown shoes are required, polished to a high shine.

Jewelry - Ostentatious jewelry, multiple ear rings on each ear, and multiple chain necklaces are prohibited. Leave the Zircons at home; most people can recognize them instantly.

Cosmetics - Do not use the ski-slope approach to cosmetics (that's 3-inches of powder on top of a 6-inch base). Use no "cheap" perfumes and make sure that you do not offend people with allergies with too much perfume odor. Co-workers can sue the employer if the perfume is too strong.

Grooming - All hair must be neatly groomed. Females with facial hair are required to shave before any on-site engagements. You should always shave legs and exposed armpits.

Perfume - Too much perfume is considered especially heinous when the stench is so strong as to cause allergic reactions or when the odor can be detected from more than 3 feet away. Remember, the quality of perfume is inversely proportional to the price, and many female executives can quickly tell if you are wearing a cheap, "stink pretty" perfume

Casual Dress Code Requirements

When the client specifically requests that you dress down, the following dress code applies. The only exception to this casual dress code is when you are specifically requested to dress down below our casual standards (shorts, t-shirts).

Crisp, pressed button-down shirt

Slacks with leather belt

Leather shoes (no sneakers, ever, even on a casual dress day)

The only exception to this casual dress code is when the client specifically requests you dress down below our casual standards (shorts, t-shirts).

Tropical Dress Code

 

When consulting in tropical areas, white, tan and light gray linen suits are acceptable for men and women, provided that the suits are permanent press and wrinkle-free.

You may supplement your white “ice cream” suit with a straw hat or felt fedora, but no hat styles that may have cultural intonations.

Your tie must be worn at all times, but you may remove your jackets and roll up your sleeves, if this is the custom of your client.

Short sleeve white dress shirts are not permitted. You may wear casual dress shoes, including white dress shoes, but sandals are never appropriate.

For female tropical dress requirements, trousers are permitted, and pastel and white colors are considered acceptable.

Male Professional Footwear Guidelines

You would be surprised how many people will judge you by the quality of your shoes and how you maintain them. The shores are important, really important. Did you know that you can legally be fired if your boss thinks that you wear shabby shoes?

It has to be realized that once you walk into a private employer’s workplace, your rights are limited.”

To prevent foot odor and increase the life of your shoes, many consultants travel with two pairs and rotate them every day. Wing-tip shoes are allowed, but not encouraged.

A pair of top-quality shoes is a good investment because they can be resoled as needed and last for decades. All professional shoes must be low cut lace-up shoes with a fine leather grain capable of being polished to a mirror finish.

However, it is not necessary to spend hundreds of rupees on dress shoes. Standard military-style Oxford shoes are both inexpensive and appropriate for a suit, especially when polished to a fine shine. Corfam shoes are not acceptable (plus they make your feet sweat).

Just look at these, check them out, hardly even a need to polish them, and you can see your face on the toes!

They also come in wide widths, highly recommended.

Always carry a shoe care kit when traveling and make sure to touch-up your shoes before going on-site with a client. The toes of the shoes should be polished to a mirror finish, and you should be able to see your face in the shine of an acceptable shoe shine.

To establish a great base shine, you can easily locate a shoe service at any fine shoe store or military base. U.S. military bases (especially Marine bases) have open-to-the public services where you can get your shoe mirrors started. Once your base shine is complete, basic care will keep them looking spectacular. Many consultants place their shoes in sealed bags to prevent the hairline cracks that can occur in dry climates.

The recent fashion trend toward goofy square-tipped shoes, pointy-toed roach killers, shoes with thick soles and other non-traditional shoe styles are never acceptable for a professional.

Also, despite the latest fashion trends in Europe, medieval style shoes are really, really stupid looking.

Optional Headwear

While hats have not been considered appropriate attire with a suit, in some foreign societies the wearing of hats is both practical and fashionable.

Tips on Buying Fine Panama Hats

Panama hats also go great in topical areas, and a super-fine Panama hat is a great status symbol.

High quality Panama straw hats are appropriate with tropical dress suits. They are also utilitarian, adding shade and retarding sweat.

When choosing a hat, it is important to choose a hat style that is culturally and/or religiously neutral; here are some examples of hat styles that are not acceptable:

     

 Oriental-style hats are

a no-no. 

Sombreros often imply cultural stereotypes.

 Rastafarianism is a legitimate religion.

           

     

 The news is full of

reports of anti-French sentiments.

 Not everyone wants to

be cowboy. 

Bowlers and derby hats are distinctly British.

  Cultural Dress Code

It is also not acceptable to wear any cultural or religious garments that may offend a client. Organizations respect the religious beliefs of yours and the clients, but their clients come first. When representing their organization, it is unacceptable to wear any garments, icons or jewellery that may have overt (or covert) religious, racial, cultural or national connotations that may offend a client.

It is important to any professional not to advertise religious affiliations. For example, when consulting in areas with large Muslim populations, you may not wear customary garments unless you are a practicing member of that religion, and then, only when the attire is consistent with the other tenets of our dress code.

Dress Code Accessories

Here are some accessories that you might want to consider:

Clothing shaver - These are very handy for stray pills and removing fuzz.

Travel Shoe Kit - It is critical that you touch-up your dress shoes, everyday. You should not use a brush (it fades the mirror-quality), carry a t-shirt rag, black wax and a liquid black dauber for the soles.

Burberry trench coat - Instantly recognizable for men and women alike.

Rolex watch - The time honored, instantly recognized symbol of success.

However, all accessories can be abused, so be careful that your accessories remain in good taste:

Burberry accessories - Burberry hats are for Rap stars.

Loose Rolex wristbands - This went out in the 1990's.

Bling - Too much jewelry is not appropriate.

Inappropriate Professional Attire

Any of the following might be cause for immediate withdrawal from any client site:

Non-white shirts - All male consultants MUST wear a pressed white shirt.

Loafers, boots, sneakers and sandals - Don't even think about it. They call them loafers for a reason.

Sport Coats - These are considered cheesy by many Fortune 500 companies.

Here is an illustration of the poor dress codes.

Like it or not, you are immediately judged by your appearance.

However, all on-site engagements require absolute professional quality dress and demeanor. Spit-shined, high quality shoes and a professionally tailored suit are immediately apparent to anyone who must wear a suit every day

Again, these are the MINIMUM standards for acceptable dress and we reserve the right to refine our dress code as required.

Casual Dress CodesBusiness casual (sometimes called smart casuals) is a popular dress code that emerged in white-collar workplaces in Western countries in the 1970s in response to the energy crises of that decade. Government mandates to raise thermostat settings in office buildings led managers to authorize employees to dispense with ties and jackets that had been part of expected business attire. Many Information Technology businesses in Silicon Valley were early adopters of this style of dress. It has partially supplanted business informal wear (suits and neckties, sometimes called International Standard Business Attire), which was previously the standard apparel for managers and professionals. Trousers complete the package; jeans are rarely acceptable in workplaces as part of business casual attire, but some Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs are known to wear jeans as part of the business casual look.

Bill Gates in Business Casual Attire

In contrast with the many blue-collar and service workers, business casual dress is not uniform. In contrast to business informal, there is no generally accepted definition of business casual wear; its interpretation differs widely among organizations and is often a cause of confusion. The Job Search Engine, monster.com offers this definition:

“In general, Business Casual means dressing professionally, looking relaxed yet neat and pulled together.”

Establishing a casual dress code is an inexpensive way to improve the morale of employees. The

casual dress code is appreciated by most employees in its own right, but it also serves as a

symbol of management's attitude toward meeting employee needs.

There is one strong argument against casual clothing at work, and it only applies to specific

employees. Certainly, employees with client contact should wear business attire, as should

those who can be seen by clients in the course of everyday business. Casual dress codes only

should apply to employees who cannot be seen, or who rarely are seen, by clients.

Professionalism is paramount when it comes to client contact.

It is difficult to find a strong argument in favor of non-client-contact personnel being forced to

wear formal business attire. The success of companies such as Microsoft, who have casual dress

codes, shows that formal dress is not necessary for success.

If management allows casual attire, it may be viewed as being more caring about employees.

Allowing employees to wear casual attire at work may send one or more of the following signals

to employees:

Flexibility on the part of management,

A willingness to do things the "new way," Management does not seek to "control" employees, There is a system of promotion in place that does not favor those who have had the

good fortune to be born in the more affluent classes.

This last point may be somewhat less obvious than the first three. By allowing employees to

wear casual attire, management signals that one's social status is not a factor in promotions.

Proper business dress is an acquired (and expensive) skill; one that is more easily acquired if

one has an upper class background. Casual clothing becomes an equalizer in this regard.

Management may be shooting itself in the foot by not allowing casual attire. We are beginning

to encounter quality people who say they will refuse to apply for a job at a company that does

not allow casual clothing to be worn. Such employees may gravitate toward a firm's

competitors, potentially placing the firm at a competitive disadvantage.

Note – A casual dress code does not mean that employees should look sloppy. A casual dress

code can be specific with regard to the type of clothing allowed.

The company's objective in establishing a business casual dress code is to allow its employees to work comfortably in the workplace. Yet, they still need their employees to project a professional image for the customers, potential employees, and community visitors.

Because all casual clothing is not suitable for the office, these guidelines will help one determine what is appropriate to wear to work. Clothing that works well for the beach, yard work, dance clubs, exercise sessions, and sports contests may not be appropriate for a professional appearance at work.

Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for a place of business, even in a business casual setting.

Even in a business casual work environment, clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable. All seams must be finished. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees is unacceptable. Clothing that has the company logo is encouraged. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable.

Certain days can be declared dress down days, generally Fridays. On these days, jeans and other more casual clothing, although never clothing potentially offensive to others, are allowed.

Guide to Business Casual Dressing for Work

This is a general overview of appropriate business casual attire. Items that are not appropriate for the office are listed, too. The list tells what is generally acceptable as business casual attire and what is generally not acceptable as business casual attire.

No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty about acceptable, professional business casual attire for work, please ask your supervisor or your Human Resources staff.

Slacks, Pants, and Suit Pants

Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants, dressy caprice, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable. Inappropriate slacks or pants include jeans, sweatpants, exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking.

Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted Suits

Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skirts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate for the office.

Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets

Casual shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, golf-type shirts, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work. Most suit jackets or sport jackets are also acceptable attire for the office, if they violate none of the listed guidelines. Inappropriate attire for work includes tank tops; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders; sweatshirts, and t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or dress.

Shoes and Footwear

Conservative athletic or walking shoes, loafers, clogs, sneakers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather deck-type shoes are acceptable for work. Wearing no stockings is acceptable in warm weather. Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office. Closed toe and closed heel shoes are required in the manufacturing operation area.

Jewelry, Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne

Should be in good taste, with limited visible body piercing. Remember, that some employees are allergic to the chemicals in perfumes and make-up, so wear these substances with restraint.

Hats and Head Covering

Hats are not appropriate in the office. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.

Note-If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the employee’s supervisor and Human Resources staff, the employee will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. If the problem persists, the employee may be sent home to change clothes and will receive a verbal warning for the first offense. All other policies about personal time use will apply. Progressive disciplinary action will be applied if dress code violations continue.

Casual Dress – Dress Codes have relaxed as a Result of the Internet Age

So, have you worn a suit to work lately? Once the uniform of choice for business people, the Suit seems to be going the way of the Windsor knot. According to a survey this year by the Society of Human Resource Management, 87 percent of HR professionals polled said their companies offer the casual dress option one day a week or every day. In a similar SHRM study in 1992, just 63 percent of respondents said their companies offered casual dress codes.

What caused the 24 percent jump? We could thank (or blame) the Internet age. According to Ilene Amiel, author of Business Casual Made Easy, it's generally agreed that casual days started on the U.S. West coast, where computer companies allowed programmers to dress comfortably to encourage creativity. Like the Internet, the casual trend spread. Many companies are using casual dress policies to attract and retain employees, especially the high-tech workers who expect to dress down. There are many benefits to a casual dress code. In SHRM's 1996 benefit survey, HR managers cited increased employee morale and productivity and the opportunity to use casual dress as a recruitment and retention tool.

According to the Business Research Lab, a research and management-consulting firm, a casual dress policy can send the message to employees that the company is flexible and innovative, and doesn't want to control employees or favor affluent workers. Many employees also sing the praises of casual dress, listing comfort, lower costs for clothing and dry-cleaning, and heightened creativity. Many also believe casual dress makes them more effective. In a 1998 survey by USA Today, 64 percent of respondents said they work more efficiently when wearing casual dress.

Though it's easy to see the benefit of dressing down, doing so is harder than it looks. Much confusion exists about appropriate casual attire in the workplace, and relaxing the dress code often makes employees' morning routine harder. As one Training & Development staffer replied when she was chided for wearing a skirt on a Casual Friday, "It takes too much time to find something casual to wear."

What's more, people seem to interpret the meaning of casual differently. ABCnews.com reports, "Stodgy employees think casual means taking off your suit jacket. Others show up for work in weekend wear--hiking boots, sandals, tank tops, shorts, wet hair."

Some companies are now hiring consultants to teach employees about appropriate casual dress. The Conselle Institute of Image Management, for example, conducts seminars on "strategies to dress for appropriate impact in all situations." Strategies for casual dress?

Employees who aren't able to attend a seminar can get help from a copy of Conselle's Professional Style Scale, which identifies and defines four levels of dress in an attempt to ease casual confusion. Amiel's Business Casual Made Easy and a book by Sherry Maysonave, Casual Power, categorize and define levels of casual dress. But the best way to lessen employees' confusion is a written policy that spells Out exactly what is and isn't appropriate. A chapter in Amiel's book tells how to develop and manage a business casual policy, or you can hire her to write the policy or coach managers how to write it.

Like it or not, casual dress is probably here to stay. Many employees now list a casual dress code as a job requirement. Some people would, in this time of dot.com mania, pick the casual dress option over stock options.

In a survey cited in Business Casual Made Easy, 80 percent of executives said the following items are "unacceptable":

Sweatshirts Spandex Shorts t-shirts with slogans bared midriffs, halter tops, tank tops Flip-flops.

DRESS DOWN DAY

Fridays have been formally designated by the company as a dress down day. Certain other days may occasionally be declared as dress down days. On these days, jeans, sneakers and a more casual approach to dressing, although never potentially offensive to others, are allowed.

The summer months often allow for more relaxed dress codes in offices and for some employers defining a specific dress code may be difficult. Giving employees the option to dress down at work allows for a more comfortable work environment and saves employees time and money. Also, it has been proven by successful companies such as Microsoft, that a casual dress code and work environment can still provide optimum results for a company. Many argue that a professional dress code will create increased productivity but that is not always the case.

Business casual can often times be difficult to strictly define, and when guidelines are not implemented some issues may develop in the workplace. Generally speaking, business casual refers to dressing professionally, yet allowing for a relaxed, neat and comfortable appearance. Common sense should allow employees to assume shorts, low-cut shirts, halter or tube tops, ratty jeans and T-shirts to be saved for a picnic or day at the beach. However, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide a dress code to prevent any inappropriate attire in the workplace.

Even some of the most formal workplaces now institute a "casual Friday" policy for the hot, summer months. Just how casual one can dress does of course depend on the company you are working for. Jeans, sneakers and flip flops are becoming more widely accepted in the tech savvy, internet age of companies, where face to face interaction with clients is rare. However, this attire is seen as inappropriate even for casual attire in a more formal corporate setting.

As acceptable forms of summer business-casual attire may vary from job to job, it is important to get to know the fashion sense of your particular workplace. Asking the Human Resources department for specific guidelines and implementing one if it does not yet exist is very important to prevent any controversy over what people wear to work. Often times the easiest thing to do is look around at what everyone in the office is wearing and take into consideration your role in the company including who you interact with throughout the day.

Benefit or burden? Dress-Down Days

The Emergence of Dress-Down Days

The birth of dress-down days is attributed to several different factors. It is credited, in part, to the high-tech companies in the Silicon Valley of California that, when they started 30 years ago, hired primarily people from blue-collar backgrounds. Because these employees were more comfortable in the casual clothing they had worn all their lives, employers adopted relaxed dress codes.

The idea for casual Fridays spawned from fund-raising initiatives by charitable organizations that engaged employers to allow employees to buy the privilege to wear casual attire to work by donating money to the charitable organization. Further impetus for dress-down Fridays came from employers' needs to improve the morale of white-collar workers that saw their colleagues laid off in droves during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In the past 10 years, the trend toward dress-down Fridays and dress-down everyday’s has spread through the corporate world and the public accounting profession. A 1994 survey by the NPD Group revealed that almost 90% of U.S. workers wear casual clothing to the office at least part of the time.

The acceptance of dress-down days by corporate America and the public accounting profession is more than just a passing fad. Casual business attire is here to stay. But what is casual business attire? Who has defined the concept for us? According to business clothing guru John T. Molloy, male executives simply "trade their suits for sports jackets or traditional golf outfits: a cotton golf shirt and slacks or chinos." Molloy says male executives have been wearing golf outfits to company outings for years.

But what about the rest of the professional workforce? Who has defined casual business attire for them? The fashion industry has certainly been influential in molding the definition. With the male executive's golf outfit as a starting point, clothing manufacturers and retailers have been

aggressively designing and marketing casual business attire with helpful videos, literature, and seminars for professional workers. For example, the Bon Marche has held seminars on casual business attire at the corporate headquarters of several corporations. In fashion magazine ads, Neiman Marcus provides an 800 number that readers can call to get an instructional video on casual dress, and Dayton Hudson Corp. has conducted fashion seminars for more than 400 companies, including Arthur Andersen. Levi Strauss & Co. has an elaborate kit titled "How to Put Casual Business wear to Work," a casual wear counselor at an 800 number, and a casual clothing newsletter.

Benefits and Burdens

Much has been written about the perceived benefits and burdens of wearing casual business clothing. Some of the more commonly touted benefits include improved employee morale, a lack of cost to the employer, increased worker productivity, more open communication between staff and managers, cost savings to employees because casual business wear is less expensive, and improved work quality.

Nevertheless, pitfalls may also exist when employees are allowed to wear casual clothing. Employees may be confused about what is acceptable attire, there may be resistance from the old guard about the appropriateness of dressing down, employees may interpret the word casual too liberally and wear inappropriate clothing, and the professional image of workers may be weakened if clients feel employees are too casual to be entrusted with their business. Traditionally disadvantaged minority groups may feel the need for business attire to give them standing and confidence. Casual clothing, with its diverse styles, lacks the uniformity and conformity associated with traditional business wear and may cause some to feel uncomfortable or less presentable in professional situations. They may not be taken seriously or seen as effective when dressed casually.

Now let us see what people have to say when they were asked whether dress codes make a difference in employee performance and productivity or not.

"A more professional look will boost confidence and does create an atmosphere of respect. No jeans!"

"My company allows casual dress (jeans) every day unless we have meetings. Morale and productivity are high, and the casual dress is an important part of our fun yet professional atmosphere."

"Look good, feel good, do good work." "For those who need to think and write (you should know this), being comfortable

makes a big difference. Dress codes detract from productivity. "Dress for the position you aspire to." "My office has a casual dress code policy. I think people, including myself, get more

done when dressed comfortably as opposed to wearing high heels, nylons and a dress."

"I worked in an office with an informal dress code five days a week and the work ethic and atmosphere was terrible."

"The more relaxed I am the more productive I am." "Take a look at the style of dress in a fast-food restaurant. If the people have their shirts

untucked, you can take it to the bank that the floors are unwept and the tables need to be cleaned off. The same rule applies to the business world. I had the pleasure/misfortune of working for a few firms during the tech boom of the late 1990s early 2000s. The places that had dress codes are still in business and the ones that did not went by the wayside. Maybe it's just a coincidence."

"Professional attire promotes a professional demeanor." "Some people just don't know how to dress." "Even a turkey can look good at the dinner table and still taste bad. Dress codes do not

make the person a bad or good employee. A person with great qualities can perform well in either casual or formal wear. A positive work environment goes much further than any dress code."

"Please look to hotels for the model. Their sales, catering and operations staff must strictly adhere to wearing business suits, which is rarely seen in office environments. They are by far are the most productive sales- and service-driven work force."

"Employee performance is solely based upon his or her competence." "A dress code implies a sense of discipline. Discipline is a basis of productivity." "Professional organizations are represented by those who dress professionally. I have no

problem with business casual if everyone maintains high standards. But I find that our firm's 'business casual' standard is abused. When did flip-flops (for men or women) become acceptable as office dress shoes? I don't care how much they cost -- they're not suitable."

"If you hire the right people, they would behave the same way no matter what they are wearing."

"Yes. Because some people lack taste." "Generally speaking, the more comfortable you are, the more productive you can be." "Dress like a slob, work like slob. Dress like a professional, work like a professional." "If you need to dress up to act professionally, there is something wrong with you." "Depends on the type of work. Employees who are not in a sales or in the physical

presence of customers do better with a more casual attire. Those who are in sales or sales related jobs do better with a dress code."

"Dressing casually often contributes to a casual state of mind and may cause lowered productivity, a change in speech content and patterns, and a lack of self-esteem among workers. Corporations have found this out, and that's why business casual is becoming less accepted."

"Makes no difference in performance and productivity, but professional image is quite another story, especially when having contact with customers. Generally, 'business casual' has been taken advantage of as employees become progressively sloppy."

"There's a difference between professional image and performance. Depending on who is making the perception, dressing down can affect image, but I think firm culture has a much greater effect on productivity than clothing."

"A dress code helps to establish boundaries -- something we've all been searching for since childhood. Further, it presents the opportunity to instill pride in the workplace -- especially if the dress code is followed up with a keeping the office clean and tidy. This in the long-run contributes to a more efficient and happier place in which to work."

"Our office has casual dress on Mondays and Fridays, and it seems as though employees spend more time chatting together about sports, leisure activities, etc., on these days. Whenever a customer visit occurs on these days, we always request that folks dress business attire."

"I have found that those who are sloppy in dress tend to be sloppy in their work. I don't necessarily think a suit and tie are required, but a casual dress code is warranted. Don't get me wrong -- those yuppies who think every piece of clothing must have a designer's label on it usually produce work this is less than desirable."

"How you look reflects the company you represent and it also helps you demonstrate a certain attitude about how you approach your work. An excessive degree of casualness does not help you stay in the work mode. People judge you by your outward appearance -- and perception is reality."

"The attire of employees in law, banking, health care, accounting, investment banking and brokerage as well as other professional service firms should wear traditional business attire. With business-casual attire, I think we lose some of the seriousness about what we do."

"Some kind of dress code should be implied, if not stated, so that people pay attention to the fact that they are at work -- not play or casual events."

"My company is very casual -- the CEO comes in wearing shorts all summer. The relaxed environment makes us happier and more productive as we are comfortable during the work day. Not to mention it makes things like exercising or walking somewhere for lunch easier because we are not wearing heels and nylons."

Formal versus Casual Dress CodesWhether formal dress or casual dress is most appropriate for the workplace has been a topic for debate for many years. Individual employees, company owners and representatives, and style analysts have their own opinions of appropriate attire, depending on their points of view. Still, there are pros and cons for both formal and casual dress codes.

Formal Business AttireFormal dress codes have been around as long as businesses have been operating. Many positive rationales for wearing formal business attire have been cited in literature (Egodigwe, 2003; Lin, 2003; Sikes, 2002; Lee, 1998). The most relevant include: creates a “business focused” environment; increases credibility; increases professional behavior at the office among coworkers and clients; ability to maintain a professional working environment; less inappropriate behavior byworkers in an organization; generally creates a positive first impression of being well “put together” or “capable”; perception of increases in productivity; perception of intelligence,

based on outside appearance; versatile in almost all situations; easier for human resources personnel to clarify dress code expectations; and less confusion on what is appropriate or inappropriate to wear.

The negative effects of requiring formal attire have also been addressed in dress code policy literature (Egodigwe, 2003; Lin, 2003; Sikes, 2002; Lee, 1998). Such negativity includes: employees may be viewed as being “too superior” by clients or others; suits may have negative connotations associated with them by customers; suits are expensive to purchase; may be inappropriate in some business settings when dealing with customers; ties, panty hose, and other professional attire may be uncomfortable to wear for the entire work day; and wearing a suit may not be necessary for company to be successful.

Casual Business AttireIn the 1990s as “going casual” became the rage in corporate America as well as smaller and family organizations. Positive rationale on why firms changed their dress codes to business casual has included the following (Egodigwe, 2003; “Casual Dress Code,” 2003; Sikes, 2002; Franz and Norton, 2001): easier for customers to relate to; seen as a “perk” by employees; shows flexibilitywith management; ability to inexpensively boost employee morale; breaks through social barriers and status; creation of a friendly persona; workers may be more at ease with fellow coworkers; typically less expensive work wardrobes; allows workers to be comfortable at their jobs; and creates more wardrobe flexibility.

The negative effects of casual dress have been identified as follows (Egodigwe, 2003; Sikes, 2002; Franz and Norton, 2001): poor perception by clients; decrease in productivity and overall quality of work; decrease in polite and mannerly behavior; decrease in company commitment and loyalty; increase in provocative actions and sexual harassment claims by employees; increase in tardiness and absenteeism; increase in relaxed performance; increase in foul language and inappropriate conversation; perception that looking sloppy makes one work sloppy; and confusion by workers on what is appropriate or inappropriate attire.

Ultimately, the lists of pros and cons need to be examined in order to determine the risk of implementing a formal or casual dress code policy. Determination of which type of dress code is appropriate for a family business may be as important as the actual creation of the dress code itself. Once the suitable type of dress code is determined, the next step understands the legal issues and laws pertaining to dress codes.

Dress Codes and Organization’s Environment

The majority of workers view casual office attire as a perk that creates a less stratified work environment and puts the emphasis on employees' contributions rather than their wardrobes. But some experts believe that casual attire creates a variety of problems for companies. These detractors dismiss the trend toward business casual as a fad that will eventually pass. "Image is

one of the most important characteristics of any business, so it would make sense that the way a company's employees dress would say plenty about that company's image," Brian Anderson wrote in an article for Wearables Business. "While the goals of corporate casual dress code include improving employee morale, enhancing productivity, lowering status barriers, and fitting in with the corporate climate of customers, the wrong code can undermine a company's credibility."

The Formal and a prescribed format of dress code are adopted by most of the organization to be followed by the employees. These formats of dress style are often made mandatory for the sales and Marketing Department employees who meet the clients at meeting and have to give presentation, as the dress code according to organization incorporate professionalism and make them presentable to the world.

For back end people the strictness in the dress code does not exist but it is desirable and often graded higher is a person follows the formal dress codes.The study conducted in various organization depicts that the relaxed and casual environment at work place does not yield benefit to the organization contrary to that the relaxed dress and casuals lead to non-professional work environment and efficiency went down when formals are replaced by the casuals outfit in office.It is also true that in organization where once a week the informal are allowed the efficiency and professional attitude toward work is low when majority of staff is in Casual.

From such study one can definitely feel that Attitude is very important indicator and Formal dress integrate Formal and professionalism into the behavior of each individual.

Dressing for Success at Work

Company dress codes are a never-ending battle in the working world.

Battle No. 1: Employees misinterpret the dress code or they don't abide by it.

Battle No. 2: Companies have a code in place but don't enforce it.

Battle No. 3: Companies don't have a dress code but they still reprimand employees for wearing certain attire. Or,

Battle No. 4: There's constant objection from certain industries along the lines of, "Why do I have to look nice at work if I don't see anybody?"

If you're a sales employee who meets with clients every day, for example, it makes sense to dress professionally. But for the writer who sits in his cube all day and rarely sees the sun, let alone another person, does it really matter what he's wearing?

If he wants to be promoted, it does. In a new CareerBuilder.com survey, 41 percent of employers said that people who dress better or more professionally tend to be promoted more often than others in their organization.

Where do wardrobes really matter?

Dressing professionally is more important in some industries than it is in others, According to the survey, according to the survey. Financial services is one industry that places the most emphasis on professional work attire. Fifty-five percent of workers in this sector say well-dressed employees are more likely to be promoted than others. An additional 51 percent of sales representatives say the same thing about the likelihood of promotions in their industry.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, only 33 percent of manufacturing employers and 37 percent of IT employers say that professional attire influences whether or not an employee gets promoted.

Employer restrictions

Especially in the warmer months of the year, employees take advantage of more relaxed dress codes. But, professionalism shouldn't decrease as temperatures rise. How you dress plays a critical role in how others perceive you at work. Dressing professionally in the office, despite the urge to wear a tank top and shorts, will help you project a motivated image to your boss and co-workers.

To many employers' dismay, traditional dress codes aren't always enough to keep employees from dressing inappropriately. In order to force employees to dress more professionally, some employers are banning certain items of clothing in order to limit the options workers have when it comes to their work wardrobes.

Sixty-four percent of employers surveyed have banned flip flops, while an additional 49 percent have forbidden mini-skirts. Thirty-eight percent banned sleeveless shirts and 28 percent have prohibited jeans. More than one-third (35 percent) of companies have gone as far as to send employees home for unsuitable work garb.

Here are four tips for dressing professionally on the job:

- Stock your closet -- Start with the versatile basics, such as a pair of black pants, a dark pant suit, some button-down collared shirts and a classic pair of dark shoes. Once you have the staples, you can continue to build your wardrobe to give you plenty of professional options.

- Keep it neat and clean -- Make sure your pants, shirts and other clothes are ironed, stain-free and in good condition. When your clothes look sloppy, so do you.

- Steer clear of bar attire -- Don't mistake the office for your local watering hole. Leave the slinky shirts, tight pants and cut off t-shirts at home.

- Look the part -- Have a client presentation or a meeting with the CEO? Dress for the part, making sure you choose appropriate articles of clothing for your role.

“Attitude determines the altitude" Thus dress code build the professional attitude for work into the individual who in real sense is not very professional.

Also Formals dress lead to:

Discipline Value the organization Feeling of part of a professional entity Incorporate Team spirit Incorporate organizational spirit

Potential Problems with Casual Dress Code Policies

Although casual business attire tends to be a popular option among employees, some companies encounter problems implementing casual dress policies. Many problems arise when companies describe their dress codes using vague words like "appropriate," "professional," and "business like" without spelling out a specific policy. This can create confusion among workers and make people feel uncomfortable trying to interpret the right way to dress for work. "The biggest problems employers face with these policies may be how to modify them, enforce them, and adapt the corporate-dress culture to a changing workforce," Anderson noted. "A clear, definitive explanation of a corporate casual dress code is rare. What is acceptable at one mortgage broker's office may be completely unacceptable at another—even if they are different branch offices of the same company."

Unclear dress code policies can also contribute to problems with employees taking advantage of the situation by wearing sloppy rather than casual attire to the office. In fact, many companies have been forced to issue specific guidelines describing appropriate attire after they have adopted casual dress policies. Employee abuse has caused companies to ban such items as halter tops, stretch pants, jeans, shorts, sandals, and shirts without collars. In order to avoid this situation, small business owners should spell out their dress codes clearly. It may be helpful to communicate the policies by including photos of employees wearing appropriate attire on bulletin boards, in company publications, on Web sites, and in employee manuals.

Another potential problem with casual office attire is that employees may tend to take work less seriously when they are dressed casually. A survey of managers conducted by the employment law firm Jackson Lewis and cited in Entrepreneur indicated that 44 percent noticed an increase in employee absenteeism and tardiness when casual dress policies were introduced. The managers also noted a rise in inappropriate, flirtatious behavior. Some employers and workers say they don't like the way dress-down day has turned into leisure day, affecting not only attire but behavior.

Some office workers prefer traditional, "business formal" attire because they believe it provides an equalizing factor for people of different ages or levels of the corporate hierarchy. After all, if everyone is wearing a suit and tie, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a CEO and a new hire. As a result, younger people may be more likely to be taken seriously in business meetings. Formal business attire is particularly valued by some minority professionals, who feel that the corporate "uniform" helps them overcome prejudices.

Of course, some people believe wearing a suit and tie simply makes dressing for work easier. Older men, in particular, tend to have trouble making the transition to casual dress. Men have clearly struggled more with casual day than women, who have never stuck to a corporate uniform and who have a wider selection when it comes to choosing attire. "Psychologists say many men, to some degree, see casual day as yet another arena where they have to compete. Indeed the jungle of casual fashion requires a mix-and-match ability and a fashion sense that many men say they don't possess." However, some experts argue that the rapid increase in casual office environments during the 1990s forced most people to update their wardrobes. "By now, most former white-collar office workers have business casual wardrobes, which are often the same clothes they go out to dinner in, go to the mall in, or travel in," according to Anderson.

Another reason people resist the movement toward casual office attire is worry about losing their credibility. Bosses are afraid they might lose the respect of their employees by dressing casually, for example, while employees are afraid they might lose out on promotions to better dressed co-workers. In the meantime, salespeople and others involved in relationships with clients often live in fear that a client will drop by the office and find them dressed casually. "How you look goes a long way toward establishing your identity. What you wear says much about your character and credibility," said a writer for Sales and Marketing Management. "As

the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression—and there's nothing casual about that."

Formal office attire is still prevalent in some industries, particularly those in which employees deal extensively with clients and need to project a professional, serious image. In most office settings, however, wearing a suit and tie can cause more problems than dressing casually. "Donning a suit—when you aren't seeing a client or attending a formal meeting—can project the image of being stuck in the past or shamelessly seeking the approval of the firm's oldliners. Although implementing casual dress policies can involve some potential pitfalls for small businesses, most of these negative effects are unlikely to cause serious harm to the business.

As Sherry Maysonave explained in her book Casual Power, the goal in choosing casual attire for the office is to exude the same power, credibility, and authority as if you were wearing a suit. It is also important that the way you dress shows respect for your workplace and reflects your career goals. After all, Maysonave argued, dressing too sloppily can erode your self-confidence and make you appear unprofessional in the eyes of clients and employees.

SUMMARY

Contrary to the belief held by some, the end of casual dress codes has not come. Some people

said their employers have made the dress code less casual than it was previously, but many

more said it has become more casual.

Most people are happy with the current dress code at their places of work. Among those who

are not, more people want to see things become more casual than want to see it become more

formal. This finding is strongest among those who say they must wear formal business attire to

work.

Once it is determined if formal or casual attire is most appropriate for the organizational

culture, a knowledge of the legal issues pertaining to dress codes will assist in the prevention of

dress code related lawsuits and legal questions relating to discrimination and sexual

harassment. A thorough evaluation of the dos and don’ts of dress code policies should provide

direction for the overall policy statement itself. In addition, the establishment of precise

statements in the policy specifying the dos and don’ts will prevent misinterpretations of attire

deemed appropriate or inappropriate. Ultimately, the outcome will be the creation of a

comprehensive dress code ready for implementation.

ANALYSIS OF DATA AND QUESTIONNAIREWe have assigned values for every scale respectively for simple calculation.

We have 5 scales of measurement i.e.

1) Strongly agree

2) Somewhat Agree

3) Neither Agree nor Disagree

4) Somewhat Disagree

5) Strongly disagree

We have given weight-age for every scale starting from 5 to 1 in descending order i.e.

Strongly agree = 5, somewhat agree = 4, strongly disagree = 3, somewhat disagree = 2 and

neither agree nor disagree = 1.

Then we count the total vote in each dimension and multiplied with the scale value.

E.g. LOOK INTO SHEET2 OF BOOK1 i.e. attitude statements and responses of IBM-Daksh

employees. Now let us analyze the counting for question no. 2 which says dressing sense

enhances your inner confidence or not. So we have,

STRONGLY AGREE = 7

SOMEWHAT AGREE = 5

NEITHER AGREE NOR DISAGREE = 1

SOMEWHAT DISAGREE = 6

STRONGLY DISAGREE = 4

Hence, value of this dimension is:

(7*5)+ (5*4) + (1*1) + (6*2) + (4*3) = 80

Similarly, we plot graph of all the questions of these sectors according to their dimensions:

Question 1

Question 4

Question 7

Question 10

Question 13

Question 16

Question 19

Question 22

020406080

100120140160180200

IBM DAKSHDELLGENPACTVASANT SQUARE MALL

ANOVA TESTHo : there is significant relation between dressing codes, employee behavior and working environment in an Organization

H1 : there is no significant relation between dressing codes, employee behavior and working environment in an Organization

Common factor = g2/N

= (637+570+245+302+241)2 /100

= (1995)2 /100

= 3980025/100

= 39800.25

Total sum of Square (TSS) = (åX12 +å X2

2 +å X32 +å X4

2 +å X52) – CF

Let strongly agree be x1

Somewhat agree be x2

Neither agree nor disagree be x3

Somewhat disagree be x4

Strongly disagree be x5

Therefore, TSS = (26841+18391+6000+6693+5919) – 39800.25

= 63844 - 39800.25

= 24043.75

Sum of Square Between Samples (BSS) = åTi2/ni – CF

= [(702)2/22+ (615)2/22 + (254)2/2 + (332)2/22 + (282)2/22] - 39800.25

= (492804/22 + 378225/22 + 64516/22 + 110224/22 + 79524/22) – 39800.25

= (22400.18 + 17192.04 + 2932.54 + 5010.18 +3614.72) – 39800.25

= 51149.66 -39800.25

= 11349.41

Sum of Squares within Samples (ESS) = TSS – BSS

= 24043.75 – 11349.41

= 12694.34

ANNOVA TABLE

Source of Variations

Sum of square

Df Mean sum of square

Calculated F ratio

Tabulated F

BSS 11349.41 (5-1)=4 2837.35 21.23 F4,95(0.05)=ESS 12694.34 (100-5)=95 133.62 =24.69TSS 24043.75 (100-1)=99

α is assumed as 0.05

Since, Calculated F is (21.23) is less then tabulated F (24.69), so we accept the null hypothesis. There is a significant relation between dressing codes, employee behaviour and working environment in an Organization.

LIMITATIONS OF THE PROJECT

1. The first and biggest limitation is that the sample size or the people that we have used could never be enough as it could never represent the full population. Because, the people who are very computer savvy would always support this kind of concept. Secondly, new or younger generation is much more supportive for these concepts. So, biasness could easily creep in.

2. It is difficult to use methods like anova test, chi test etc on this project because first of all these test are difficult to implement as they are purely numerical in nature. Secondly, it is not easy to convert theoretical questions into numerical questions.

3. Large number of Organizations also plays a crucial role in limiting the study of this project. Different organizations have different dress attires. Employees’ preference varies with kind of work done.

4. Generation gap or age differences of the employees in an organization also limits the study because older generation supports formal dress attire as the motto of discipline whereas younger generation finds casual dress attire as symbol of comfort.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Dress codes do not have to be a way for employers to control the employees. It is a way to keep

a professional look to the company and keep employees safe. Always remember to

compromise with employees who have problems with the dress code not the ones who have a

problem complying with them. The use of casual wear is popular among employees, but should

not get out of hand if employees come to work properly dressed. Always remember that the

employer has the final say with the dress code as long as it does not violate any of the

employees’ rights. But always make sure that you keep your employees happy because a happy

employee works better than an angry employee.

Dress responsibly, based on the outlined attire deemed appropriate or inappropriate.

Wear smart business attire, as defined by the specific formal dress code policy.

Our company dress code is business casual. Business casual attire consists of …

Such abstract terms are no longer confusing and open to interpretation after a specific and concise dress code policy has been created. Truly, establishing and implementing a dress code in today’s family business workplace can be a daunting task for small as well as larger organizations. A review of the history of business dress, trends for dress codes in organizations, and the pros and cons of requiring formal versus casual attire at work will assist in guiding family business leaders to create dress code policies appropriate for their specific workplaces.

Unquestionably, taking care of the little things, such as developing and implementing an appropriate dress code, will help to create a strong and successful business environment. Keeping employees content, while at the same time portraying a professional business image, may be accomplished through policies regarding dress code compliance.

CONCLUSIONIt is difficult to comprehend conclusion in this kind of a project because dress codes differs from organization to organization. Dress codes varies with how much an employee have to interact with clients and customers but in major companies management prefers that their employees must wear formals so as to keep coordination among senior employees and lower workforce. Unquestionably, taking care of the little things, such as developing and implementing an appropriate dress code, will help to create a strong and successful business environment. Keeping employees content, while at the same time portraying a professional business image, may be accomplished through policies regarding dress code compliance.

Also in some modern organizations managements prefers to have casual dress attire so as to make their employees comfortable and more involved in their work. Such organizations also have very casual relationships among its management and workforce and among the workforce itself.

Whereas in some organizations like Reebok, employees are free to wear whatever they desire – there is no dress code.

In most of the organizations it is defined that the higher and lower management are asked to wear formals and semi formals or business casuals whereas lower staff or major workforce can come in casuals. Casuals- as defined by the management.

Therefore we can say that there is no specific conclusion to the project but it can be said that dress codes have their affect on the working environment of an organization and the behaviour of an employee. Formal dress code reflects discipline; confidence and alertness in itself whereas casual attire gives a feel of comfort and to some people smartness too…

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