Chapter 9 Discussion: Dressing Up (Or Down) For Work 26 26 unread replies. 26 26 replies. The SItuation: Does it matter what people wear to the office? Youve never thought about that question before. When you first started at your architectural firmmore than 40 years ago noweveryone dressed formally. And it wasnt just to the office; you remember when families dressed in their best clothes to go to the movies, go out to dinner, and take an airplane flight. When you look around your office lately, its quite a different scene. There are interns wearing T-shirts and jeans and mail clerks wearing flip-flops. There are folks sitting at their desks wearing shorts and sneakers. Even most of your managers take advantage of the business casual look, preferring polos and khakis to the three-piece suit that you wear every day. In the past, on most issues, youve given the employees whatever they wanted, so long as they produced good work. You always tried to keep them satisfied and happy in order to create a dynamic, creative environment that produced stunning, innovative building designs. You wonder, however, if things have gotten a bit too casual. It seemed okay when the men in your office wore a jacket and pants with no tie. But reallya T-shirt and jeans? A sweatshirt? A dress that basically looks like a muumuu? And it seems that casual clothing has led to a casual atmosphere. Sometimes you walk into the office to see all the people milling around, chatting, and laughing, and it looks more like a social hour than a place of business. Apparently, other business owners and managers have similar concerns. According to research data, the number of companies that are allowing business casual throughout the week actually fell. Even the number of companies that are allowing casual Fridays fell by 5 percent. UBS, a Swiss bank, is taking things one step further. Not only did it institute a dress code, but it also gives every employee a 43-page guidebook that is filled with fashion and grooming tips. The guide even prescribes how employees should apply makeup, how often they should get their hair cut, and how to avoid having bad breath (Hint: no onions or garlic!). Is it time to make a switch back? True, its not as if an architect needs to wear a suit and tie to do his or her work well. But at the same time, youd like to remind your employees that the office needs to be more about work than comfort and fun. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having an informal workplace? What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a formal workplace? With all discussions, you are expected to make an initial posting (250-word minimum) AND then you must post a reply to at least one fellow classmate's posting (100-word minimum) by midnight of the due date. You get half of the points for each of these required postings. However, you are encouraged to reply to more than one classmate. Sources: Elena Berton, Dress to Impress, UBS Tells Staff, The Wall Street Journal, December 14, 2010, accessed October 5, 2016, from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704694004576019783931381042.html?mod=googlenews_wsj; Philip Walzer Businesses Take Casual Attitude toward Attire, The Virginian-Pilot, December 5, 2010, accessed October 5, 2016, from http://hamptonroads.com/2010/12/businesses-take-casual-attitude-toward-attire. Questions