Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Jeans at Work and the Dress Code - What Can You do About It?

efore 1960's jeans were considered mostly as a work outfit worn by blue-collar workers and people working around their house. Then in around 1965, they became popular among the teens. Then about 25 years ago jeans started to step outside the blue-collar environment into corporate America.

Today, while jeans have not taken over corporate America, they are still very much worn at work. Dress code of the companies normally tells us what we have to wear for work. Some companies have strict dress codes, meaning no jeans, no sneakers etc. Other companies have what they call "business casual" attire, which may or may not include jeans. Still some companies require strict dress codes Monday through Thursday, and have what they call "casual Fridays." This may be considered "business casual" or jeans and sneaker casuals.

About 25 years ago, some employers started to adapt to the concept that a relaxed dress code would make a more relaxed atmosphere, and a more relaxed atmosphere would make workers that are more efficient. When you have efficient workers then you have workers who will enjoy their work. However, some employers feel that a casual laid-back dresser might be too laid back and careless about their work. They feel dressing up will cause employees to take their job more seriously. In addition, depending on the type of business, they feel that customers or clients may not take a casually dressed office as seriously as an office where everyone is dressed in business attire.

So, what we should you actually wear for work? Well the question occurs to all. At first thought, most of us would say, "It would be really cool if we could wear jeans to work all the time. But then again, it depends on what type of business it is and what position you hold. The CEO of the company would probably like to wear jeans to work but he or she knows that a jacket and tie somehow seem to command more attention and respect from other employees as well as from customers or clients. Therefore, clothing can make a difference.

Sometimes it creates a good impression on the clients when you are in perfect attire. Impressing the clients is one of the most important tasks in some business. On the other hand, some head officials occasionally like to wear different clothes than the regular ones to show the junior staff members as well as the senior ones that with that attire also work can be done smoothly and in fact more comfortably.

To be realistic, it is very unlikely that corporate America will ever hang up the suit and tie for good. However, jeans have taken their seat in the workplace and it does not look like they are going to give up that seat any time soon. Variety in jeans is many and is increasing day by day so we should expect some changes in near future.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
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