Should businesses encourage casual wear in the office? 

What we wear in the workplace has been an ongoing debate. However, more and more workplaces with the flexibility to do so are moving towards the casual clothing option, where employees can forgo suits and shirts in favour of more comfortable, relaxed clothing.

While some workplaces have opted for a fully casual dress code, others have met in the middle with ‘business casual’, which involves looking professional for important occasions like client visits, while staying comfortable in the meantime. Let’s look at why casual clothing at work has become the new norm across the world of work.

It’s appealing to younger candidates  

With more and more businesses adopting a casual workwear policy, it can almost be off-putting when a company still follows a strictly smart dress code. While in some industries, this is unavoidable, more relaxed industries, where your dress shouldn’t impact your work, may appear out of touch by enforcing a dress code that isn’t strictly necessary. Keeping up with the new norm will mean that you can appeal to new, fresh talent from younger generations who may be hunting for an employer they feel is open minded.

It allows employees to work comfortably 

Having a more flexible dress code means employees can be comfortable while they work, and in turn, could help the business’s output. For some, this might look like a cosy cardigan, a band t-shirt or their favourite jeans. It can also help to spark conversation about things you have in common. An example might include spotting someone wearing a football shirt from your favourite team. If the team know that their employers trust their judgement, this will help to create more harmony across the business.

You can still set expectations

Since the pandemic, people returning to the office have struggled to interpret suitable attire after working from home. While it’s good to be open and to trust your s employees with what they choose to wear, it’s important to put a few boundaries in place to protect the integrity of the company and to make sure everybody feels comfortable. A formal ban on any inappropriate or offensive clothing in the workplace is a must, to ensure no one feel offended. Similarly, anyone attending important client meetings, for example, should make extra effort to dress suitably that day.

It helps to foster diversity across the workforce

Many individuals express their cultural identity through the way they dress and normalising this in the workplace will help to foster a more inclusive and diverse setting. This can simultaneously educate others on cultural differences and help workers become more accepting of the differences across the business.

What are your thoughts? Do you think that causal dress at work is the way forward? Let us know in the comments!