New Guidelines for Office Attire in 2022
In spring of 2020, employers and employees from various industries were faced with the challenge of adapting to remote work. As offices and workplaces emptied out, dining rooms, spare rooms and basements became the new workspaces, as well as classrooms in some households.
At first, the overnight transition from a traditional workplace to a remote work environment was a difficult adjustment. Employers were putting a lot of trust in their employees to perform at the same level as they would in the office, while employees were struggling to balance work and life from the home front. Although remote work offered a strong sense of safety and security, it also eliminated the convenience of being in the same location as coworkers as well as the community and camaraderie of working closely with other employees.
Coping Without a Dress Code
To help cope with this new workplace arrangement, employees found solace in shedding their business attire and began to dress more casually. Many began to wear more business casual clothing instead of professional dress. As the days turned to weeks and the weeks to months, business casual attire began to evolve into just plain casual attire. Instead of jeans and a button down, employers opted for sweatpants and t-shirts. And, if no video conferences were scheduled, many folks stayed in their pajamas.
After years of spending hundreds of dollars annually on business attire, footwear and accessories, newly remote employees embraced the joy of wearing whatever they wanted during the workday. And employers for the most part did not mind as long as workflow processes were performing well and employees were happy.
Adjust and Adapt
Now, a year and a half later, many employers and employees are heading back to the workplace and the transition from remote to in-person work brings new challenges. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be enforcing a workplace dress code. Most casual attire was acceptable in the remote work environment but a great deal of it may not be considered appropriate for an in-office setting.
Instead of reverting to pre-pandemic policies, employers should approach their dress code with more employee empathy. Going back to the office, perhaps with a long commute, won’t be easy for many employees. They are going to be more anxious and apprehensive about returning to in-person settings. A simple way to help ease them back into the workplace is to adjust and adapt the dress code.
Even before the pandemic, many business leaders were recognizing the need to reexamine their dress codes. Organizations started relaxing their policies to accept business casual attire, and many were taking things much further. With the transition from remote work to in-person environments, it may be time for everyone to adapt their dress code to a more comfortable and accommodating one.
Everyday Wear in the Workplace
The acceptance of business casual attire in the workplace was a major step forward in the evolution of workplace dress codes. For many, it was a jolt to see statement-making business suits replaced by khakis, polos, slacks and blouses. Although these clothing choices were definitely more casual, they continued to exude a sense of professionalism. To move dress policies into even more casual clothing choices may seem like a step too far for many business owners. However, a lot of current casual wear is more refined than their predecessors.
Sweatpants, pajamas, slippers, tank tops and flip-flops are definitely not every day wear for the office, but there are a lot of other casual choices that suit business environments. Take a look at the athleisure category. While traditional jersey sweatpants and track suits may not be acceptable for the workplace, there are many styles that fall into the “workleisure” category.
Instead of business suits or even jeans, men can add elevated joggers, button-down shirts, chinos, corduroys and sweaters to their workwear rotation. Women can be more casual and comfortable in wide-leg high-rise pants, sueded jogger pants, mid-length slip skirts, and sweater dresses. And elevated slip-on shoes, boots and lace-ups in neutral colors are the perfect footwear for a more relaxed dress policy.
Special Event Attire
While the above options are great for everyday wear, there may be occasions when traditional office wear is required. In those cases, effectively communicate with your employees that on days when clients or business partners are visiting the office, they should wear professional business attire such as suits or dress shirts and pants with a blazer and sport coat.
Communicating Changes
Once a new dress code policy has been agreed upon, businesses need to ensure that everyone in the organization is aware of the changes. This can be done in several ways:
Have all department managers meet with their teams to discuss the new policy and answer questions
Send a company-wide email that explains the new policy
Update the employee handbook, make it available online and provide an access link to all employees
Make physical copies of the updated handbook available in break rooms
Include a letter explaining the new dress code policy with employee pay stubs or checks
The best piece of advice we can offer to employers who may be anxious about relaxing their dress codes is to trust your employees. Remote work was uncharted territory for many businesses. Employers had to trust their employees while they were off-site and working unsupervised for the greater part of the work day. Now, the same organizations should trust that their employees will use their best judgment when it comes to the new workplace dress code.
If you have questions about how a new relaxed dress policy could help you attract new talent, contact our recruiting experts today. We’re ready to help you welcome new employees to in-person work once again!