Will expanding casual Fridays to the rest of the week encourage more workers to return to “office life?”

Posted on September 13, 2022

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Editor’s Note: The following is an interesting poll that was posted/reposted on LinkedIn regarding work attire. But, how much does work attire matter if 50 percent of the workforce wants to continue to work from home?

So, what are your thoughts on SAP CTO Mike Davis‘ poll about work attire? Is it time to return to wearing business attire, e.g., suits etc., or are blue jeans with a t-shirt the “new normal?” (see Mike’s original post below).

Harvard Business Review (#HBR) says that “Is It Time to Rethink Your Work Attire?” and I am inclined to agree.

In a recent post HBR stated:

“After two years of working from home during the pandemic, our tolerance for discomfort in the way we dress has changed, and the business dress code is evolving. If you’re returning to the office and aren’t sure what to wear, start by observing others in your workplace. How are your colleagues, bosses, and clients dressing these days? If the vibe is trending casual, as in many organizations, feel free to experiment. You don’t have to follow exactly what others are doing, but seeing them take those first steps may embolden you to make changes yourself. Making yourself more comfortable—for example, by losing the tie or swapping your heels for sneakers—can lead to confidence, which in turn leads to authentic self-expression. If your colleagues haven’t noticeably changed their attire but you feel strongly that you should, don’t be afraid to take the lead: Try making a change and evaluate the response to it. You may be surprised by the positive feedback to your nonconformity. But take note of boundaries, too. There may be contexts where conforming to more traditional, formal attire remains the most appropriate option.”
#business #workingfromhome #change #work

After reading the HBR review what are your thoughts on work attire? (Click here to vote)

Editor’s Note: See My Two Cents Below 😉

Let me throw another potential variable(s) to consider . . ,

1. Having to return to a physical workplace all or part of the time would cause 41% of respondents to seek employment with another company. (Forbes August 2021) Ref. Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardsegal/2021/08/26/companies-and-workers-differ-over-plans-and-priorities-for-returning-to-offices/?sh=14b8a8e66183

2. About 44 percent of the companies surveyed are requiring employees to come back to their workplace at least part time—but 9 percent have changed their back-to-office plans in the past six months in an attempt to retain staff. (Newsweek April 2022) Ref. Link: https://www.newsweek.com/companies-ease-strict-office-return-policies-workers-refuse-1691529

If half the workforce does not want to return to the office, and companies continue the trend to reverse their decision to have them come back what impact does this have on the attire issue?

Alternatively, will a more relaxed “hybrid” attire combined with flex hours bring more people back to office life?

The ball is now in your court Dear Reader!

Posted in: Commentary