Key takeaways:

• What is professional business attire? Workplaces commonly categorize their dress code as casual, business casual or business professional, each with its own set of pros and cons.
• Is having a dress code always undesired? A dress code isn’t always a bad thing and can level the playing field for workers and represent company values appropriately.

Work attire requirements are an important component of creating comprehensive policies for your employee handbook. Policies help workers understand what you expect of them when they show up to work every day.

Most workplaces have some kind of dress code or guidelines about how employees should present themselves. However, office dress codes have changed a lot since startups and Silicon Valley changed the game. The COVID-19 pandemic and a transition to remote work have also changed things a lot.

What is professional attire, exactly, and how does it look for today’s workers? What are the benefits of having a dress code? Here is what you need to know.

Companies and workers may have different ideas about what constitutes “professional” in the workplace. In general, though, professional business attire can be broken down into a few categories:

• Casual: Casual dress is going to be what people would wear when they’re not at work. They may wear sandals, jeans, sweats, t-shirts and the like. Companies with casual dress codes may still have certain requirements. For example, perhaps employees can wear jeans but not ripped jeans. Or, the only guideline is to avoid sandals at work.
• Business casual: Business casual is a very common requirement for office environments. It isn’t strictly formal or casual. Khaki slacks, button-up shirts, dresses and skirts, sports jackets and nice shoes are business casual staples. This style allows workers to be a bit creative and more comfortable while still looking professional.
• Business professional: This next step up is typical for roles like politicians, executives, bankers, salespeople and lawyers. Business professional is your classic business suits, ties, blazers, closed-toe heels and dress shoes. Bright colors and crazy patterns should typically be avoided and workers should opt for blacks, grays, tans, and neutrals.

There are benefits to each of these levels of workplace attire. A casual dress code may make workers feel comfortable being themselves while a professional attire requirement can help employees feel more skilled and polished.

The emergence of the startup scene in the last few decades has changed traditional expectations for many major companies in the U.S. These innovative companies started the open-concept workspace trend that still exists today and changed attitudes about acceptable dress codes at work.

Instead of suits and ties every day, executives started showing up to work in sweatshirts, jeans and sneakers. This aesthetic seemed to fit more of the forward-thinking, non-traditional mindset these companies wanted to convey. These trends have changed expectations across industries.

Now, we’re dealing with another major shift in workplace style. Since so many of today’s employees are working remotely, dress code standards have completely changed once again. Workers can work in their pajamas and throw on a nice shirt if they have to take a call. Workplaces may find it hard to implement a dress code beyond looking presentable on a video conference call.

Because of the aforementioned trends toward more casual work settings, many employees may not like strict dress codes that don’t allow them to express themselves. However, there are several benefits of requiring people to dress professionally, or at least outlining basic formal expectations.

Some industries like banks, law offices, and accounting firms depend on more professional attire, and if workers fail to follow it, they can see negative impacts on their brand reputation. Many founders and executives see employee attire as a reflection of brand values. If a company values professionalism above all, for example, leaders are going to want this to be reflected in how people present themselves in work-related settings. Roles where employees have to consistently meet with clients may also require a dedicated professional attire policy.

Formal dress codes may not be as common in today’s workplaces, but the trend doesn’t necessarily mean they should be on the way out. Some workers benefit from having parameters.

Employees may have differing opinions of what is appropriate and what isn’t. Clear attire guidelines can help people worry less about what they’re wearing each day and more about staying productive. Dress codes can also help level the playing field. When everyone must wear similar clothing, it’s easy for them to be seen as equal and minimizes the likelihood of certain biases and judgments coming into play.

Even if a business’s dress code is casual, it’s still helpful to workers to outline what this means. Employees need to feel confident that they’re following guidelines and everyone should be on the same page about what’s acceptable at work. Otherwise, conflicts could arise.

Every company and industry is different, so there is no hard and fast rule about professional attire requirements. It comes down to what works for your company. It is important to prioritize employee preferences and consider factors like work environment, remote work and industry expectations.

It isn’t always easy to know how to handle dress codes and questions about professional attire. Creating a clear policy can help workers understand exactly what’s expected of them so they can stay confident and compliant.

When you need assistance updating your employee handbook or dress policy, it’s helpful to work with the Human Resources (HR) experts. StaffLink Outsourcing is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) that provides a range of solutions to businesses and helps you bundle benefits, payroll, risk management and lots more. We help you address complex HR problems and make sure you’re always in compliance with regulations.

StaffLink gives you flexibility so you only work with us for what you really need. . Request a proposal or contact us at (954) 423-8262 for more information.