Casual dress codes becoming more common?

Selik

Well, after a year of travelling and a month or so of dicking around since I've been back I've finally had to bite the bullet and get working again....

So I just started this week for a well known insurance company in the city centre and although I wore a suit for my interview and my first day (on Monday) I don't anymore as it turned out the dress code is completely casual (even jeans and trainers are fine). I was kinda suprised at this but in a good way... I worked for an insurance co years ago across the road from where I am now and I wore a shirt and tie to work there as did all the other males working there. I don't have anything against suits and whatnot and I've got a few seriously snazzy ones but I just find them too stuffy and I really can't see the need when you're in an office and not dealing with any customers/clients face-to-face. Before I left for travelling I was working in a bank head office and it was business casual as well (same as casual really but no jeans). I think this is an ongoing trend really with companies looking to make their staff feel as comfortable as possible working for them and hence increase productivity/chances of being loyal etc.

So what are everyone else's opinions on this? I think casual is the way forward for office jobs certainly anyway, so handy on a Friday or whatever as well (no need to go home and change etc).

Eoin

Giles wrote:

Well, after a year of travelling and a month or so of dicking around since I've been back I've finally had to bite the bullet and get working again....

So I just started this week for a well known insurance company in the city centre and although I wore a suit for my interview and my first day (on Monday) I don't anymore as it turned out the dress code is completely casual (even jeans and trainers are fine). I was kinda suprised at this but in a good way... I worked for an insurance co years ago across the road from where I am now and I wore a shirt and tie to work there as did all the other males working there. I don't have anything against suits and whatnot and I've got a few seriously snazzy ones but I just find them too stuffy and I really can't see the need when you're in an office and not dealing with any customers/clients face-to-face. Before I left for travelling I was working in a bank head office and it was business casual as well (same as casual really but no jeans). I think this is an ongoing trend really with companies looking to make their staff feel as comfortable as possible working for them and hence increase productivity/chances of being loyal etc.

So what are everyone else's opinions on this? I think casual is the way forward for office jobs certainly anyway, so handy on a Friday or whatever as well (no need to go home and change etc).

I think it's definitely the way to go - if you are not customer facing, then there is no need for a suit. I had to wear a suit when I was in tech support in an Irish bank, and it wasn't too pleasant wearing one when you are crawling under desks to sort out network cables etc.

Smoggy

My girlfriends sister was telling me about 5 years back when she worked in the back she had to wear a skirt !!!!

kluivert

I have to agree with smart casual.

Why the requirement to wear a tie is mind blogging....

The girls in the office wear what ever they want so long as its smartish but the lads have to wear a shirt and tie.

I dont mind the shirt and trousers, very comfortable, but the tie that can go, unless you a have a meeting with a client.

Stephen

Smart casual here too, as we are not customer-facing. You'd only have to get into a suit for a meeting or something.

azezil

Smart casual here too, but thats not even enforced, I wear a shirt n jean's.

Our man in Havana

I work in a call centre so anything goes really. It is not uncommon to see many unshaved men dishing out tech support in extermely casual attire.

Ph3n0m

I am sitting naked in front of my computer

oldschool

Our company has just made our dress code even more formal - HAS to be a dark suit - not even a top 'n' trousers combo is permitted. Ok in winter, but summer?! On Denim Day, we were told we could make a contribution, but would not be allowed to ditch the suits.....

Bluetonic

oldschool wrote:

Our company has just made our dress code even more formal - HAS to be a dark suit - not even a top 'n' trousers combo is permitted. Ok in winter, but summer?! On Denim Day, we were told we could make a contribution, but would not be allowed to ditch the suits.....

Undertaker?

Kinetic^

We've to wear suits in our office due to clients being able to see us when they come in for a meeting, it sucks!!:mad:

Alun

Keyser Soze 5 wrote:

We've to wear suits in our office due to clients being able to see us when they come in for a meeting, it sucks!!:mad:

The ironic thing is though, that these clients probably couldn't give a toss whether you're wearing a suit or not, and quite probably wish that they didn't either. It's a kind of self fulfilling prophecy really ... you wear a suit because you think they want to see you wearing a suit, they wear a suit because they think that you want to see them wearing a suit ... and so it goes on until someone dares to break the cycle, which thank god is at last happening in some companies.

Personally, I think it's all rather silly. As long as you're clean and reasonably well turned out, I don't give a toss what you wear.

Cake Fiend

I'll generally be wearing a t-shirt with at least four holes in it (not including arm, body and head holes), jeans, wrecked runners or skate shoes and half a week of stubble.

Super-casual FTW :cool:

Kinetic^

Alun wrote:

The ironic thing is though, that these clients probably couldn't give a toss whether you're wearing a suit or not, and quite probably wish that they didn't either. It's a kind of self fulfilling prophecy really ... you wear a suit because you think they want to see you wearing a suit, they wear a suit because they think that you want to see them wearing a suit ... and so it goes on until someone dares to break the cycle, which thank god is at last happening in some companies.

Personally, I think it's all rather silly. As long as you're clean and reasonably well turned out, I don't give a toss what you wear.

Yeah definately. If casual dress were to come in, I'd wear a suit if I was visiting a client or working on their premises. Also agree on the well groomed part too, as long as you don't come in wearing a dublin jersey and a pair of air max!!!!

Louisiana

i have to say the last thing i want to do in the morning (or ever!) is iron a shirt. my job is really flexible but its obvious the boss hates the old trackie bottoms...usually cause he asks are we off to the gym or something.

Kinetic^

Louisiana wrote:

i have to say the last thing i want to do in the morning (or ever!) is iron a shirt. my job is really flexible but its obvious the boss hates the old trackie bottoms...usually cause he asks are we off to the gym or something.

Yeah that's a good hint alright, you should probably just say yes all the time

Kolodny

Smart casual where I work thankfully. Just no jeans or runners. T-shirt and trousers/skirt is acceptable in summer. One of my housemates works in recruitment and has to wear a suit in every day. I feel so sorry for her in the summer (they're not even allowed to remove their jackets when they're interviewing) and when she's ironing shirts every morning.

tribulus

i will (hopefully) be working in a lab for the summer so i can wear whatever i want in work as in the lab you've to wear all the protective gear, old tracksuit and runners it is then:)

Though I agree with easing off on the dress code, a smart business front for clients etc but behind closed doors it should be whatever you're comfortable in - unless you prefer nakedness perhaps

Alun

tribulus wrote:

Though I agree with easing off on the dress code, a smart business front for clients etc but behind closed doors it should be whatever you're comfortable in - unless you prefer nakedness perhaps

But that's my point. It's all a silly needless little game. The client in all probability couldn't care less what you're wearing, and in all honesty would rather not be in a suit himself if he had the choice, but nobody dare make the break with this silly "tradition".

rainbow kirby

When I'm in work, we have a uniform (black trousers and shoes and a navy polo shirt). For my summer internship (in the UCD CS department), no dress code so as casual as I want. Baggy jeans, t-shirts and skate shoes ftw
I really don't like formal dress codes, they just give off an appearance of being very stuck-up and stiff.

dazberry

I work in a finance company - smart casual for me too - no jeans, runners etc. Generally its shirts (more causal - open neck is allowed) or t-shirts if said t-shirts have collars - polo shirts really.

It was great changing over to business casual, for an old hippy like me being able to get rid of the shirt and tie was wonderful, but after 2 years of cords am now sick of the damn things.

D.

conky_05

I think casual's the way forward. I find more work gets done for a start. I find it hard to get comfortable in shirt and tie IMO. At the moment, I'm in a bank that has shirt/tie policy. To be honest I very rarely wear my tie, but bring it in in case I'm asked to wear it !

subway

mmm, anything goes in our office.
absolutely zero dress code
dont have to be clean shaven, can wear shorts, runners, football jersey.

anythin you bleedin like

penexpers

Whatever the hell I want where I work, even when going out to client sites.

k974

boots, shorts,t shirt or singlet or shirt sunglasses and factor 30:D

same job in ireland is generally shirt and tie or smart casual

i'm not complaing here tho

*Tripper*

But when they say smart casual what are you left with, CHINOS, CHINOS were not retired americans yet. I really dont know why i hate those trousers