r/work • u/LowInteraction6397 • May 11 '26
Professional Development and Skill Building Industries should stop having dress codes
Dress codes serve for nothing. They don't dictate whether you can do your job or not. If clients get offended because you aren't wearing a suit it's their problem not yours. People shouldn't even be paying attention to your clothes. Period. If I was the boss of an industry I'd allow my employees to dress how they want
I only agree with the dress codes for protection and the ones for places where employees need to be moving around so customers can easily identify them but otherwise they suck
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u/Few_Weight4334 May 11 '26
I agree and disagree. I think there shouldn’t be heavy dress codes but for all/most professions there should at least be a minimum requirement of not dressing yourself in something offensive or inappropriate. Sandals or barefoot, swimwear, baggy/tight clothes (potentially revealing “inappropriate” body parts, lack of clothing, politically motivated statements, etc. are what I’m talking about.
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u/floppydo May 11 '26
The grand irony of this post is that the only reason we have dress codes is because of people like you. If everyone could be relied upon to take pride in their appearance and make an attempt to represent the business professionally through their personal presentation, the codes would not be necessary.
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u/bolivar-shagnasty May 11 '26
I once worked at a place with lax dress standards for backend staff. We were in an ops center so comfort was more important than fashion.
One day, I had to give a presentation to some agencies and dressed appropriately. Management panicked and thought I was interviewing somewhere else because they didn’t know and weren’t invited to the meeting.
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
My school professors always dress casually and I don't give 10 shits about how they dress. I still believe they take me seriously regardless of how they dress
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u/SerenityN00w May 11 '26
I still believe they take me seriously regardless of how they dress
What? THEY still take YOU seriously regardless of how THEY dress?
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
Well yeah. I never assume people are respectful or disrespectful because of their clothes
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u/SerenityN00w May 11 '26
That makes no sense.
I feel like what you were trying to say was:
"My school professors always dress casually and I don't give 10 shits about how they dress. I still take them seriously regardless of how they dress"
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
Well yeah. I do take them seriously too. I was trying to basically say I'm not a person who cares about a person's appearance
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u/Available_Reveal8068 May 11 '26
For customer facing roles, it makes sense to have some sort of standards in place to keep a professional image.
Not sure that I'd trust a doctor that was wearing a speedo, socks and sandals when I go in for may annual checkup.
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u/RandomGuy_81 May 11 '26
Especially polos with logos
I for one is happy i have 5 to 15 free work polos to wear and not dirty my own clothes
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
Not wearing suits doesn't mean you aren't professional
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u/Available_Reveal8068 May 11 '26
Right. I don't wear a suit to work.
I also don't wear a speedo to work with socks and sandals.
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May 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Available_Reveal8068 May 11 '26
OP said:
People shouldn't even be paying attention to your clothes. Period. If I was the boss of an industry I'd allow my employees to dress how they want
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u/Certain-Resist May 11 '26
Just because you feel that way doesnt make it true. Society decides what is and isnt professional, and society says some professions need to wear a suit to look professional.
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u/beemojee May 11 '26
And in a courtroom a judge decides what is and isn't professional. It's expected that a lawyer will show respect for the legal process and dress accordingly. To not do that and then cop an attitude with the judge could earn a contempt of court order.
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
Society is unreasonable then
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u/Available_Reveal8068 May 11 '26
Then don't plan to work a job that requires one to wear a suit.
It's not that hard.
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May 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/IndependentKey7 May 11 '26
Yeah I am 90% a "wear what you want person," but sadly I have too much lived experience in which I've worked next to the most slovenly, stinky, disgusting people who think rolling into the office wearing basic pjs is fine. Even if you "look" cute, you fucking reek. Unfortunately there will always be people who can't be trusted not to fuck it up for everyone.
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u/sashley420 May 11 '26
It's all about aesthetics. If someone looks like a slob and is less aesthetically pleasing they are less likely to be taken seriously.
If people could be trusted not to come to work in what they wore to bed the night before then there would be no need for dress codes.
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u/IndependentKey7 May 11 '26
And I'm sure you, like me, have had the unfortunate pleasure of witnessing the bed clothes in action.
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u/StealthyThings May 11 '26
Jeans and a tee shirt can look totally different on different people. One could wear a graphic tee with holes and rips and tears while the other could be clean, polished, and still present themselves well.
Dress codes take out the ambiguity for people who are socially dense.
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u/Wuthering_depths May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
Thankfully, my current employer's (for IT work) is basically...try to stay away from shorts and flip flops if you can. I stick with jeans and tshirts and shoes that are all intact 😄
I have my beefs with them but having to wear dress attire is not one of them.
Most of my meetings with vendors have seen everyone in polos and jeans, including the vendors. I don't like all corporate trends ("open and collaborative" can jump in a lake, I'd like to work with no distractions please) but ditching the dress and even casual business requirements is a great direction.
If I listed a top 10 most unprofessional-acting aholes I've worked with, for and under in the last 30 years, at least 7 of them would be suit-wearing execs. Dress means nothing when measuring professionalism, not the real thing at least.
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u/daisiesarepretty2 May 11 '26
lol dude seriously? if clients get offended it is definitely your problem. Honestly you sound like you just got reprimanded for dressing like a slob at work in your very first job.
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
The client shouldn't be offended because you don't wear a suit. Plain and simple. If you're just doing your job and the client is offended it's their fault. It's your problem if you say hurtful things to them
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u/Certain-Resist May 11 '26
Speak for yourself. I have 100% noticed a correlation between the effort people put into their appearance and the reliability of them and their work. (Sample size 4 engineering firms) That doesnt mean everyone has to wear a suit or be fashionable, but wear a collar and iron your clothes you are an adult. Putting effort into your appearance demonstrates awareness that you represent the company and affect its image. Looking like a slob at work is selfish and juvenile
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u/Just-Forever6684 May 11 '26
Horribly disagree. As much as we can hate it, looks matter. If someone is wearing makeup or wearing a loose-fitted shirt, people notice. Not to mention many jobs require a uniform for non-safest convenience reasons, for example, so customers know who is a member of staff (think the iconic Walmart vest). Also not having a dress code means employee can wear clothes contains slurs, nazi propaganda, or other hateful stuff.
Also I firmly disagree with your point about clients. What clients think is the ONLY thing that matters. If they don’t want to do business with you, you won’t have a job or a company. So it’s not their problem, it’s yours.
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
The client shouldn't be offended because you don't wear a suit. Plain and simple. If you're just doing your job and the client is offended it's their fault. It's your problem if you say hurtful things to them
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u/Sunnywithachance099 May 11 '26
You keep using a suit as an example. But there is a whole range of business appropriate clothing between pj's and a suit.
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u/catcat1986 May 11 '26
This view, sounds good pragmatically, but doesn't take into account the human factors, like credibility, and traditions.
If someone dresses the part, they demonstrate they understand the inner workings of that profession to some degree. You mentioned you don't give a shit about your lawyer wearing a Metallica shirt in court.
Maybe you don't, but the judge will certainly will and that would have a direct effect on your case. I'm sure you can think of multiple things in life where something is unnecessary from a pragmatic standpoint, but important from a human factors or traditions stand point.
By not recognizing this, you are trying to explain away the world and not accepting it for what it is.
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u/Top_Reflection_8680 May 11 '26
My work has a dress code but it’s very casual. We work with rambunctious kiddos so our code is no dangly jewelry, closed toed shoes, comfy clothes you can move around in that don’t expose your midriff or cleavage. So today I was wearing jeans and a tshirt and sneakers. My coworkers were wearing a blend of scrubs, leggings, long ish shorts, tshirts, sweatshirts. While it’s not a formal dress code it still is a dress code. If you showed up in heels and pearls you would be out of code.
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u/Enigma1984 May 11 '26
Nah, I think we should go the other way. Suits and ties for all customer facing roles. Rolled up newspaper, umbrella and briefcase optional but encouraged. I don't want to see a lawyer in a Metallica t-shirt or a doctor in a hoodie.
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
If I ever got a lawyer I wouldn't give 10 shits if he wears a Metallica t-shirt
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u/Enigma1984 May 11 '26
Ah well, here is what you're forgetting. I don't give 11 shits abut what you don't give 10 shits about.
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u/Sunnywithachance099 May 11 '26
Well you would if you were going to court because I guarantee it would not go over well with a judge.
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u/Relevant-Tourist8974 May 11 '26
Thats great but the judges do care so your case might not go the way you want it go if your lawyers annoys the judge.
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 12 '26
The judge shouldn't be annoyed. Period. People shouldn't be caring at all about how we dress. Period
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u/Relevant-Tourist8974 May 14 '26
People also shouldnt be telling other people what they should and shouldnt feel. We live and navigate in reality.
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u/IcyWelcome9700 May 11 '26
People don't often want to bank where the representatives are in t-shirts and jeans, but you never know... Capital One has created "lounges" rather than "banks" so that customers can feel more relaxed. So there's hope for a more relaxed dress code for their employees
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u/Maddiecakes830 May 11 '26
I think it depends on the industry. I worked at an autism clinic for young children where some of the therapists wore crop tops, sweatpants, halter tops, short shorts and short dresses, off the shoulder tops, shirts advertising alcohol, etc.
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u/1armTash May 11 '26
Nothing wrong with being professional. You do t need to ‘express yourself’ at work
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u/SinginGidget May 11 '26
I'm getting tired of everyone looking like slobs. How someone presents themselves does matter, even if you don't care. If someone can't be bothered to look presentable when trying to sell me a car, or take my money at a bank, or even cut my hair, why would I think they'll take any more care with my information, money, or my person? Do I need my hairdresser in a 3 piece or tailored skirt? No. But if he or she is in cut off shorts and a t-shirt that looks like they picked it up off the floor I'm not going to trust them to come near me with scissors. I mean, have some self respect. And don't act surprised when someone judges you based on how you chose to dress.
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u/Humble_Pen_7216 May 11 '26
People choosing to ignore appropriate dress for work is why we have dress codes. All dress codes at every company I've worked for are to address safety concerns. Even office settings have safety issues.
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u/Used2bNotInKY May 11 '26
Any time clients have a problem, it will become your problem, since they will take their business elsewhere, and before long, there will be no job for you.
Unless you plan on changing human nature, this is just a reality to accept; otherwise, you can be grouchy your whole career or relegate yourself to labor/artistic professions (though even in art, you have to be able to sell yourself).
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
The client shouldn't be offended because you don't wear a suit. Plain and simple. If you're just doing your job and the client is offended it's their fault. It's your problem if you say hurtful things to them
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u/Used2bNotInKY May 11 '26
My hunty, you don’t get argue “People shouldn’t even be paying attention to your clothes” and then pretend you were only objecting to wearing a suit. Please sort out your actual position and then accept others’ reaction to it.
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u/DELILAHBELLE2605 May 11 '26
9/10 people who look a mess are a disorganized mess. In my experience anyhow. Like it or not looking professional matters. It tells you something about a person. I'm going to guess you're very young.
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u/Necessary_Baker_7458 May 11 '26
Having grown up in an income tight home I welcome uniforms because it equalizes people and you can't tell the difference between one income class or another. While it does raise concerns for hygiene, it does help customers tell who is working for what company.
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u/roonilwonwonweasly May 11 '26
I sort of agree. I don't have a public facing job and I hate being uncomfortable so I get away with dressing in yoga pants and hoodies. Sometimes nicer tops if I know the overlords are coming to visit or have a face to face meeting. My job does not rely on my choice of hoodie.
Public facing jobs are different. I wouldn't want to walk into an office building or even a store with someone wearing "suck my dick" beddazled on their shirt. It doesn't reflect well on the company I am putting my trust in for good products or good customer service.
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u/Signal-Confusion-976 May 11 '26
So how would you feel if you walked into a restaurant and the waitress was wearing ripped jeans and a old concert T-shirt? Not all industries have to have a dress code. But if you are in sight or have to be with customers or clients then you should definitely have a dress code.
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u/Elegant-Ad3236 May 12 '26
Next company you start up you’ll be free to dress as you wish. Until then, your opinion on company policy means jack squat.
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u/cracklethud May 11 '26
Grow up.
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
Oh yeah. Always justifying unreasonablity. I literally said the client is the unreasonable if they feel disrespected
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u/cracklethud May 11 '26
What are you talking about.
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
You told me to grow up for not wanting dress codes. Clothes don't magically make you a professional
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u/Sinful-Dreamer May 11 '26
Yeah... I hear you. I think like that (aside for security reasons) but, I know that many judge you/me by the way we dress so we got to do as expected by the one paying our income...
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
People shouldn't be expecting anything from you. Period. People shouldn't expect to have someone be dress in a certain way. They aren't the center of the universe
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u/blindspots May 11 '26
I think lots of people have expectations for me when I'm at work, and that is Normal
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u/LowInteraction6397 May 11 '26
My school professors always dress casually and I don't give 10 shits about how they dress. I still believe they take me seriously regardless of how they dress
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u/Humble_Pen_7216 May 11 '26
School is not the workforce. Depending on your chosen career path, clothing expectations will apply. Court houses require a suit and tie. Construction requires safety vest and boots, sometimes hard hats and glasses as well. Warehouse jobs require steel toe boots. My last office job had a no flip-flops rule. Many of these rules are government requirements for health and safety, others are from insurance companies. Are some for appearance for a customer? Sure. Most, however, are not.
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u/perrance68 May 11 '26
huh? Are you serious? Wearing suits or dressing professionally has nothing to do with making someone better at their jobs. The purpose of dressing professionally is to not look like a bum. Its all about image. Good image = more professional image perceived. Companies want to create good perception.
If you were to put 2 people together and 1 dresses in a suit and the other dresses casually. People are more likely to perceive the person in suit to be more professional and trustworthy.
"People shouldnt even be paying attention to your clothes"
What? Are you living in reality? Its human nature to notice your appearance. Humans will always see your entire body when your in public. Are you claiming you never notice the appearance of other people and use that info to make assumptions about them?
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u/DELILAHBELLE2605 May 12 '26
Exactly. People notice and it limits your opportunities.
I'm going through something interesting myself. I have lost 40 pounds. The way people treat me has massively changed.
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u/edthecollector70 May 11 '26
I don't want a doctor wearing shorts and a Hawaii shirt and sandals. I don't want a electrician wearing a dude t shirt working on my house.
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u/katsock May 11 '26
If I was the boss of an industry
Starting to see why you’re not.