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Dress for Work Success: A Business Casual Dress Code
Find Proper Attire for a Business Casual Workplace
Here's a sample dress code for a business casual work environment.
Use these guidelines as you dress for work or prepare your own work dress code. Employees appreciate knowing your
expectations - if they exist.
A
Business Casual Dress Code
Your Company's objective
in establishing a business casual dress code, is to allow our employees to work
comfortably in the workplace. Yet, we still need our employees to project a
professional image for our customers, potential employees, and community visitors.
Business casual dress is the standard for this dress code.
Because all casual clothing is not
suitable for the office, these guidelines will help you determine what is appropriate to wear to work. Clothing
that works well for the beach, yard work, dance clubs, exercise sessions, and
sports contests may not be appropriate for a professional appearance at work.
Clothing that reveals too
much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear
is not appropriate for a place of business, even in a business casual setting.
Even in a business casual work environment, clothing should be
pressed and never wrinkled. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable.
All seams must be finished. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures
that may be offensive to other employees is unacceptable. Clothing that has the
company logo is encouraged. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on
clothing are generally acceptable.
Certain days can be declared dress down days, generally Fridays.
On these days, jeans and other more casual clothing, although never clothing
potentially offensive to others, are allowed.
Guide
to Business Casual Dressing for Work
This is a general overview of appropriate business casual
attire. Items that are not appropriate for the office are
listed, too. Neither list is all-inclusive and both are open to change. The
lists tell you what is generally acceptable as business casual attire and what
is generally not acceptable as business casual attire.
No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must
exert a certain amount of judgment in
their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty about
acceptable, professional business causal attire for work, please ask your
supervisor or your Human Resources staff.
Slacks,
Pants, and Suit Pants
Slacks that are similar
to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants,
flannel pants,dressy capris, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are
acceptable. Inappropriate slacks or pants include jeans, sweatpants, exercise
pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any
spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking.
Skirts,
Dresses, and Skirted Suits
Casual dresses and
skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress
and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in
public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate
for work. Mini-skirts, skirts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap
dresses are inappropriate for the office.
Shirts,
Tops, Blouses, and Jackets
Casual shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, golf-type shirts,
and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work. Most suit jackets or sport
jackets are also acceptable attire for the office, if they violate none of the
listed guidelines. Inappropriate attire for work includes tank tops; midriff
tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures,
cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders; sweatshirts, and
t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or
dress.
Shoes
and Footwear
Conservative athletic or
walking shoes, loafers, clogs, sneakers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather
deck-type shoes are acceptable for work. Wearing no stockings is acceptable in
warm weather. Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and any shoe
with an open toe are not acceptable in the office. Closed toe and closed heel
shoes are required in the manufacturing operation area.
Jewelry,
Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne
Should be in good taste,
with limited visible body piercing. Remember, that some employees are allergic
to the chemicals in perfumes and make-up, so wear these substances with
restraint.
Hats
and Head Covering
Hats are not appropriate
in the office. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor
cultural tradition are allowed.
Conclusion
If clothing fails to meet
these standards, as determined by the employee's supervisor and Human Resources
staff, the employee will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work
again.
