A dress code for the workplace is a valuable policy for some companies. The way employees dress can distinctly impact how the business is perceived, and in some industries, perception is everything.

While there is no one size fits all strategy for having a dress code at work, ultimately the goal is to display an appearance of professionalism to the public or clientele. What this means is going to differ from company to company.

In some workplaces the dress code may be simple and be specified as a uniform, others may implement formal business dress and then there are those that are business casual. All are different kinds of dress codes, although formality may vary.

Whatever attire is selected, the required dress should reflect an appearance that is attractive to customers, clients, colleagues and partners.

What's the Value of a Dress Code?

The image a company projects as a whole is critical to its success. When people enter into a business and the attire reflects professionalism they are more likely going to respond positively.

If they see sloppiness or perceive an environment of unprofessionalism, they are likely going to start wondering about the quality of products or services. The either conscious or unconscious thought behind this is generally if staff doesn't maintain a professional appearance, how much thought is given to their work.

In some ways this may sound judgmental or discriminative, and even if a sloppily dressed employee is the best performer on staff, this won't matter if they give off a negative perception of unprofessionalism.

For instance, take an industry such as hospitality or healthcare, if sloppiness is the norm, what will customers think about the quality received in services? They may wonder about the cleanliness or rooms or hygiene.

While it may not be fair, the reality is that the way a person dresses can paint the image that is perceived. Often dress is equated with quality and many managers have recognized this reality and have decided to implement some sort of dress code.

Usually there are three typical categories of dress code. There's business dress, professional, or casual.

*Business Dress: Usually the most formal and typically is part of a written dress code employees are expected to follow. This kind of dress code usually requires suits, jackets, dresses, collared shirts and formal shoes.

*Professional: This kind of dress code is usually stipulated in the form of a uniform. It could be a shirt with flexibility on pants and shoes, or it could be entirely standardized where every staff member looks the same.

*Casual: This kind of dress expectation is usually very flexible and lax; the most important attribute is typically cleanliness and neatness, but style of clothing that is allowed to be worn is more casual.

There is no homogenized kind of dress code that will work to the same advantage for every company. When managers consider implementing dress codes, the type of industry, staff members and clientele should be considered.

Once these attributes are examined, those in charge can best decide what would work best and display the image they want to portray. Keep in mind there are some industries where you want an informal and casual appearance so people feel comfortable. In others, the opposite is what's desired.

At the end of the day all businesses want to achieve the same result, to be successful and display the welcoming appearance that fits their industry. What this means is going to vary depending on the individual company.

Learn more about this author, Leigh Goessl.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Good reasons to have dress codes at work?
We want to hear your view. Write now!