Take a look on the city streets and you will no longer see bowler-hatted men in pin-stripe suits and a carrying brolly making their way to work. In their place the normal attire seems to have become a tatty t-shirt and shorts carrying a laptop.
Of course the bowler is “old hat” but dressing smartly for the office seems to have become a thing of the past and with it I think has gone much of the professionalism and well-earned respect.
There is something about wearing a suit which gives an impression of professionalism to both the client and the wearer. How can a customer have any respect for somebody dressed in informal attire?
But it is not only the dress-code which has changed. In public life politicians are continually being shown to be corrupt and untrustworthy, just point out any who have stood by their manifesto!
In business too there is a relentless drive for profit by whatever means, some decidedly shady and others more questionably so. The proposed anti-corruption laws are unlikely to have any impact on this.
The public and customers are understandably discontented but have little choice when all other options appear to be the same.
The rot has probably set in by now and it is unlikely that any real change is possible but it would be nice to see some effort being made.
May 31st, 2012 on 15:25
We have a dress code of ‘business casual’ in our City office, but put on our suits and ties when meeting customers.
I commute to and from the the office in a T-shirt and shorts at this time of year, mainly because I cycle for part of my journey, but I get changed into my business clothes soon after arriving at work. That helps keep my more formal attire in better condition too.
Although I don’t think we need to wear a suit and tie when sitting at our desks (altough a few colleagues still prefer to), I agree we should avoid getting too casual. A slight relaxation in dress codes seems OK to me, but I would never want to see people walking round the office in jeans or scruffy shirts.
June 1st, 2012 on 09:44
Hi Colin, I tend to agree with you. Smart casual is fine as is commuting in old or not so posh clothes as commuting is filthy.
In the Caribbean the bankers wear very smart Bermuda shorts and open neck shirts (one button only undone) due to the heat and it works.
As for us, well we only wear ties if we have to now.