101: How to design a post-pandemic dress code for work
Now that we’ve reached the tail end of COVID-19 – hopefully – many of us have had to make the transition back to the office. And after two years of Zoom meetings and midday showers, it’s safe to say the clothes we’ve gotten used to wearing are comfier than they used to be. Here are some tips for managers deciding what’s appropriate to wear in the post-COVID workplace.
Know the setting. Now that work environments can be so varied, not every situation calls for the same style of dress, Stephanie Coughlan, founder of Image Intelligence, wrote on Forbes.com. For example, internal Zoom meetings lend themselves to more casual attire, while any in-person client-facing meeting will call for a more formal or smart elegant look. “Employees should think about tailoring their look to the clients and occasion. If you have doubts about your style, then dress up,” Coughlan wrote.
Recognize the desire for comfort. Some workers might be anxious to break out the business casual, but overall, the pandemic brought about a bigger desire for comfort. “The pandemic accelerated our efforts to modernize our policies so that our people can be successful and really enjoy their work,” Craig Haydamack, Milliken & Co.’s chief human resource officer, told CNBC.
Have an open-door policy. If you’re going to create guidelines on what people can and cannot wear, it’s important to create room for their input, Larry Alton, an independent business consultant, wrote on Inc.com. Preferences might depend on a variety of factors, including race and gender, and you want your policy to be inclusive. “If you want to create the best environment for your employees, make sure you get some feedback from them,” Alton wrote. “Ask them how they feel about different workplace dress codes and what would help them perform at their best.”
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