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From: mcmahan@netcom.UUCP (Dave Mc Mahan)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: Dress code
Message-ID: <11059@netcom.UUCP>
Date: 27 Jul 90 04:45:31 GMT
References: <847@meaddata.mead.UUCP> <6610002@hpclapd.HP.COM>
Organization: Dave McMahan @ NetCom Services
Lines: 55


 In a previous article, defaria@hpclapd.HP.COM (Andy DeFaria) writes:
>Yeah but who made up this "rule" and why was  it made?  My guess  is social
>pressure  (or it could be  a concerted effort  on the  part  of the fashion
>industry to ensure sales of dresses and suits.  Only 1/4 :-).

Generally, I have found that such rules were mandated 'long ago' by those that
went on to become upper level managers, left the company, or those worried
about customers that visit the place of work (usually sales or marketting
people).  They feel that dressing 'professionally' promotes the type of
attitude about the company that they wish to see expressed, both internally
to other employees and to those that come to visit.


>Would  you really consider,  say, an
>accounting firm, unprofessional   if  they   walked around  in  jeans and a
>T-shirt but GOT YOUR TAXES DONE ON-TIME AND SAVED YOU BIG BUCKS?  Of course
>not.    (Or, for  that matter,  am    I, a   software engineer,  considered
>unprofessional because I don't wear a suit?)

Personally, I wouldn't care.  But I am not everyone.  Those that make the rules
perceive that a client is more inclined to view the company in a serious light
if dress is according to what is expected from a professional company.  It
projects the desired image.  Right or wrong, those that have the ability to
mandate such a thing will do so if they feel it will help sales.  This rule
is generally removed not by managers, but by employees who start to show up
for work dressed as they feel like.  Usually, the older and/or more secure
people will start the ball rolling, and if others see that they continue to
get away with it, they too will start dressing more casually.  I find that
technical types who have a large amount of job security and a strong personality
are the ideal candidates for removal of such rules.



[  Stuff about Braun dress codes deleted here  ]


>Here we go again!  Who says that a man in a suit is a professional  while a
>man not in a  suit isn't.  Professionalism is an  *attitude* not a form  of
>dress.   Doing  a good job   is the way a  company  can really  maintain  a
>"professional  image".   Dressing up  the employees  just makes  them  look
>pretty. 

I believe it is the company management that wishes to display a certain
image of the company that says 'if you don't dress professionally, you must
not be a professional.'  You are quite correct in stating that professionalism
is an attitude and not an appearance.  One must remember though, that not all
people in this world are engineers.  To them, 'it is better to look good than
to feel good' and they will try to sway opinions with the proper lighting and
makeup.  They claim that, "If you are a professional, what does it matter how
you dress?  You are still a professional.  So why don't you try to display that
in first impressions when a customer is visiting?".  Personally, I don't feel
that this attitude carries any weight.

 -dave