How are nonverbal signals sent by casual dress in the workplace?

Clothing has its own meaning in communication. We are being judged by our clothing every time we come in contact with someone. Human communication is accomplished by two ways, one third by words and the rest by nonverbal communication (Hickson, 1989). Clothes serve to be protection, social identification, sexual attraction, and many other services. Someone’s clothing can be different compared to others. Their clothing is based on their age, gender, occupation, personality, and values. According to William Thourlby, there are ten decisions that people around someone make based on their clothing along (Hickson, 1989). The ten decisions are:

The prominent reason behind the various overdone school rules regarding dress is the loose power that administrators have been given. They have been “reserve[d] the right to determine if a clothing item or accessory is appropriate for school” (Carroll High School Student Handbook 2010-2011 18). The officials at school are using their own personal opinions to judge the students’ dress. Since styles change as time goes on, the generation in control and the

There is strong controversy regarding whether casual wear should be allowed in the workplace. The disagreement between the two articles read, “Dressing for Creativity” and “The Myth of Casual Friday,” questions if attire can affect one's productivity or if it is a form to inspire one's confidence and talent. Although both articles have different points of views, I believe that one’s attitude towards work goes far beyond attire and more into one’s own personal moral code and values.

We need to adapt the way we communicate with people to different situations or environments. If attending a meeting, whether it’s a staff meeting, meeting with other professionals or dealing with a parent we need to be more formal and conduct ourselves in a professional manner. The way we dress can completely send out the wrong impression if you are having a formal meeting. Dressing smartly creates an impression that you will act appropriately and professionally and any input you have will be respected.

In today’s society looking good is important, especially in the working environment. Every occupation has some sort of dress code for employees to follow. Dress codes can range from wearing suits to gym shorts depending on one’s occupation. Employers decide if the candidate is qualified for the job based on appearance, and then what you wear for the job based on the company’s dress code. The question is can one’s employer dictate what is appropriate dress outside of the job? Employers should only have a say of what one wears while representing the company.

We still need to continue to display a professional image towards our clients and the public. Employees need to use their best judgement in dressing appropriately for “Casual Fridays”. Below is a list of acceptable and unacceptable

We form first impressions and overall judgments about people by the way one dresses. In the workplace, depending on what industry or company it is, employee dress code can differ based on the situation. Those who work at a banking institution are generally required to dress in “suit and tie” or at least business casual. In such workplaces, it is often required to abide by strict policies such as having to cover up tattoos and piercings whilst at the workplace. The dress code is set because the appearance of an employee reflects the company and its values. Thus when dealing with the public, other employees and in all other business relationships, it is important to conduct oneself in a courteous and respectful manner, which also entails dressing appropriately.

“The era of the $4.99 dress is not going to last forever,” according to Elizabeth Cline, the author of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. The people of America have jumped from making their own clothes by hand to shopping in huge malls filled with tons and tons of up-to-date clothing. America’s view on clothing, however, is starting to experience a change. People are starting to see the dark side of cheap fashion. The people of the United States views on clothing, fashion, and labor have changed over the past century due to the poor treatment and conditions the workers are facing.

Many businesses in Ontario have applied dress codes in their workplaces that employees must follow. The issue of having employees ‘dressing too sexy’ for work maybe an issue to some employers. This is why it is important to look at how important the dress code is in a business and how workers may feel about the dress codes that are set. This paper will discuss whether some dress codes are set to be too sexy for work by looking at the laws that are set in provinces throughout Canada and Ontario. Also looking at cases and financial implications will help to see how this issues impacts the workplace.

The article, Should Schools Have Dress Codes?, tells us, “...dress codes are necessary in our schools, just as they are essential in the adult world for which students are preparing.” By following a loose set of rules, students can learn to dress in a way that expresses their joy to learn. When people dress appropriately at school, it sends the message that they care about their surroundings. By knowing how to dress, “...you’re showing those around you that you care about your appearance and that you know what’s appropriate for a particular situation.” If an individual really wanted to excel and learn, they wouldn’t show up to school in clothing that disturbs those around them. This also applies for the adult world. When showing up for a job, wearing clothing appropriate for that job would be crucial. Dress codes assist students in the learning process to successfully “survive” outside of the world of

“...Strict clothes don’t always optimize efficiency.” (Fast Company). We want to be able to wear more kinds of pants, be able to wear more accessories, and we should have relaxed-dress days more often. Please Mr. Schneider, put the relaxed back in relaxed-dress days!

As stated before, psychology is a form of self-expression, and a form of visual communication. The way one dresses may put one in a fashion subcategory. These subcategories are thought of as a whole and are subject to judgment and discrimination of sorts. For example, a person with many tattoos and a vintage style of clothing may be viewed as a “hipster”, and hence the viewer may assume many things of the individual. The fit of garments say many things about oneself. Made-to-fit clothing on men in the business world is more respectable than non-tailored clothes. With women, skirt suits create the balance between attractiveness and masculinity in order to appear respectable, much more than the overly aggressive pant suit. One may see the effect of clothing when one researches on how to dress for an interview in order to make an impression upon the hiring manager.

Ever since their invention many centuries ago, clothes have been used as a way of communicating. The message communicated relies on a number of factors including the social background of both the communicator and the receiver, and the context in which the message is communicated. Although at times the exact message or symbolism one is trying to portray may not be clear, it is evident that clothing has long been embraced as one of the best ways to project one’s desired personal image to those around them.

Everyday, we see hundreds of people. Whether we see them on the street, at work, at school, or on television, people pass through our visual field. Fortunately or unfortunately, we judge these people. It may be intentional, it may be unintentional, or it may be somewhat intentional, but we form opinions about people based on their style of dress.

Dress codes can be thought of as an achievement to the employees. They will feel pride for their job and will think of a uniform as a perk. Workers will also feel equal for several reasons. They will feel united and more together. Their income will also not be known as they will all have the same dress code. People won’t feel bad about themselves if a dress code is initiated! This will also prevent jealousy among workers who may have better clothing and they will work together.