Is business casual here to stay? (corporate dress codes)(Career Workshop)(Brief Article)

There is a small but growing--and vocal--number of critics who blame casual dress in the workplace for negative changes in the political environment. To wit: Since there is no power casual dress code, the symbols of power between workers and management have eroded A familiarity and equality that makes even the most devoted fan of empowerment feel uneasy has developed Is this just snobbery or does dress affect the corporate culture? There haven't been any definitive studies but opinions are solidifying.

Some feel the boss's authority and credibility may be undermined Someone built like a football player might have no trouble maintaining authority in a madras shirt, but a small man might be diminished A petite female who wore nothing but black power suits lost something besides dry cleaning bills when she donned khaki and corduroy. Her troops became more familiar and their attitudes toward her changed. They questioned her decisions more often. Is this bad? From her point of view it is, and she hides in her office often on casual Fridays. She thinks--probably with a touch of paranoia--that her supervisors enjoy her discomfort.

Internal customers aren't always pleased either. Most companies won't let employees who meet customers go casual But what about internal customers? Do the consultants in their jeans and T-shirts seem as expert as they did when they wore suits? "We're all family doesn't play--and hasn't--since the mid-80s. The consultants don't impress the managers they are sent to advise when they aren't attired as traditional consultants. You hear directors and vice-presidents (themselves casually attired) saying, "Maybe we ought to have some outsiders look at this." That's when consultants get calls. None would show up unstarched.

Healthcare presents an interesting case Older patients heartily dislike being seen by a physician who's casually dressed Their idea of good medicine is Dr. Welby, M.D.--of either sex. One small survey showed that patients seen by a casually dressed physician were less satisfied with their treatment--even ...