Education

FBaggins

(28,706 posts)

35. Then perhaps you're the one who isn't a professional?

Wed Jul 25, 2012, 03:09 PM

Jul 2012

I'm in my fourth decade in a professional environment and there has always been a written dress code (that includes senior employees). My position involves working with professionals in scores of other companies in other professional industries... and again I can't think of one that didn't have a written dress code.

The dividing line between an explicit dress code and "figure it out for yourself" has never been whether or not the position was "professional" vs. "cube rat" (though I point out that over the last couple decades, more and more professionals work in cubes)... the dividing line has been the size of the company, the number of employees, and whether or not they are customer-facing.

This is driven by the simple fact that there are people in professional roles who are not professional in their appearance. In a small company (or if you are your own boss), there is no need for a written policy. In a larger organization, they are almost essential.

I've been to more than one SHRM conference and I assure you that there have often been discussions re: whether or not a particular style of clothing should be in/out... I have never seen a company that said "our coworkers are professionals... so we don't have such a policy" - IOW, what the policy should/can say... not whether or not there should be one.

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do you think teachers need a dress code? [View all] demtenjeep Jul 2012 OP

Are they going to give you a clothing allowance? murielm99 Jul 2012 #1

Each school should have its own, implicit, 'dress code,' elleng Jul 2012 #2

Teaching the teachers how to lie, eh? Trillo Jul 2012 #3

you would hope not, but mopinko Jul 2012 #4

I wish she worked sulphurdunn Jul 2012 #50

The company I worked for had a dress code & after years & years they did away with it. Booster Jul 2012 #5

Where did you work? Goblinmonger Jul 2012 #11

For a major television network. In no way did I intend to put teachers down in my post. But in Booster Jul 2012 #12

It seems to me dress codes are the refuge of cowardly managers. dballance Jul 2012 #6

Unfortunately, there are people in every profession who do need to be told how to dress. Arkansas Granny Jul 2012 #7

What's wrong with dealing with those people individually? proud2BlibKansan Jul 2012 #15

Establishing a dress code isn't exactly penalizing an entire group of people. It sets standards Arkansas Granny Jul 2012 #16

Teachers are professionals and should be treated as such proud2BlibKansan Jul 2012 #18

And most teachers dress like the professionals that they are and a dress code would not affect Arkansas Granny Jul 2012 #19

Yes, doctors often have dress codes. FBaggins Jul 2012 #21

This message was self-deleted by its author Arkansas Granny Jul 2012 #17

totally agree demtenjeep Jul 2012 #54

No, but.. LeftTurnOnly Jul 2012 #8

Not "need" perhaps (for most)... but not a big deal. FBaggins Jul 2012 #9

As recently as 10 years ago I worked in law firms TBF Jul 2012 #10

I don't have a problem with a dress code. noamnety Jul 2012 #13

As with most things, a dress code, if it exists at all, LWolf Jul 2012 #14

I teach Ceramics. Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #20

I doubt that any dress code for teachers will require office attire. FBaggins Jul 2012 #22

I've actually seen that phrase in dress codes for teachers proud2BlibKansan Jul 2012 #23

I had the "open-toed shoes" thing, too. LWolf Jul 2012 #25

My response up-thread suggests differently. LWolf Jul 2012 #24

I would think they should be required to dress business casual jpbollma Jul 2012 #26

With the obvious exception of roles where to do so makes no sense. FBaggins Jul 2012 #27

I think we should be required to dress appropriately LWolf Jul 2012 #28

Two of the last three points seem like a perfect dress code to me. FBaggins Jul 2012 #30

Seems good to me, too. LWolf Jul 2012 #38

Even without that... FBaggins Jul 2012 #40

Well, the school I teach at has never had to issue one. Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #48

it's just to show you you're not a professional, you're just a walmart peon like everyone else. HiPointDem Jul 2012 #29

Are you under the impression that professionals don't have dress codes? FBaggins Jul 2012 #31

no, cube rats have a dress code. HiPointDem Jul 2012 #32

Cube rats ALSO have a dress code. FBaggins Jul 2012 #33

i'm saying professionals are expected to know how to dress and not to require formalized HiPointDem Jul 2012 #34

Then perhaps you're the one who isn't a professional? FBaggins Jul 2012 #35

what are "professional industries"? the professions aren't "industries" -- that used to be one HiPointDem Jul 2012 #36

That explains the gap FBaggins Jul 2012 #37

uh, yes, it did. HiPointDem Jul 2012 #39

Can you describe the professional settings in which you've worked? FBaggins Jul 2012 #41

you first. HiPointDem Jul 2012 #42

Already done. FBaggins Jul 2012 #43

oh, the training dept of a medium sized corp. not a professional, just an educated employee. HiPointDem Jul 2012 #44

Dodging? FBaggins Jul 2012 #45

dodging what? it's not my own definition, it's the traditional meaning. "the professions" were HiPointDem Jul 2012 #46

Dodging what? You think others can't tell? FBaggins Jul 2012 #47

i wasn't talking about the 15th century. your claim that most professionals are paid by HiPointDem Jul 2012 #49

Maybe just the illegal aliens do, other than that.... 2on2u Jul 2012 #51

Yes I do and I am a teacher! roody Jul 2012 #52

No, it's insulting...nt lutefisk Jul 2012 #53

I agree demtenjeep Jul 2012 #55

No, we don't need more insults. RobertAustin Jul 2012 #56