Benefits of a Relaxed Dress Code
Improved Productivity
Wearing formal attire to the office, like a shirt, tie and trousers can be uncomfortable in warm weather, especially as there are no rules on maximum workplace temperature (employers are only responsibly for ensuring temperatures are ‘reasonable’). Allowing employees to wear lighter clothing will help them stay focused, cool and performing at their best.
Improved Employee Morale
Relaxing dress codes in the summer months is an easy way to boost your team’s morale. It can signify to your employees that you respect and trust them to dress appropriately for their environment, which can help strengthen company culture.
Improved Retention
During particularly hot heat waves, some employees may refuse to come to the office and instead call in absent to avoid wearing hot and uncomfortable formal attire in the office or during their commute. Relaxing the dress code can help to encourage employees to come to the office on hot days as they know they will be comfortable, thus improving your employee retention.
How to Effectively Relax Your Work Dress Code
For some employers, enforcing a formal dress code is important so that their company can maintain credibility and their employees present a professional image. However, there are ways to relax your office dress code while ensuring the intention behind the original dress code is still met.
For example, female staff can wear short-sleeve shirts, smart skirts and open-toed shoes as long as they keep expectations around neatness and professionalism. Male staff can do the same, wearing short-sleeve shirts without a tie and light weight trousers.
Another option is to introduce “Casual Fridays” or “Dress Down Days” where the dress code will have more relaxed standards, allowing for jeans and jumpers rather than shirts and skirts.
Just make sure you inform all staff of the relaxed standards and ensure that any relaxation or summer dress code is applied equally to both male and female workers to avoid any discrimination.
Employees can still look professional while staying cool and comfortable and by embracing flexibility with office dress codes, employers can foster a more positive and productive work environment.
