Readers not laid back about casual office wear

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The recent article about casual dress sparked a number of reactions from readers:

Dear Joan:
"I think we've gone too far in allowing casual dress in the workplace. I think we should go back to dressing more businesslike. I don't like walking in to a grocery store, for example, and seeing young people in dirty old shorts and sloppy clothes."

Dear Joan:
"Thanks for the great article about dressing casual. We've used your suggestion and drawn up some guidelines for what is appropriate and what isn't. It's a big help!"

Dear Joan:
"Can we reprint your article? It's a good reminder that people need to take responsibility for looking professional even though they're dressing more casually."

Dear Joan:
"You mean people actually wear cropped midriff tops and torn jeans to some workplaces? I'm shocked!"

Dear Joan:
"I read your column every week and was happy to see you address the topic of casual dress. But I was disappointed with one of the comments you made. You were referring to your grade school teacher who used to punish the whole class when one person did something wrong. You were suggesting that people who violated the dress code should be dealt with on an individual basis rather than by banning casual dress for everyone.

Dear Joan:
"I am a middle manager who works for a large company. We have a detailed dress code policy that spells out what people can and can't wear. I have a real problem with professional employees who can't read the policy and need to be reminded that they shouldn't be wearing jeans (when they can read the policy as well as I can). I'm not the fashion police or the baby sitter.

Dear Joan:
"I provide plenty of coaching and feedback on performance and I'm not afraid to confront someone if they need it but I resent baby sitting grown adults."

Dear Joan:
"We too have a problem with certain people not following the dress code. Our dress code is in writing and quite specific. It is given to all perspective employees. It is reviewed with them during orientation. It is my opinion that if you agree to work for a facility, that part of your responsibility as an employee is to know the rules and follow them. If you disagree with them, either follow the proper procedure to implement change or stop working for them, or follow the rules.

Dear Joan:
"I have many projects that I could be working on to improve the environment for staff and clients, but instead I spend my time being a policeman. Staff want to be treated like adults, but don't act like adults. They can't have it both ways. They want only the individuals that break the rules to be dealt with but in our environment they won't identify who that is. And when you do find someone breaking the rules and deal with them, they accuse you of harassment because they claim that there are plenty of people doing it besides them, they just haven't been identified. Rules are rules for everyone and if we all work together for the same purpose then it should be everyone's responsibility to enforce the rules."

Answer:
Common sense isn't very common, is it? And what about pride? Pride in personal appearance. Pride in being a responsible adult who doesn't play games with rules. And it's not just with this issue; it seems to be growing like a cancer. "Don't blame me, she's doing it too!" "You're picking on me!" "I'll sue!" "It's not my job!" I don't know, maybe because it's the fourth of July, but it makes me sad.

The ideals on which this country was founded seem to be eroding: mutual respect, pride in hard work and dedication, lending a hand to help a neighbor, taking responsibility for your own behavior, honesty, even pride in your appearance...

And yet, there are others who represent the workforce that America was built on and who strive to contribute their very best to their work, their colleagues and their families. How about you? Perhaps this fourth of July is a good time to think about your attitude about work. If you do some honest soul searching about more than just your vacation time and the fireworks, you may come back to work with a whole new pride and sense of purpose.

Good managers know that employee satisfaction is essential to healthy teamwork, initiative and productivity.  Joan Lloyd’s booklet, 86 Creative Ideas for Having More Fun & Less Stress at Work, is packed with ideas for building employee satisfaction and work/life balance while reducing stress in your workplace.  Guaranteed to give you fresh ideas any company can implement in categories such as: Fun with a Purpose, Building a Family Atmosphere & a Sense of Community, Having Fun at Work for the Sake of Fun, Rewarding Great Performance & Stress Busters!  Also available by return email, in PDF format!