Business Dress vs. Casual Dress

[Shepherd57]

This is more of a rant than anything else.

My boss's boss is retiring at the end of the year. It is his plan to recommend that my boss replace him and I replace my boss. Unfortunately the person that decides this thinks that I do not dress professionally even though my work is more than satisfactory, thus I am undeserving of the job. I understand image plays an important role in business especially for first time meetings. I adhere to the dress code, but do not "rise" above it like management. My problem is that after 10 years of working at my company, my work isn't enough to be considered for the job. My ego isn't so inflated that I continued to dress the same way. I have been in a tie since hearing the news, but it still pisses me off.

I know upper management is pleased with my work based on reviews, but to think that dress code should matter more than quality of work is still frustrating especially when I adhere to the company wide dress code and not the upper management's personally dress code. Maybe if I were moving into management it would matter, but after this guy retires we are making the "department" 2 people instead of 3 because the last few years me and my boss have been doing all the work anyways. This is really upsetting because the change in title would come with a raise even though I wouldn't be managing a new person, but if they don't "promote" me to the new title my pay doesn't change.

The Retiree did explain to the hiring manager that my work ethic and quality of work was deserving, but it stlil didn't change his mind.

TLDR: I hate ties and now I have to wear one just to get a raise though ties aren't required in the company handbook.

[ItachiZaku]

Stop looking like a soup sandwich and maybe people will take you seriously.

[Xjev]

having to wear ties is a bit extreme

[Shadowspire]

Sadly appearance matters. I'm overweight but active and no job want to take me even for labor cause of it. You can have the best work in the whole business but if you look bad you won't get further. Human beings are fickle thing,

[ellieg]

What line of work are you in? What do your bosses wear? What do your coworkers at your level wear? And what did you used to wear?

It all depends on those answers.

I know for me, I wear khakis, dress shoes, a belt, and a collared shirt. My boss is a woman, her boss is a woman, and her boss is a man who doesn't wear a tie. His boss wears a tie though. I actually want to wear ties but no one anywhere near my level does so I refrain from doing it. I still wear the nicest khakis and dress shirts that are within my budget though. There are some people who try to get away with darker jeans and a raggy looking polo. Although we don't deal with the general public, its still very important to present yourself as professional as possible. in business, first impressions mean a lot. Also, one thing I learned from my mom, is dress like your boss does. Management does notice that.

[poser765]

Yeah that sucks. Guess you should keep wearing a tie. A lot of times promotion, especially into upper ranks is more of a whole package sort of deal. Sure you may be a master of TPS reports, but you may not fully meet the company's image of what they want for the position. When you start getting into management, the job isn't about TPS reports. It's now about managing those who can do the reports, and exuding a sense of leadership confidence to your employees.

[evogsr]

I can empathize on two counts.

When I was younger, I felt like going above and beyond to impress with being well-dressed was eye-rolling. Today, part of me still feels that way and I'm 33. Secondly, I don't like being told what to do in the case of something being fine for a substantial amount of time and then in one instant, it's no longer okay. From my experience, when this phenomena occurs, double standards happen and what isn't okay for me to do, is entirely okay for select others to do.

That said, dressing up doesn't bother me much anymore for work related purposes since the occasion to do so is rare. Fire house uniform is practical and comfortable.

[Drunter]

Sadly appearance matters. I'm overweight but active and no job want to take me even for labor cause of it. You can have the best work in the whole business but if you look bad you won't get further. Human beings are fickle thing,

As a recruiter, you clearly have more issues beyond being overweight if "no job want to take me". Thanks for trying though.

[poser765]

As a recruiter, you clearly have more issues beyond being overweight if "no job want to take me". Thanks for trying though.

Right, but it's so much easier to blame others than to acknowledge your 2 DUIS, lack of High School diploma, and no meaningful job history.

[Cthulhu 2020]

Dress for the job you want.

This isn't solely applicable to interviews.

[Acidbaron]

If customers are attracted to a certain environment you need to fit in that environment or you would have no work to be handed to you.

It's that simple really. Dress code matters on certain offices especially for certain positions that directly deal with certain customers / Clients.

Also if you have to take on more work and not get paid more, it's time to start shopping around for other work or really start to demand a raise almost weekly so that they know you will leave if nothing happens (though never really literally say that). That's the best way to get a raise just change workplaces.

[Jessicka]

I wear ripped skinny jeans, usually with opaque coloured (purple or black or both) or patterned (spiderweb!) tights under them, a skinny t shirt and hoody or knitted jumper. I normally have a white coat over that, so doesn't really matter. I'm a terrible person to ask about this. I think if you're good enough at what you do, and are nice and positive and helpful, people tend to give less of a shit.

[TheTaurenOrc]

Sorry hard to sympathize with you. Boohoo you have to wear a tie to get a raise Guess what; you think people at burger joints want to wear little hats or even bow ties?

[Rudkobing]

Business dress FTW.

[melodramocracy]

Find a different job. Business attire is a pointless social remnant that needs to simply go away, right along with the 40 hour work week.

[lordsphinx]

Dress for the job you want.

This isn't solely applicable to interviews.

This, exactly. I’m the only middle manager that wears a tie to work, and it isn’t required to wear one. However, all of the senior managers in the company wear a tie, and there’s nothing saying I can’t wear one. So, you dress for the job you want, and the job you want others (the decision makers) to see you in.

Now, if I showed up to work every day in a full 3 piece suit and wingtips, they would probably lock me up in a loony bin. The owner of the company doesn’t wear a jacket unless he’s going to some high level meeting with a customer, and if I did, it would just be weird…

The only other thing I can say is try not to consistently “over-dress” your boss, or your boss’s colleagues. That looks desperate, and it looks like you think more of yourself than you’re owed from others. If you come in one day dressed as normal and your boss comes in with 2 day stubble and a crinkled shirt, that’s fine. You should also pick on him for looking like a hobo who found a nice shirt in the dumpster.

[Deleted]

With higher spots in the hierarchy, you're more likely to need to speak to people outside of your own organization.
As an employee of your organization, especially as an executive, you're representing your organization. If you don't follow some standards, you might risk reputational loss for your organization.

I understand you're only leading 2 (1?) people, but those dress codes might exist for the sake of standardization, ie. to prevent slippery slopes. One executive slacking on dress code means all of them can, etc.
I guess I sympathize both with you and your employer.

[Tarhealz]

Dress for the job you want.

This isn't solely applicable to interviews.

This person gets it.

EDIT: As do a few others... good to see some common sense around here.

[Lightwysh]

Dress for the job you want.

This isn't solely applicable to interviews.

[klogaroth]

The fact that you might not get it based on past dress is the thing that seems the biggest bullshit here.

It's not like you're saying you wouldn't wear a suit or whatever they want if you were offered the position.

It's pretty easy for someone competent to change their clothes, it's a lot harder to take a well dressed idiot and make them good at a job.

It sounds a lot to me like someone is trying to find any excuse not to give you a raise.