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Is a Dress Code An Anachronism or Useful Tool in Projecting an Agency's Image?

Dress Code

Financial Analyst
DLA
Wed May 23, 2007 7:58 AM

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As the old saying goes ... Dress for the job you want and not the job you have! Also, if you want to dress casual ... plenty of warehouse or outdoor work available!

Re: Dress Code

EEO Assistant
DOD
Wed May 23, 2007 8:44 AM
Aren't you showing a bit of prejudice here? People that don't "dress up" for work should go to warehouses and outside jobs? Those won't be around long if the proposed illegal alien legislation goes through. If you want to dictate what people wear, provide uniforms. Like others have said, common sense comes in different levels.

Re: Dress Code

ATSS
FAA
Wed May 23, 2007 9:13 AM
In my job I am quite often required to lay on the floor,
climb on top of dirty consoles, work on engines, or be outside in heat and sweat until I stink. I rarely meet with the general public. I do this so you are safe when you fly. I work on the equipment Air Traffic Controllers use to guide you safely home. Although I have scheduled work to do, I never know what the day will bring. So as a result I wear jeans and t-shirts. If I worked in FAA headquarters, I would dress in shirt and tie if needed. I am not a GS paygrade if I were I would be a GS13 step 8....

Re: Dress Code

it speclst
NPS
Wed May 23, 2007 10:01 AM
what a crock. I never know when i'm going to end up under somebody's desk in the dust and dirt fixing something. Way back when I used to occasionally wear a skirt or skort in summer but one time under a desk too many on those occasions brought me to never wear other than clean tshirts and jeans or shorts in summer if in a hot climate. I've always felt people in suits are not particularly trustworthy and I've seen nothing to change that perception. My question is just who the heck do you think you're trying to impress?! If you work with the public all the time, wear a uniform. If the agency doesn't provide a uniform, maybe they ought to. Would certainly cut down on your laundry and clothing bills and wipe out the problems associated with attire just like they do in schools where branded clothes and affiliation colors had become problems.

Dress Code

Assoc Bridge Mgmt Specialist
DHS
Wed May 23, 2007 8:00 AM

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I agree that "common sense" should prevail, but not everyone shares the same amount of "common sense". I don't deal with the public much other than by phone, but when attending a meeting, or hosting a meeting, will dress "appropriately". However, I deal with engineers, road crews, etc. at meetings. Coat & tie are out of place, as most show up in work boots, t-shirts, etc. I do, however, wear nice slacks and a Polo shirt, which is maybe a bit much, but not excessive. If I were to deal daily with the public, I'd most likely wear a dress shirt & tie, saving the Polo shirt for Friday, along with Khaki pants. Flip flops are for the beach!

Dress for the job.

engineer
Interior
Wed May 23, 2007 8:04 AM

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In our shop, we don't interact with the public on a day to day basis, so jeans and shirts are the order of the day. Our public contact folks wear uniforms, so it's not much of an issue with us. I have observed, however, that the twenty-somethings we employ have a much different view of office wear than we who have been here a while. They still are very good workers, regardless of what they wear.

Dress Codes

Adjudication Officer
DHS
Wed May 23, 2007 8:20 AM

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I agree with the need for a dress code. The idea of a federal employee being allowed to dress purely as an expression of their individuality is nonsense. Coming to an office in flip flops, tank tops, revealing attire and similar items is simply inappropriate for any kind of office setting if they want to project a professional image.

I am not advocating tuxedos or formal wear, but I do think "business casual" is certainly more appropriate and desirable than someone coming into an office in a bikini or similar wear. Unfortunately there are those who would wear that if they could get by with it.

I can understand the concerns of those in certain professions (i.e. air marshals) but while a necktie would not be necessary, I do think acceptable attire would be desirable if for no other reason than to present oneself in an acceptable manner.

I think dress codes definitely have a place in the federal work place.

work attire

not a slave to fashion
SSA
Wed May 23, 2007 8:31 AM

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If the position you occupy has no direct visual contact with the public, what does it matter how you dress as long as you are a competant public servant, the issue goe a little deeper than just dress code. What about employee morale, being comfortable and happy at your job thus making you more productive and more motivated as a result of being able to dress like you are your own person. Also, if you put a barnyard animal in a suit, it's still a barnyard animal.

It's Good to Have a Dress Code

Office Automation Clerk
DoD
Wed May 23, 2007 8:33 AM

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Agencies should have an office attire policy because some people will always try to buck the system. Flip flops, capris and tops so short that they reveal tatoos on your back when you reach up or bend over have no place in the office. As a woman, I have seen poor office attire choices made by more women than men. Some supervisors would rather bury their heads in the sand rather than address the situation.

Re: It's Good to Have a Dress Code

Federal Employee
A Government Agency
Wed May 23, 2007 9:01 AM
Isn't that the truth! They would rather bury their heads in the sand than address alot of things that need to be addressed!

Re: It's Good to Have a Dress Code

HR specialist
retired
Wed May 23, 2007 1:44 PM
In all fairness, it is very difficult and uncomfortable to male supervisors to sit down and discuss this issue with young female employees whose attire reveals a little too much of their individuality.

IT DEPENDS

Lead Staff Accountant
DFAS
Wed May 23, 2007 8:43 AM

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Where I work, we are mostly back office types. Image is not normaly a problem. When it is an issue, however, most of us have enough sense to dress accordingly. In the office, I'm pretty layed back. During site visits and customer conferences, I dress like the accountant I'm supposed to be.

We do have one complicating factor - our work-site culture. Many of our technicians and accountants are former waterfront types who took accounting courses and transferred over when our navy yard closed. They tend to be a bit casual. One time management tried to back into a dress code by announcing a "Casual Friday". After seeing what was considered proper for casual Friday, some of the yard birds protested that they didn't want to get dressed up on Friday!

Re: IT DEPENDS

Federal Employee
DFAS
Fri May 25, 2007 6:27 AM
I work at the DFAS Columbus center. Professional positions have to wear slacks and a collared shirt (dress shirt, golf shirt). There is a "casual friday" where you can wear jeans as long as it is neat (the deputy director for my area quashed that though.. no jeans allowed in my area).

i dont see the problem. I wear slacks and a button down dress shirt to work everyday. no big deal.
Total Comments: 93
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