How to be sensitive in dress

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like every job, I would just take a cue from others in similar roles. It’s still a hospital/clinic so even if you are not in scrubs, I’d adhere to safe, clean and neat and stay away from long loose hair, more than minimal jewelry, very high heels, etc. id you’re going to be visiting the patient areas. But that has nothing to do with the population but rather with the fact it’s a hospital.

This is OP and I’m in a non-patient facing role (think finance) and will work with the leadership team. All wore standard business attire during the interview and looked neat and polished, as with any office environment.

Yesterday I was on site for onboarding activities and saw that the patient population is pretty downtrodden. I just don’t want to be inconsiderate, and even though I won’t really be interacting with patients, I will still be on site a few times a week (it’s a hybrid role).

I work in a similar facility in a non patient facing role and I agree you are overthinking it. Our c-suite does tend to wear suits but as someone who works in quality, we sometimes wear sneakers with stretchy pants and a nice top (including the VP for our dept), especially if we have to round. Business attire is fine. I wear work pants and a swearer most days in the winter and work pants and a blouse with ballet pants in the summer. My colleagues would look at me strangely if I showed up in a suit except if I had a big presentation or something (and even then, those are usually on Teams so only the top matters!)

This. I have worked in healthcare for underserved populations for 20+ years (I sometimes interface with patients, but not daily.) My 'uniform' is pixie pants from Old Navy (comfy and easy to wash) with a blouse, button down, or sweater (today I have on a button down and cardigan.) And I wear clean 'fashion sneakers' or ballet flats. I keep my jewelry to a minimum (wedding ring and apple watch.)

Also, you might want to rethink about the population you are working for/with - "downtrodden" is pretty disparaging and not in the spirit of service (even if you aren't working direct patient service.)

[Anonymous]

always make sure to wear tight dress, heels and thongs/g-strings under. I hate seeing panty lines.

[Anonymous]

OP, regardless of the socioeconomic status of the patient population, most people feel comforted by seeing the professionals at the hospital or a medical facility looking presentable. I'm not "downtrodden" but when I've been to the hospital, I am aware that the doctors and many of the staff there are off a high socioeconomic class that I am. That doesn't upset me. I am relieved to be getting treatment from people who are good at their jobs and professionally successful.

As others have said, avoid flashy status markers like very showy jewelry and label-conscious clothes or bags. But I would advise that in any job where that kind of dress isn't the norm, because IME that sort of appearance can be divisive. I once worked for a VC firm in Silicon Valley where I was told to be careful about designer labels because the partners found that sort of thing to be a mark of a frivolous or unserious person. I also recall a woman at my law school (a T5 school) being the subject of gossip because her engagement ring was so enormous and eye-catching. The issue in these settings was not that people were envious of these material items, but rather the attention-grabbing nature of certain high clothes and accessories and not wanting to draw that kind of attention to oneself.

[Anonymous]

Why would the patients care what some finance worker is wearing? They want their ailments taken care of. You're not the main character.

[Anonymous]

Look professional but not expensive. Tone it down. Pants with blouse or sweater and a low heel is fine. Limit accessories. Just don’t look flashy or wear high end brand names / draw attention to yourself with your look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:always make sure to wear tight dress, heels and thongs/g-strings under. I hate seeing panty lines.

This is good, something simple but still classy. Not everyone can pull it off though.

[Anonymous]

Get over yourself. Poor people have too make real concerns to freak out over how you dress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:always make sure to wear tight dress, heels and thongs/g-strings under. I hate seeing panty lines.

Hip pads and push ups have a strong morale/placebo effect too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like every job, I would just take a cue from others in similar roles. It’s still a hospital/clinic so even if you are not in scrubs, I’d adhere to safe, clean and neat and stay away from long loose hair, more than minimal jewelry, very high heels, etc. id you’re going to be visiting the patient areas. But that has nothing to do with the population but rather with the fact it’s a hospital.

This is OP and I’m in a non-patient facing role (think finance) and will work with the leadership team. All wore standard business attire during the interview and looked neat and polished, as with any office environment.

Yesterday I was on site for onboarding activities and saw that the patient population is pretty downtrodden. I just don’t want to be inconsiderate, and even though I won’t really be interacting with patients, I will still be on site a few times a week (it’s a hybrid role).

Match what leadership wear.

I worked at DHS for a few years after college. I dressed like the higher ups. I dressed safely for the neighborhood environment more than anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:always make sure to wear tight dress, heels and thongs/g-strings under. I hate seeing panty lines.

Hip pads and push ups have a strong morale/placebo effect too.

nice

[Anonymous]

Don't wear jewelry.