New Coworker is Dressing too Casual

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I may have shared this story on here before, but years ago I worked in a company with a very relaxed atmosphere. We never had a dress code, until one of the young women showed up in a catsuit -- honest to God. One piece, spandex, black, skin tight and nothing on underneath. Like Catwoman. She had the body for it, but OMG.

The boss immediately convened a random group of employees INCLUDING HER and announced that the company was developing a dress code and what did WE think should be allowed/not allowed?

She went home at lunch and changed.

OMG thanks for the laugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:maybe the work culture needs to change?

Silicon valley makes truckloads of money, drives innovation, is on the cutting edge of discovery and capitalism and does fine with a relaxed dress code.

Perhaps, if more people followed your new co-worker's attitude, it might be beneficial to the company as a whole?

When the CEO wears jeans and t-shirts you can follow suit. When the CEO is wearing a suit, you are not going to start a new trend and create change from below.

[Anonymous]

It's a mentoring issue. Go ahead and tell him, but do it in a this is just a suggestion, based on my experience and my desire to help you succeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR Bitch here: Is there HR who could do it for him? That's really something that falls under our purview. I've absolutely had to tell people to change their clothes, go home to change immediately, or not to wear something in the future, etc.

7:15 made a good point, if you ARE going to talk to him - tell him you think he's doing a great job and you're invested in his success, which is WHY you would like to help. Ask if he's receptive to that. Then, if he says yes, tell him you think he's not being taken as seriously as his ideas and contributions deserve due to his appearance, and drop the tidbit that Macy's always has a sale going on, and they have free personal shoppers for men. Then ... stop talking about it. Don't tell him to shave, or stop wearing a baseball hat - no need to get specific. Unless he's got serious issues like Aspergers, he'll get it.

HRB, not every workplace issue falls under your "purview." This is a mentoring issue, not an issue in which he needs to be TOLD to dress differently and sent home hanging his head in shame. You really have some mission creep going. Stand down.

Hey, back off. HR Bitch was only trying to be helpful and offer advice from her purview. I've rather enjoyed her posts throughout DCUM. my personal favorite is the story about the mom who showed up with her son on his first day of work and took pictures of him getting his enployee photo id taken. But i digress...

It is a workplace issue, and the poster right before HRB at 9:05 posted that HR should be the one to address it. Yes, she mentioned how she's done it and would do it again, but the majority of her post was actually about coaching the OP on how to act like a mentor and tell the guy herself.

Stand down??? Why don't you dial it back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:maybe the work culture needs to change?

Silicon valley makes truckloads of money, drives innovation, is on the cutting edge of discovery and capitalism and does fine with a relaxed dress code.

Perhaps, if more people followed your new co-worker's attitude, it might be beneficial to the company as a whole?

The big difference with SV is that most of the people who work there are the cream of the crop. It doesn't work in every work culture and environment. Different types of people with different types of thinking and motivation.

i would think dc has lots of cream of the crop people considering how anal the area is about elite schools and credentials.

Also, lets be real. The people who brilliantly manipulate code and hardware all day in SV may wear hoodies and shorts all day, maybe even a bunch of other people too or the VP of HR on Fridays or whatever....... but the people who have to take the sales meetings, the marketing reps, and a whole host of other corporate functions, they are dressed pretty much the same as if they were working anywhere else for a large or new or whatever company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:maybe the work culture needs to change?

Silicon valley makes truckloads of money, drives innovation, is on the cutting edge of discovery and capitalism and does fine with a relaxed dress code.

Perhaps, if more people followed your new co-worker's attitude, it might be beneficial to the company as a whole?

The big difference with SV is that most of the people who work there are the cream of the crop. It doesn't work in every work culture and environment. Different types of people with different types of thinking and motivation.

i would think dc has lots of cream of the crop people considering how anal the area is about elite schools and credentials.

Also, lets be real. The people who brilliantly manipulate code and hardware all day in SV may wear hoodies and shorts all day, maybe even a bunch of other people too or the VP of HR on Fridays or whatever....... but the people who have to take the sales meetings, the marketing reps, and a whole host of other corporate functions, they are dressed pretty much the same as if they were working anywhere else for a large or new or whatever company.

and this is wrong.....'dressed up' in SV for even outwards facing people is polo shirt and khakis and brown shoes or oxford shirt and nice jeans and shoes.....maybe throw on a blazer if it is to talk to really high ups.

There are not many companies in DC where polo shirt/khakis or buttondown/jeans is considered 'appropriate' for 5x a week even in inward facing roles...forget outwards facing ones.

[Anonymous]

1002++ Unless you're close to the coworker or you're his boss, I wouldn't say anything.

At my office some of the senior staff members dress rather casually at times. But they're engineers, lawyers, execs. They might be traveling, or going to a golf tournament, or maybe they just know they have no clients/meetings to deal with today so they're gonna wear jeans and a polo. No one is going to say anything. But me, I couldn't get away with it. Different rules, lol.

[Anonymous]

I had a very short discussion with a colleague when he started many years ago. I think he appreciated it, and was just a little more aware. We're still friends!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I may have shared this story on here before, but years ago I worked in a company with a very relaxed atmosphere. We never had a dress code, until one of the young women showed up in a catsuit -- honest to God. One piece, spandex, black, skin tight and nothing on underneath. Like Catwoman. She had the body for it, but OMG.

The boss immediately convened a random group of employees INCLUDING HER and announced that the company was developing a dress code and what did WE think should be allowed/not allowed?

She went home at lunch and changed.

That's it, I'm wearing a catsuit to work tomorrow. This place needs a little shaking up...

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would try to catch said coworker alone and ask if he would appreciate a personal comment about his work attire. If he declines, then accept it and move on and MYOB. If he accepts, mention that you have heard that some management consider his work attire too casual and that he may want to reconsider what he wears to work. Then leave it to him to address and MYOB. The only way it becomes any more of your business is if he asks you a direct question of what you feel is appropriate attire, then clarify (you really should at least wear a tie, or I recommend that you wear button-down shirts, or whatever minimal effort can be made to be less casual).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I'll be the voice of dissent. I would lean towards minding your own business. I just don't see how you could bring this to the person's attention without seriously insulting him. He already must notice that he's the only one without a tie on, right? If anyone's going to say anything, it should be HR. It's their job to address it.

I agree. What do you have to gain by doing this?

[Anonymous]

Let it go. Pick your battles. Live and let live. If he does good work, let that be your benchmark.