More firms are allowing workers to come to the office in less formal attire. Does this have an impact on productivity?
There is little research on the issue. The arguments seem to boil down to:
allowing people to dress casually makes them more comfortable, more relaxed and more content – and this has a positive effect on their performance.
encouraging people to dress formally means they wear a ‘business uniform’ which puts them in the right frame of mind – and this has a positive effect on their performance.
Perhaps we should just offer people the right to choose…. within certain limits of course.
it seems to be an irreversible trend, anyway – perhaps we are better just accepting the fact – until and unless we get some evidence to make us think again.