Challenge Rules, and Others Will Follow

"One of the ways I demonstrated [to my crew] my commitment [to the principle of questioning and challenging rules] was to question and challenge rules to my bosses. In the end, both my bosses and my crew listened." -- Captain Abrashoff

I don't know how challenging it is, per se, but yesterday I commented on dress code and will try to make a difference by proposing the following. Got to give props to the following site:

Adapted from http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/dress_casual.htm

The objective in establishing a relaxed, casual, and informal work dress code is to work comfortably in the workplace. Yet, certain standards are established so as to understand the meaning and appropriate use of casual dress.

Casual Dress Code Guidelines

These guidelines will help determine what is appropriate to wear to work. Clothing that works well for the beach, yard work, dance clubs, exercise sessions, and sports contests may not be appropriate for a professional, casual appearance at work.

Jeans, sneakers and a more casual approach to dressing are allowed. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees is unacceptable. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable. Unacceptable would be clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your stomach or your underwear.

Clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable.

Business Casual Dress Code Guidelines

While the department setting is casual, traveling outside the department requires different decisions about attire. Business casual dress remains appropriate in certain situations, and the definition of “business casual” is intended to be the same as in recent years.

Examples of business casual slacks are cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants, dressy Capri’s, and nice looking dress synthetic pants. Other examples are casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee. Examples of acceptable tops would be dress shirts, sweaters, polo shirts, and turtlenecks.

Situations for Dress Codes Other Than Casual

Casual dress is permissible in all situations except for:

• Meetings with non-Department employees at or above the level of Assistant Vice President, unless expressly permitted otherwise.
• Meetings with people who are not employees, such as policyholders, agents, and auditors.
• Meetings in any non-Department area where a different dress code is known to exist.
• Meetings not on company property, such as off-site seminars.

Conclusion

No dress code can cover all contingencies so we must exert a certain amount of judgment in our choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty about acceptable casual attire for work, please ask your supervisor or Human Resources representative.