Warm Weather Allows for More Casual Workplace Attire, but Certain Rules Still Apply

Tampa partner Steve Bernstein was quoted in the May 14 BNA HR Report article "Warm Weather Allows for More Casual Workplace Attire, but Certain Rules Still Apply." The article reported that the approach of the summer season is a good time to remind employees about what not to wear to work. "The business community has a tendency to relax dress standards in the summer," Steve said. "Something gets lost in the translation. We somehow go from A to C, and instead of seeing our employees report for duty in appropriate, but more comfortable, apparel, they skip right by the comfort standard and turn to the types of outfits they might wear to a club or bar." Steve suggested that employers periodically reach out to their workforce and "take their pulse on these issues." When considering a dress code, he noted that one of the things employers should consider is what kind of working environment they are hoping to achieve and how would relaxed standards impact the overall corporate culture.