Dress Code Policy in IT Companies

Dress Code:

When you start working in a corporate, straight out of the university after holding your Degrees & Offer Letter, you find yourself completely clueless when it comes to choosing a dress for the office. It is generally acknowledged that most organizations will have some sort of appearance standards or guidelines that clearly state about organization attire and grooming practices for their employees to come in the work place. Many organizations are concerned about their corporate image and customer services and dress code is part of it.

Image has become a well-honed method to communicate business in corporate to the observer, and even today, the practice remains unchanged.

Many employers have questions about dress codes, in particular, whether dress codes can have specified different rules for the appearance for both men and women. For example, can employers prohibit male employees from wearing earrings or having long hair or can women walk in with casual clothes with messy style or not?

As per general rule, the answer is yes, as long as those differences can reflect
current social norms.

The Current Trend:

While Organizations are looking to make work more comfortable in every way, be it the latest in technology or the opportunity to interact with a global team, they also believe that they can expand your horizon further and help you contribute more innovatively, by giving you the comfort to dress smart. The smart dress code will continue to help you display a professional’s image to customers, potential employees, and the community of visitors. As an organization that focuses on quality and professionalism, it is imperative to maintain the highest level of personal effectiveness and that can in no way be compromised. They sincerely hope that you all will exercise this freedom with great responsibility. You will truly see that when you dress smart, you feel smart and work smart.

1) Services Company:

Normally the services companies have a strict dress code, so you will find most of the people wearing formals on all days except Friday

• TCS, Infosys and Wipro have a stricter dress code.
• Infosys has given some leniency after the arrival of the new CEO
• Accenture, HP and Cognizant give certain leniency.

2) Product Companies:

The product companies do not bother about the dress. It’s very common to see people coming in floaters and flip flops.

3) Start Up:

They particularly do not have any norms. Most of the developers and QA Engineers may come in “Out of the bed look”. Only the marketing guys and senior leadership take care of grooming

The Dress Code Policy:

To avoid any conflict, most of the organizations follow a Dress Code Policy where they list out the Do’s and dont’s. we are giving an example of an Indian IT company.

This policy is applicable to

• All full time employess, interns and contract employees
• Firms associates from other geographies currently deputed or transferred to India locations.
• Customers working out of this organization premises on a regular basis.

This policy may not be applicable to

• Visitors to the organization premises.
• Customers visiting firm premises.
• Candidates visiting from another company for discussion/recruitment. It is recommended that the HR communicates the dress code details with all potential recruits prior to the interview

What if you don’t follow the policy?

Well, first and foremost, your reputation will go down. It is important that associates display a professional image to customers, potential employees, and a community of visitors. In a customer centric IT services company, employees are required to comply with the organization’s dress code and maintain highest level of personal effectiveness. Management has the right to review the policy on a continuous basis and reserve the right to amend the policy at its sole discretion. With freedom comes responsibility, and the company advises the associates to be in compliance with the dress code and help the organization implement the associate-friendly policy. In the worst case, the HR or admin may be given instruction not to allow you to enter the premises. You will be politely asked to go back.

Leniency in the policy

While it is advisable to strictly follow the policy, but there could be exception at times

Ethnic Day Celebration: Exemptions from the dress code policy is made for special occasions (Ethnic day, celebration of festivals, office parties) on a case-to-case basis at the discretion of the Manager and HR.  In the coming week, you might see your colleagues wearing ethnic dress for celebrating Independence day

Maternity: Normally expectant mothers are allowed to wear long loose dresses to work

Religious Beliefs: Normally change to policy is completely acceptable across the globe when the reason is based on religion. For example, wearing a head gear or not keeping a clean shave is perfectly acceptable.

Medical Reasons: If you hurt your feet, you may not be able to wear shoes. If your  hands are fractured and you are using a sling, then the dress code policy will not be followed due to  medical reasons on due consultation with the  reporting Manager or the HR representative

10 Tips to dress smart:

1. Dress formally but don’t wear suit and tie everyday if it is not required for your work profile.
2. Be stylish but subdued.
3. Pay attention to the fit of your clothing: Trouser legs should break just above the shoe. When you wear a jacket, your sleeves should reach the base of your hand and show slightly. Shirt collars should button comfortably without pinching or leaving gaps.
4. Do not let belt ends hang loose.
5. If you have client visits scheduled, project managers may wish to consider a more formal business attire.
6. Business casual clothing should make you and the colleagues around you, more comfortable.
7. Don’t Dress carelessly – unclean, wrinkled clothes, clothes with holes or frayed areas are to be avoided.
8. Don’t Indulge in body jewelry or piercings.
9. If you are at a client location, follow the norms of the client place.
10. Formal or business casual is always a safe choice.

Image : Dress Smart, Feel Smart, Work Smart. (Source: Facebook)

General norms of dressing for Women

Source: Public Facebook page of an IT Company

General norms of dressing for Gentlemen

Create your own acceptable rule:

Before you get a dress code policy in your hands, my advice will be to pick-up yourself as a best fashion technician and decide how to put yourself in front of seniors and corporate. You know you’re beautiful and cool enough to present yourself.

The most  strange thing is clothing. Every woman leaves something that she would look better in, but every man leaves in which something he looks worse.

Best dressing can give you motivation to speak and in return what can you hear. Styling at your best can easily convey your introduction than explanation.

As an organization, most of the companies recruit the best and the brightest talent in the industry and might have a large millennial force that form the backbone of the company. Their policies should therefore be connected with that of the talent they work with, and they should appreciate this new progressive mind set. As an employee, you should put your best professional image forward.

Remember Work is worship….

And you should dress well when you go for the place of worship.