Accountants want to keep dress codes

The majority of accountants would not like to see corporation dress codes being ruled out, new research has found

Despite several banks relaxing their dress code policy recently to attract new talent, 66.7% of accounting professionals think businesses should not get rid of dress codes within the workplace, the job board CV-Library revealed.

Of the 1,200 workers surveyed, 72.9% disagreed with the statement that the traditional dress codes are out-dated and said they enjoy following a dress code.

Moreover, almost half (48.6%) of accountants said that dressing smart makes them look more professional to clients, while 28.6% said that it makes them feel more professional.

However, 83.3% said they appreciate that workplace dress codes have changed over the years, and 50% believe dress codes will become more casual and relaxed in the future.

In an internal memo seen by Reuters last month, Goldman Sachs told staff in its tech division to "exercise judgment in determining when to adapt to business attire”.

The policy change aimed to attract new talent by offering a more relaxed work environment, amid strong competition from start-ups.

Last year, JP Morgan also relaxed its dress code policy, telling its employers a business casual dress code would be expanded “firm-wide”.

Barclays also introduced casual Fridays back in 2013, but in 2015 Barclaycard’s interim chief Amer Sajed sent a note to its staff telling them that flip flops and t-shirts were not allowed, even on Fridays.

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library said, “There continues to be a lot of debate around dress codes in the workplace and whether it’s still a necessity to dress smart. Every workplace is different and the rules are very dependent on the industry or role that a person is working in, though it’s clear that accounting professionals recognise that dressing smart can improve their professionalism.

“That said, there is no real evidence to suggest that there is a link between standards of behaviour and dress codes, though I personally believe that you should always dress smart if you’re in an external facing role or meeting with a client, customer or supplier."

An e-petition calling for a change to the law that allows companies to require women to wear high heels at work sparked an inquiry by the Petitions Committee and the Women and Equalities Committee last year.

Over 142,000 people signed the petition created by Nicola Thorp, who was employed as a temp by PwC’s outsourced reception firm Portico and said she was sent home after she refused to source a pair of two to four inch heels after arriving at work wearing flat shoes.

Thorp called for dress code laws to be changed so that women have the option to wear flat formal shoes at work, if they wish. The petition wanted to "make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work".

Following the launch of the inquiry,economia asked the profession what their dress code policies are.

Source: economia.icawe.com