Is what you wear to work preventing you from getting a promotion? Is it OK to come to the office with shorts on? View this SlideShare from OfficeTeam to find out answers to these and other questions about work clothes.

1. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Things You Need to Know
About Work Clothes
Things You Need to Know
About Work Clothes

2. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
#1: What you wear can affect your
advancement prospects.
Source: OfficeTeam surveys of 1,007 workers and 306 senior managers in the United States
86% of workers and
80% of managers
feel clothing choices
affect a person’s chances
of being promoted.

3. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
#2: Your outfit can get you in trouble.
Source: OfficeTeam survey of 306 senior managers in the United States
44% of executives
have had to talk to
employees about
inappropriate attire.
32% have sent
someone home
due to their clothing.

4. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
#3: But your boss may not want
to talk about it.
Source: OfficeTeam survey of 306 senior managers in the United States
50% of managers had no
problem taking action when
someone’s clothing wasn’t
up to standards.
But more than one-third (35%)
were uncomfortable stepping in.
And 15% didn’t want to do it at all.

5. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
#4: Choosing what to wear takes time.
Source: OfficeTeam survey of 1,007 workers in the United States
Professionals spend
an average of
11 minutes
a day choosing their
outfit for work.

6. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
#5: Men and younger employees take
the longest picking clothes.
Source: OfficeTeam survey of 1,007 workers in the United States
MINUTES PER DAY PROFESSIONALS SAY THEY
SPEND CHOOSING THEIR OUTFIT FOR WORK
GENDER
MALE FEMALE
12 9
AGE
18 – 34 35 – 54 55+
13 10 7

7. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
#6: Steer clear of weekend wear.
Source: OfficeTeam survey of 1,007 workers in the United States
2 in 3
employees (67%)
have a separate
wardrobe specifically
for the office.

8. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
#7: You might be able to dress down.
Source: OfficeTeam survey of 308 HR managers in the United States
Jeans, tennis shoes
and leggings topped
the list of items that
are more acceptable
to wear to the office
now compared to 5
years ago.

9. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
#8: But don’t show too much skin.
Source: OfficeTeam survey of 308 HR managers in the United States
Tank tops, tops that expose
at least one shoulder (aka
“cold shoulder tops”) and
shorts were most frequently
identified as less acceptable
compared to 5 years ago.

10. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Source: OfficeTeam survey of 308 HR managers in the United States.
Some responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding.
THE FULL LIST OF WHAT’S IN AND OUT
FOR WORK COMPARED TO 5 YEARS AGO:
Jeans
Tennisshoes
Leggings
T-shirts
Open-toed
sandals
Extremehair
colors/styles
Visible
tattoos
Piercings
otherthan
earlobe
Coldshoulder
tops
Ungroomed
facialhair
Flip-flops
Tanktops
Shorts
More
acceptable 47% 46% 46% 35% 29% 28% 28% 26% 22% 18% 14% 13% 10%
Less
acceptable 15% 15% 17% 22% 30% 33% 25% 32% 37% 33% 33% 39% 36%
No
change 37% 39% 37% 43% 41% 39% 46% 43% 42% 49% 52% 48% 54%

11. © 2018 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
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