Dress For Success, Even in The Summer

Dress For Success, Even in The Summer

It’s officially summertime in the Valley. It’s hot, we’re breaking a sweat walking from door to door and the AC in our car always takes too long to kick in. On the weekends, it’s all about sundresses and bathing suits, but what about Monday through Friday? How hot is too hot? When are you supposed to ditch the hot pants and switch to a more conservative look while still trying to keep your cool?

This may not be an issue in other states, but in Arizona, it certainly is. Sure, you are told by your HR department or supervisors to just use your best judgment when deciding on what to wear, but when the temps far exceed 100 degrees on a daily basis, sometimes your best judgment goes missing.

It’s likely that you are not required to wear a uniform to the office, so with no official dress code in place, how do you decide how to dress for success? Most of us want to appear professional, and we want to be taken seriously. But with these high temps., most of us just want to be cool and comfortable. Can you have it both ways?

The following suggestions should help with your decision making during these scorching summer months. Because at the end of the day, heat or no heat, the bottom-line is staying prosperous in business.

Some questions to ask yourself:

1. What kind of working environment am I hoping to achieve? Based on this answer, perhaps a casual summer dress code is in order.

2. What has been the practice within our area and industry? Don’t reinvent the wheel, what works for others in your industry will most likely work for your business.

3. Is there any risk of implementing a policy that alienates employees? Always be respectful of employees to ensure they respect the policies of the organization right back.

4. How big an issue is this among employees to begin with?

5. Where am I prepared to draw the line, and what steps am I prepared to take to enforce it? Always make a plan before jumping into any new policy.

6. What is the most effective way to communicate company standards to employees? Have fun with this. Try to get away from an inter-office memo and call for a summer breakfast meeting or mid-day iced coffee talk to communicate any new policy.

7. Are we prepared to live with any internal dress code guidelines, and have they been reviewed lately?

Answering honestly to these questions can save your employees from some embarrassment and awkward looks at the water cooler. Try to implement a look that is comfortable, yet still presentable if a client were to make a surprise appearance at the office. If you can successfully follow these guidelines, you are well on your way to keeping your cool while still looking stylish and professional this summer.

Shayna Balch is an associate in Fisher & Phillips' Phoenix law office as well as the Chair of the Valley of the Sun Human Resource Association's Legislative Action Committee. For more information, please visit www.laborlawyers.com

Shayna Balch is an attorney in the Phoenix office of Fisher & Phillips, LLP. She represents employers in employment and labor litigation matters before federal and state courts as well as before administrative agencies. She handles matters across all facets of labor and employment law including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, restrictive covenants, preventive counseling, employee training, personnel policies and employment agreements. Shayna has represented clients before trial and appellate courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Arizona Civil Rights Division and United States Department Office of Special Counsel.

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