HR Dilemma: How relaxed should work dress codes be?

Dress codes have changed dramatically in the past decade. From suited and booted ‘city attire’ to the more relaxed uniform of the tech start-up employee, what we wear to work no longer defines what we do.

However, how far is too far when it comes to a relaxed dress code? A recent article in Chronicle Live reported on one company Director who admitted that he out-rightly refuses to meet up with reps he feels are dressed too casually.

Mick Brown, Founder of Sunderland-based Cooltrader, wrote on LinkedIn: “If any more reps arrange to meet me on a Friday not suitably dressed, telling me it’s Dress Down Friday, I will cancel the appointment immediately.

"The last one turned up without a tie and looked like he was going clubbing and that it was an excuse for a four-day week.”