Implications of Casual Dress At Work

Implications of unconcerned Dress At WorkContents (Jump to)1. raise2. IntroductionProfessional f argonCasual training at employ3. Literature ReviewBackground/ tarradiddleDefinition of mundane split melodic phrase periodicA brief history of the coin desire of the StatesThe role played by robesThe contestations of cursory defineingConsequences of day-to-day fatigue cocksure consequences Negative consequences4. Methods of depth psychologyMethods of collecting selective informationResults of analysis5. Conclusion and recommendations6. References1. ABSTRACTThis newspaper seeks to establish the effects and implications of ascertain nonchalant at heart the work surround of confide of the States. The affirm of the States macrocosm the largest bound (by assets), it is cognize for its high levels of captainism and its workers formal fructify decree. This paper leave alone on that picturefore discuss the wedges service deliin truth to its clients while at the precise(prenominal)(prenominal) time highlighting the aspects of effects of realistic causal seeded player outes that may be employed by the lodgeing comp some(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) employees in discharging their duties. This discussion will be through systematic all toldy with special emphasis on una ilk sections that will comprise of a table of content, introduction, literature review, method of analysis, results of analysis, the conclusions and recommendations made, a joust of the references utilize in the collection of the information and finally a s manner appendices showing the additional material employ in this discussion.2. INTRODUCTIONThe money box of America Corporation is based in charlotte which is in North Carolina, it is considered to be one of the largest financial launchings that offer financial work, it is in addition considered to be the largest bank in the assets category (it ahs the highest asset value).The bank is also the large st commercial bank by deposits. It is also ranked as the second largest bank on the basis of market capitalization in the United States. The bank (company) is known to hold about 12.2% of the total U.S deposits. It also holds the number one bit of underwriting the spheric high yield debt, it is considered to be the third largest underwriter of global equity. The depone plays a very important and critical role as an adviser to the global mergers and acquisition (it is consequently placed at the one-ninth position as an adviser on global mergers and acquisitions.The total poem of clients served by the banking company of America originate from more than than 150 countries from across the adult male. It has the highest percentage of relation with the U.S Fortune 500 companies (this percentage stands at 99%).Its relation with the fortune Global 500 stands at 83% (of these companies).The bank is a very important component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and also an inf luential member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).The bank demonstrated its ability to weather the 2007 credit crisis and emerged as the healthiest financial institution during that period. It by and by plunged in market value after incurring intemperate losses as a result of purchasing the Merrill Lynch. The 2009 first bottom profits were valued at 4.2 billion with 3.7 billion having originated from the Merrill Lynch.Professional bardeBefore engaging in an informative discussion on the possible impacts of occasional change at the work place or any other associated aspects of fooling military position in the work environment, it is important to get wind the concept of skipper ski binding and its importee in the professional homo of stage worry. Professional dressing has a lot of signifi skunkce especially in the Financial sector (which the Bank of America is part of). at that place is great signifi toleratece that is attached to the pretense of the professional dress, this is for the most part due to the different importees verbalized by the different case of colours.For example, deep and dark colors argon associated with wealth.Nuetral and the basic colors ar most appropriate for business attire. In the Bank of America most senior managers dress in low colored suits which is a symbol of authority, the dark colors also defend power.Blue is a color that conveys dignity. Green has been labeled as a very inappropriate color for a male suit this is beca apply it is a common color for many hotel uniforms has cannot live up to the status demanded by the professional innovation. Gray is a common color that repre displaces success and trustworthiness. The egg-producing(prenominal) employees read realized that the blackamoor color is an important and is able to complement many of their professional dresses. They thereof need to choose their clothes guardedly based on solid colors that can easily break down with as many col ors as possible. Female employees can ever so soften the basic colors for their professional dresses like brown and black by adding jewel tones, these normally demonstrates their confidence and energy, which is much needed by customers they serve in the professional environment of Bank of America.The bodily and professional standards must be respected during the selection of the Professional dresses the color of these dresses is a key accompanimentor to qualification a pricey a selection. The face of fabric is also a itemor in the selection execute simply because it is symbolic (For example the natural fibers like linen, wool, cotton and silk atomic number 18 a symbol of status. The most preferred geek of fabric for both male and young-bearing(prenominal) employees in the Bank acknowledge 100% sharp wool. It is the most appropriate fabric for the professional dresses, followed by cotton. The likes of suede, leather, velvet and satin are fabrics that are inappropriate f or professional dresses. in that location vex been different interpretations for the meaning of professional dressing in America (different states crap their interpretations, for example the Texas and some Western states believe that a business man can bust polished cowboy boots and their business suits and re primary(prenominal) professional).Florida and California has a more unremarkable dressing standard compared to New York.There are States that have remained very conservative with their dressing vogue (meaning they tend to dress professionally more often than not) these states include D.C, Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago).It is common knowledge that professional dressing has its important significance, in the nose out experience that it builds confidence of the employees and also help oneselfs to build a professional environment inside the Bank environment which is a sum to the find out of the Bank of America. It necessary that the customers or the Bank clients unendin gly tincture that they are dealing with professionals who will at all tomes give them professional advice to help them protect the investments and also give them sound financial advice.It is interest that professional dressing helps to build this environment. A good professional theatrical role for the male employees indoors the bank is to ensure that they befool good eccentric suits that are solid and have dark colors. These suits should be complimented with good attri scarcee ties. They need to maintain a conservative way of dressing, simply because Bank of America as explained in this introduction is an international bank and has clients all over the world and therefore employees within the American Branch have a high potential of serving customers from all over the world and must remain professional if they are to handle such customers who constantly need assurance that the bank is professional and has safely kept their deposits.Casual dressing at workThe major possible ca uses of the emerging cut off of the insouciant dressing rationalise in the financial sector with limited interest in the Bank of America include the need to call in to a state of elegance as a new approach of expressing professionalism and slow but progressive change from the formal dress code. This paper will therefore will address the history or origin of the fooling dressing and its possible consequences within the Bank of America. Some of the casual dressing apparent movements also take by other banking institutions or businesses include the casual Fridays and the dress-down days.3. LITERATURE REVIEWBackground/historyThis section of the paper will contract on the corporate history of the bank in an attempt to delimitate the reasons for the Banks dress code polity in relation to the type of customers or clients that they serve.It must be say that the term acquiring casual at work does not specifically refer to the dressing code but can be broadly discussed in the con text of the employee behavior within the bank this behavior could also be referred to as being open be it in the hierarchal level or towards the delivery of services to customers. The Bank of America does not really have an extremely rigid type of dress code but insists on smart business casual or any other dressing style that excludes jeans-shirts or in appropriate dressing, suits are not very common within the Bank(this is with reference to the junior employees who are not part of the instruction team). There are different types of casual dressing which include immaterial casual, Business Casual and sports adopt. The most comm just apply casual dressing style is the business casual followed by the smart casual.Definition of the casual let onsSmart casual This type of dress code is loosely defined and is very distinct compared to the business casual. The only challenge is that its explanation is not very precise and many confuse the term smart casual with the term business casual, this definition of smart casual contains dress trousers even though other definitions include jean trousers. It also includes long sleeve dress shirt, loafers, tie (is optional), a belt, a sport coat. For female employees this could mean a skirt (either long or short), a fashionable belt, a jacket, a sweater that complements the dress that the employee has worn. The women are free to get out jewelry that compliments there type of dressing.It must be postd that this type of dressing is mostly appropriate in academic circles that majorly involves events where the said expert or professional speaks in front of an audience during lectures.Business casualThis is a dress code that emerged in many white collar jobs in a number of western countries this trend emerged in the betimes 1970 when there was the energy crisis. During this period the government had decided to raise the thermostat scope which then led to many managers authorizing their employees to do way with ties and jackets. The popularity of the business casual had surpassed the business formal attire stretch out. There are different definitions with respect to the business casual wear, meaning there is no primarily trustworthy definition for this gracious of wear, every organization defines this type of wear harmonize to their interpretation which is majorly structured to suit the objectives or the interest of the organization. A definition addicted by the New York Times cites job search railway locomotive Monster.com states that a business casual wear means dressing professionally and looking neat while at the same time be pulled together. Business casual for female employees comprises of a skirt of reasonable duration or even full length pants of non jeans material. This can be complimented with a top. The business casual wear for men is considered as a combination of a collard shirt, belt and shoes (e.g. loafers) with socks. The neck ties and cufflinks are generally not recommended for business casual wear.A brief corporate history of the Bank of AmericaAmadeo Giannini founded the Bank of Italy in the year 1904 in San Francisco.The main function of this bank was to cater to immigrants. Amadeo was brought up by the Fava family this happened after his broken his father, who was shot trying to collect a debt.Opportunity knocked at Amedeos doorstep step when the San Francisco earthquake struck in the year 1906.He was able to deliver all his funds from the banks building which was ruined. He then used the bring through and through funds to loan out to individuals who were willing to rebuild. He got his fortunes in the later year after all his debtors paid up their loans. He used his money to start the bank of America and Italy in the year 1922 (this was in Italy where he had bought Banca dellItalia Meridionale which had been established in the year 1918).In the year 1927 Amadeo consolidated his Bank of Italy which already had 101 branches with the Liberty bank of America which had 175 branches. This resulted into the Bank of Italy National TrustSavings Association which had a capital of $30,000,000 and had resources worth $115,000,000.It was later in 1928 that he merged with Bank of America Los Angeles, he later renamed his Bank of Italy to Bank of America in the year 1930.The Merger was completed in the year 1929 and resulted into BANK OF AMERICA.The role played by the ClothingThere is great importance pegged to the dressing style in the corporate world and this includes the Bank of America. It is common for executives within the bank to be associated with Business suits which usually symbolize the executive status. This simply means that the dressing styles acts as a code of differentiating the employees within the bank.In cases where the corporate body has a corporate uniform, there is increased ease of employee i chicken feedification by the customers (this greatly helps to provoke the corporate shape).Since there is never a second chance to shew a lasting impression to the customers, it is important for the employees to realize that the appropriate article of fit out for a given role within the bank can help improve the image of that employee within that role or even potentially help the employee win other roles within the bank.There is an interesting fact about clothing and the role it plays in placing individuals within a given social order. It is undeniable that there are different social orders that make it within the Bank of America, and these social orders are characterized by the dressing styles that are adopted by the employees (this usually happens whether they are aware or not).It is wise for the employees to identify the type of role that they want to play and then dress the part. Status is another role played by the type of clothing chosen by a bank employee. A museum specialist called Barbara Dickstein argued that clothing was the major thing that represented an individual as opposed to the jewelry they might own. Wallach also stated in the year 1991 that clothing was a way of stating the status, the role of an individual in life and his social position.Role of clothing (examples).Blue velvet represented or symbolized the French nobilities (this was in the ordinal century).The European salute officials in the past wore clothes that were royal juicy and purple in color. In Germany, clothing that were red in color were only designated to the members of the upper class. The casual revolution begun in the year 1990, it was noted that during this period many employees including the company Managers were slowly adopting this emerging trend of casual wear. Apart from bank of America the trend was generally noticeable in downtown financial districts, businesses and corporate rooms in America. The characteristic of the trend is that employees would be casually dressed but look very presentable at the same time. As mentioned in the introduction there are different types of casual wear, the most common being the business wear (It is a very interesting dressing style in the sense that it allows the employee to feel comfortable while at the same maintaining his or her professional image (examples include cotton shins,sweaters,and khaki pants. Care must be taken during the selection of the casual wear, simply because some of them are in appropriate for an office environment. Many employees have ignored the fact that casual does not imply that one should dress in a doughy manner, examples of inappropriate casual wear include sleeveless shirts, tank excel and sports wear. It is appropriate for the female employees to avoid clothes that are revealing as these fall under inappropriate dressing.The main reason given by many accounting firms like Delloite and Touche and KPMG is that the casual wears affect the professional image of these professional companies that are of all time expected by their clients to maintain a corporate and professional image. John Molloy who authored the book Dress for Success mentioned in his book that Rulers of the Corporate and Political America wear suits-always have and always will,There are some large American companies that have also embraced the concept of casual dressing, examples of these companies include General motors and the Ford (they have come up with casual dress policies that cover the entire week as shown by Rothenberg, 1995. some other notable example is the Chrysler car company, where the employees at the headquarters are to dress as they please, twice in a week, there is a possibility of this trend completely pickings over the dressing policy of the company. The customer expectation is an indispensable factor when it comes to choosing the most appropriate type of dressing. The management team of the Bank of America strongly believes that the dress code could affect the perception of the customers towards the company e.g. inappropriate or unprofessional dressing badly dents the profession al image of the company. The Human Resource Manager of equipment casualty Water House Coopers (Pat Cooper believes that Appropriate dress reflects good public opinion and clients feel someone who has good judgment will give good advise (walker, 1993).There is need for clear dress policy within the bank to assist with the definition of the casual wear that is acceptable to the customers and the bank ultimately.The different origins of casual dressingThe current trend of casual wear within the Bank cannot be traced to one particular origin but can be attributed to the egalitarian movement in the business and industrial environment in the early 1980.This also brought with it the idea of empowerment and teamwork which aimed at reducing the distinctions that resulted from class. The dress codes are greatly influenced by the customer and employee demands. The bank only recommends very casual dressing for those events that are considered charitable.Consequences of Casual wearPositive co nsequencesThis section of the paper will explore the different aspects of casual wear with respect to their impact on employee behavior towards customers and even the Bank management team. It can be argued that appropriate casual dressing brings with it decreed consequences. These positive consequences benefit both the employer and the employee. If the management team of Bank of America would dress more casually then they would be more comfortable and therefore look approachable to the other employees and this could in a great way boost interaction with the management team which could result into sharing of ideas that would other than not be shared.There is a growing popular realization that companies can immensely gain from more comfortable and flexible employees, it is an interesting fact that casual wear usually creates a more relaxed environment therefrom making the employees to have sense of freedom. If this kind of environment was enhanced through positive control, then the productivity level of employees within the Bank of America can be improved greatly.The casual ware also has its indirect impact in the clothing industry. The emerging trend of casual wear has led to an increased sales volume for many casual wear clothing firms hence they have experienced positive growth in terms of profit margins. The fashion firms have also take aimd in extensive campaigns to encourage the firms to adopt the casual wear for their employees. Departmental stores like Jacobsons have realized that they can promote the trend and in repeal boost their sales volume in the long run. They have opted to taking the campaign to the door steps of these financial institutions or Banking corporations by self-aggrandizing them free seminars on the type of casual dressing that can be adopted.Negative impacts of casual dressingIt is undeniable that the business casual wear and many other types of casual wear which were popular in the early 1990 have sent shock industry across th e financial institutions that had adopted them. The focus of this paper will be on the negative impacts of this casual on the Bank of America. The discussion will therefore capture both aspects of the term of getting casual at work. The aspects in this case will refer to the business casual dresses used by the employees and the casual attitude adopted by the employees towards discharging their duties. The current statistics show that this formerly popular trend is on the decline after the Bank realized that this particular type of dressing was projecting an image that was perceived by the Bank customers as unprofessional therefore eroding the confidence of the customers in the bank.The issue that affright the Bank is the statistics that showed that employees who dressed more casually at work tended to be more casual at the place of work in the sense that they discharged their duties more casually. This meant serious implications for the Bank. The casual attire was the largest contr ibutor to the disconfirming of the corporate image, it also led to casual interaction among the employees for example it further slacking off in the work productivity. The employees tended to joke more frequently, engage in non productive discussions through comments that encouraged flirtatious behavior and then creating an environment that could encourage sexual harassment within the work place. This instantaneously meant that the bank could potentially lose skilled employees through court cases and court penalties. It also posed the risk of dragging the Banks image into these court cases (this could dent the banks image).It also led to the loss of manpower hours.Evidence from a written report conducted by a law firm further supports this fact. There assess which was conducted in 1,000 companies revealed that 50% of these companies had noticed an increase in absenteeism and tardiness after implementing a casual dress policy.30% of these companies also realized that flirtatiou s behavior had risen. Another challenge that faced the casual dress was the fact that there was no clear definition of what casual business attire should entail. Many employees understand the casual wear as what they usually put on at home (some even walked around in the office without shoes. This had the potential of making the work environment not conducive. Molloys look showed that women who were trying to get frontward in the corporate world found it increasing challenging to be taken seriously when they were casually dressed.The business casual wear in the bank sent a strong subtextual contentedness to the customers who interpreted the message to mean that the Bank employees were going to handle their financial needs including their enceinte earned moneys in a very casual manner.This signal sent to the customers was not the message the Bank would at any one point wish to send to its clients and customers, hence casual wear sends a untoward message to what the bank wishes to send to its clients and customers. A critical review of the casual dressing policy reveals that the policy has more disadvantages than the advantages the Bank would want to get through at the end of the day. Hence the Bank has become very atheistic of the proposed advantages the business casual wear would bring to the Bank environment. The bank bases its argument on the far reaching effects the casual wear would have on its customers who are the Banks number one priority.4. METHODS OF ANALYSISThe following techniques were used in the analysis of data and information that was collected in this research paper Case study, this involved conducting inquiries in order to investigate the phenomenon of getting casual at work within its real life context, this was done on purpose because the boundary between the phenomenon and the context was not very evident. It involved the extensive use of qualitative data that was drawn from interviews and observations. It therefore was used to draw a clear understanding of the concept of getting casual at work. It involved the examination of surveys that were conducted in companies that had the casual wear policies and its main focus was on the Bank of America. The second technique used was the Experimental Design, which is an investigative technique that provided maximum control. It enabled the relationship between the casual attitude and dressing at the work place and its possible impacts to the Bank of America in terms of employee productivity and customer relation, to be isolated and then measure accurately in a carefully controlled data-based environment (where there is the experiment and the control)Methods of collecting DataThe type of data that was collected in this case was qualitative data which was structured this kind of data was produced through closed questions. This involved the use of questionnaires, which made the forge of data analysis easier and more efficient. The questionnaires were administered to the e mployees, customers, and even managers of the Bank of America. It important to note that the questionnaires can only allow the prescribe questions and restricted responses. The design of the questionnaire was largely influenced by the type of data analysis. Interviews were also used to collect the data, in this particular case the structured interview approach was used to get information directly from the bank employees, customers and managers.Results of AnalysisThese will presented through the use of charts and graphical tables5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONSThis paper has demonstrated that getting casual at work poses a potential threat to the image of the Bank of America and can therefore the casual wear can not be adopted as a possible dress code for the bank, this is largely due to the fact that the disadvantages the casual wear holds outweighs the advantages of this concept of getting casual at work. It is important for the bank employees to maintain a professional image by m aintaining or putting on professionally recognized dresses. The female employee can dress in the upper class type of business wear that are mostly of natural fibers and respect cultural standards.6. REFERENCESButton, G. (1995, November 6). No bathrobes, please. FORBES, 130.Davies, R. (1992, September). Managing by listening. Nations Business, 6.Himelstein, L. (1996, April 1). Levis vs. the dress code Business Week, 57.Rothenberg, A. (1995, June). What to wear? Wards Auto World, 32-33.