As the warmer weather continues across the country it can be tricky to strike the balance between more formal work attire and comfortable clothing which is suitable for hotter days.
In living room without air-conditioner tired from summer heat young woman turned on floor ventilator waving her hands to cool herself, female sitting on couch suffers from unbearable too hot weather
Office wear has come a long way in the past few decades, with suits formerly being an expectation in most professional environments. A 2024 study reported just 7% of workers now wear suits to work, proving how much rules have relaxed to allow workers more choice in their daily attire.
As workers try to dress for hot days at work, UK and Ireland workplace experts at Click Offices wanted to shed light on the do’s and don’ts of office attire in summer. They spoke to an HR expert from People Managing People and shared the below advice for both employees and employers.
Experts’ do’s and don’ts of summer office attire for employees
1. Do consult your company handbook or HR in advance
Shane Duffy, MD from Click Offices advises: “If you are unsure of what your company’s casual dress policy is, you should speak with an HR rep or consult your company handbook before deciding what to wear. Different places of work will have different rules, with some being stricter than others. If you feel like your policy is too restrictive and want compromise you should ask your manager and explain why, is it that the clothing policy will mean you’re not comfortable to work and you need adjustments?”
2. Don’t wear revealing clothing
David Rice, HR expert at People Managing People, warns:
“Nothing too revealing. For men, no muscle t-shirts or shirts with the sleeves cut off. Shorts need to comply with company policy no matter how bad you want to show you haven’t skipped leg day. Ladies, cover your midriff and don’t wear skirts that would have resulted in you getting a detention at school. It’s not that complicated.”
3. Do dress appropriately for the type of industry you work in
David Rice advises:
“Dress code impacts it significantly. If you’re working in a field like finance, for example, you aren’t going to see much variation in dress code regardless of season. If it’s corporate, it’s probably business casual at least and there will be some clearly stated guidelines. If it’s a startup in tech, things might be pretty lax. Know the world you’re operating in.”
4. Don’t create a health and safety hazard with your clothing
Shane Duffy says: “When it’s very hot outside it can be tempting to turn up wearing sandals and loose summer clothing, which is fine if your line of work suits this. For some jobs, such as jobs where you may need to access a warehouse or handle heavy goods, exposed clothing can be a health and safety risk and must be avoided. Make sure you are well versed on your company’s health and safety personal protective clothing rules in advance.”
5. Do be mindful of hygiene
Shane Duffy continues: “No bare feet or exposed clothing which can be classed as not hygienic. Poor hygiene can be a health risk, depending on your profession. Not only is it a HR issue for offices but your colleagues will much prefer you to follow proper hygiene etiquette. If you wear something to the beach, it’s unlikely to be appropriate for the office.”
How does dressing for summer affect gender equality and how can workplaces ensure fair treatment?
David Rice:
“It really shouldn’t. Everyone wants to wear different clothes in summer, it’s part of human nature when the weather gets warm. What’s important is that it remains appropriate for the work environment regardless of your gender. You can put in rules regarding sleeves, joggers or at least a certain length of shorts or skirts. It shouldn’t be suggested that one gender is a bigger violator of this than another, that has nothing to do with it. Put simply, there are appropriate things for every gender to wear to the office and that policy should be laid out clearly and adhered to.”
Can you be fired for inappropriate office wear?
David Rice:
“Most workplaces have dress codes or guidelines, so it’s important to make sure you are familiar with these. Violating them can be grounds for disciplinary action, including termination. But, a single infraction is more likely to lead to a warning, rather than a dismissal straight away. “The bottom line is, to consider the environment you are in and if you aren’t sure if what you’ve chosen to wear is appropriate or not, then it’s probably best not to risk it.”
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