Coronavirus: This will be the new costume code in the office
¿Cómo será entonces el nuevo normal de los atuendos de oficina? De acuerdo con la consultora de imagen Brenda Sanchinelli Izeppi, la pandemia afectará la forma de vestir por el uso de mascarilla y la forma de transportarse para llegar al trabajo, el vestuario se volverá más casual y cómodo.
“I consider that the trend in the clothes must be practical.They will have to be garments that, due to sanitary measures, must be washed before reused.A sack, for example, is used several times and is usually sent to laundry, now because of the situation it is advisable to wash clothes every day.This generates a more casual clothing trend with fresher and fresher fabrics, ”says the image expert.
This idea is far from being far -fetched and is already used in other countries in more advanced phases of pandemic or in full unwinding, explains Sanchinelli.
In Spain, companies that begin to receive their collaborators again are more flexible with the costume code, except in important meetings, according to the newspaper El País.Experts think that in Guatemala it will also occur and the suit will be reserved for extreme formality occasions.
Sanchinelli believes that this change in no way is a setback in business culture or "professional look", but simply a conjunctural transformation.
“Throughout history, costume codes have adapted to the different moments of humanity.This pandemic has marked a watershed in most aspects of our life and undoubtedly the costume trends will change, ”says the consultant.
“Before the pandemic, a marked trend towards comfort had already been allowed.For example, heel shoes were already losing strength, to be replaced by tennis.In these circumstances you can find a good balance of comfort and professionalism, ”he adds.
There is a limit
Haydeé Archila, image advisor, believes that, although there is greater flexibility in the costume code, professional appearance should always be taken care of, regardless of circumstances such as confinement and teleworking, according to
"A boss will never look good if in a video call if it appears in Pants, in sleeping or without shaving shirt, even if only the upper part is seen," says Archila.
The image advice expert warns that when clothing codes relax, you can easily fall into errors such as neglecting personal image.
“Although it works from home, the working day continues, and as such people must dress properly;Casual and moderate, but appropriate, ”says Archila.
In April of this year the story of the Broward County Judge, in Florida, Dennis Bailey, who wrote a letter to request that the lawyers struggled more in their personal presentation when they should appear before the court through the Zoom Platform.
“It is incredible how many lawyers appear inappropriately in chamber.A lawyer did it without a shirt and a lawyer appeared from her bed, under her blanket.Putting on a beach towel does not hide the fact that you are in a swimsuit, ”the judge wrote.
According to Sanchinelli, that is one of the problems of teleworking, since some people believe they can transfer the limits of good taste, professionalism and present themselves to the cameras as they please, but that is where the employer must specify what the code isof costume allowed in these videoconferences.
“In addition, certify the work areas to transmit.It even occurs that some companies could provide the employee with a portable poster with the logo and place it as a background when they wish to transmit, ”says the consultant.
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The advisor emphasizes that it is not the end of the suit as a work clothing, because this set provides a professional and elegant image, while favoring all types of bodily morphologies, but its use will no longer be perceived as inherent to success.
“There will be more freedoms in clothing codes.If companies wish to maintain a standard image, they must provide polo or cotton shirts with their logos and thus guarantee an adequate style, ”explains the Sanchinelli.
As for the use of the formal suit, Archila believes that there are factors that play for and against:
Advantage:
Disadvantages:
However, the image advice expert believes that there are also aspects to take into account when adopting a more casual clothing.
Advantage:
Disadvantages:
Taking into account the above, Archila suggests choosing a more relaxed costume for the office, if the company's rules allow it:
A pragmatic vision
Modern companies have turned their priorities when recruiting talent.It is no longer about how good a person has to choose a suit, but the degree of value that will contribute through their talent and creativity.
This is stated by Andrés Soto, country manager of ManpowerGroup, a company that is dedicated to talent recruitment.
“The new labor market and new ways of working will change.Now it is a little more aligned with the theme of skills and knowledge, ”says Soto.
Companies previously talked around the fulfillment of the office schedules, but to the extent that the teams make teleworking and become more autonomous and empowered, the look goes towards the search for results and the costumes ceases to be important.
"It is a process of transformation that will imply changes in companies' policies as we see that these will be more flexible with clothes, people will be more efficient, clothing is an opportunity to express themselves and show personality," says Soto.
According to the recruitment specialist, when people stop focusing their energies in trying to appear things that are not and apply at work, they generate ideas and that is what companies need to be more efficient.
“A comfortable person gives extraordinary results and works to conserve his employment, which avoids the company rotation expenses.In addition, it makes the brand more empowered and more powerful, ”argues Soto.
When showing that flexibility, a message is sent that people are welcome and their differences are accepted, says Soto."When talking about diversity we talk about innovation and sustainability," says the expert.
Soto agrees that the suit will not disappear, but will transform and workers can leave the tie to replace it with a handkerchief, for example.
“What should always remain is the cleaning and use of ironed clothes.A neat and disciplined image must be projected, but remember that, to project as an expert, a suit is not needed, ”says Soto.
The recruitment specialist invites people to train and learn because that will be the new currency in the labor market.
“The clothes will go to second or third plane.Keep learning, adapting, people with skills can decide where to work, the invitation is to continue updating, ”she says.