Your clothes, the image of your business

Many SMEs dispense with the elegant wardrobe to satisfy their employees and be close to customers.But before changing the clothing code, the impact on the image of the company must be evaluated.

Following the trend initiated by great entrepreneurs such as Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs, "the costumes and ties are disappearing from SMEs," says José Ramón Pin, a professor of human behavior at IESE.Normally, the formality of the clothing code moves in a balance between employee satisfaction and the image before customers.Wearing more comfortable and casual clothes usually increase workers' satisfaction and, according to some studies, raise their productivity.But it can also convey a sense of lack of professionalism to consumers, suppliers or financial entities.

However, in the case of many SMEs, the effect that occurs is that customers perceive their relationship with the company as closest and closer.However, for this change to be positive there are a number of aspects that should be taken into account:

Su ropa, la imagen de su negocio

The company's clothing code is enforceable to all workers, who can be sanctioned and even dismissed if they do not comply with the same.The limits covered are not clearly specified in the legislation, so they have been the subject of several legal contentious.In general, the margins are quite wide: certain clothing can be banned (sneakers, t -t -shirts or tattoos and piercings), establish basic makeup standards and demand that the beard be well maintained, that the hair is not too longand that is not stissed too striking.However, the most recent controversies have come following the inequality between men and women.In May 2015, the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid annulled the sanction to a national heritage guide that refused to get uniform and carry heels for considering it "sexist" and "inappropriate for his dignity".The sentence established that there was discriminatory treatment because men were allowed to wear flat shoe to perform the same functions.It is therefore an aspect that business owners must pay special attention when establishing the company's clothing code.