For Lenovo India, a tech firm, that means allowing T-shirts with a collar, jeans for men and casual trousers for women. The firm also found a way to connect its dress code with its new brand identity, ‘never stand still,’ and to reflect more energy, agility and an unconventional approach to tackling challenges.
“To translate the new branding into a way of working, we decided changing to a more relaxed way of dressing, as we want employees to be more comfortable at work and be at their productive best,” says Rohit Sandal, director of HR for the firm. “We don’t want them to consider the day of the week while making that early-morning decision.”
For PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) that has meant no longer requiring men to wear ties unless they are meeting with clients. “In the professional services industry, we have for long followed a traditional dress code, but as more and more millennials join our work family, we understand that their needs and aspirations are very different,” says Jagjit Singh, chief people officer for PwC India. “Over time, we have tried to create a more engaging and comfortable environment for our employees and this reflects in their dressing as well.”
Lenovo’s Sandal adds that it was nice to see employees come to the office in “casual clothing not stifled by any dress code.” “Smart casuals have also brought in more liveliness in the form of colours and energy - a pleasing atmosphere for everyone to work in,” Sandal says.