51% of Print Managers Implement Dress Codes

QUESTION:

Does your business have a dress code?

YES: 51%

• Our Fresh Artists staff is very casual in the studio, but we wear all black or gray when we install art in corporations with T-shirts that say “The fresher, the better!” — Barbara Chandler Allen, Fresh Artists, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Nothing revealing or torn or ripped from distress. We provide logo wear. When going out to a prospect or client site, employees must be dressed appropriately for the industry we are meeting. Hard-toed shoes for those who are around the pallet jack or walkie stacker. — Linda Fong, Fastsigns Oakland; Fastsigns Hayward, Oakland, California

• We provide logo wear for our staff. Every year, they get more stuff, so we have some employees with a closetful. If they’re meeting with clients, we ask they wear those items or something else business casual. No shorts. — Gina Kazmerski, Image360-Woodbury, Woodbury, Minnesota

• Workers should arrive ready to work wearing business casual attire. You will likely be standing, moving, and lifting for most of your day, so be sure to look professional yet comfortable. Jeans and sneakers are appropriate. Clothing must not be ripped, stained, or offensive in nature. Closed-toed shoes are required within the production facility. Long hair/facial hair must be tied back to ensure safety around our equipment. Jewelry, other than a single band ring and stud-only piercings, are not permitted in production for your safety. Tattoos that may be considered offensive in nature must be covered. Long nails are not permitted as they may interfere with production work. — Wade Neff, Strategic Factory, Owings Mills, Maryland
• Business casual. Jeans only on Fridays if you aren’t in a meeting, with the exception of the print shop staff that do production. You can’t wear anything you would wear to the beach, to workout, or to the club. — Tara Johannsen, Grant Wood AEA, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Short answer is “Kind of.” We try to be relaxed in our codes and realize that people express themselves in their attire. However, we certainly have our red lines, and we expect people to dress for their position. For example, the dress expectations for sales is very different than our painters. Our written policy is as follows: Acceptable personal appearance is an ongoing responsibility of each employee. Specifically, “common sense” should be the basic guideline and employees should not wear suggestive attire, athletic clothing, shorts, novelty buttons, baseball hats, and similar items of casual attire that do not present a businesslike image. As always, supervisors are responsible for determining appropriate dress for each specific work situation or environment. Radical departures from conventional dress or personal grooming standards will not be permitted. When dealing with customers and the public, your attire should be consistent with a positive business image.” — Gary Schellerer, ER2 Image Group, Hanover Park, Illinois

NO: 49%

• Too many factors (inks) dry, wet, etc. to worry about. We usually wear clothing with company name, not enforced. — Tommy Melendez, Master Graphics NYC, Bronx, New York
• It’s understood that the shop is comfortable, and admin is business casual. — Rick Mandel, Mandel Graphic Solutions, Glendale, Wisconsin
• We keep it causal currently, but we’re pondering on offering a logo shirt to our staff to wear at the office. — Carol Yeager, MY Prints, Los Angeles, California

• We are a production shop, and we get dirty. If you’re seeing clients, that’s another thing… — Christine Walsh, Alpha Graphics, Baltimore, Maryland

• While we don’t have a defined dress code, so far no one has shown up to work naked! — Brian Adam, Olympus Group, Milwaukee, Wisconsin