TUC call for workers to be allowed to dress more casually

Professor Khalid Aziz, Chairman of The Aziz Corporation, the UKís leading executive communicationís consultancy comments:

ìWith the hottest day of the year expected tomorrow the TUC is highlighting the overuse of air conditioning in workplaces. However, air conditioning is vital if companies insist on maintaining a formal dress code.

ìAccording to research by The Aziz Corporation 37 per cent of UK directors require staff to dress formally at all times and only 52 per cent allow staff to wear casual dress except when meeting clients.

Indeed, ëdressing-downí appears to have fallen somewhat out of favour since it was hailed as the trend for the new millennium.

ìHowever, it is not a simple case of smartness equating to a suit or tie. If you look hot and uncomfortable in formal dress then you may actually look smarter, and sharper, without a jacket and tie. What you wear to work should help you boost your confidence and professional business image but this can only happen if you feel comfortable in what youíre wearing. With the Government calling for companies to reduce their energy consumption, perhaps the time has come to take a less prescriptive approach to summer work attire. By showing a degree of flexibility, dress codes need not be a matter of dispute.î