Bear Stearns Tells Employees Dress Up

Bloomberg ^ | 9/17/2002 | Bloomberg

[1L]

New York, Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Bear Stearns Cos. wants employees to suit up or ship out.

Two years after adopting a casual dress code at the height of the dot-com boom, the sixth-largest U.S. securities firm has reversed course and will require workers to don ``formal business'' attire, according to an e-mail sent to employees today.

[1L]

you are now arguing for the sake of hearing yourself heard.

Then...

or are you an exceptional linguistic dancer in your own mind...?

A touch of the pot calling the kettle black.

Name one described principal or associate broker that matches the terms I put forth.

Since you pressed me for a name, there's a guy named Karachi or Kirally or something similar who's now in either North or South Carolina (I don't remember which, after searching for him a year or so ago). He has a PhD. from A&M in finance, is a CFP, and now runs a financial planning and money management firm. I had him as a prof for an undergraduate class at A&M, and his wardrobe consisted of a faded polo type golf shirt, untucked, with shorts, and often boat shoes. Well, one shoe for most of the course, as he broke his foot playing softball. One day, he said he had to leave class early because he was meeting a client. I asked him what he wore to client interviews, and he responded, "you are looking at it." Even though that was 1990, I refer to the notes I took in that class as I thought he had a lot of good ideas as they related to investments. I also spent a lot of time in office hours picking his brain on certain things. I would have had no qualms investing with him, had I had any money at the time regardless of what he wore. And while I'm sure his dress now is more conservative, I'm equally sure his clients don't give a rip what he wears. I can't say for sure he can guarantee you 30%, but if you didn't think that I was being at least a little hyperbolic, you are taking yourself way too seriously.

Now, I've given you the example you asked for. How about answering my questions which I've posed to you twice already: would you turn down the opportunity to work with a good investment advisor who good get you a high premium on your return simply because how they dressed? Your refusal to answer this makes you the one dancing around.

[Dog Gone]

Of course an employer can set the rules regarding dress code. They can even require their employees to wear ugly brown uniforms like UPS does.

What I was getting at is why any man would feel it necessary to tie a piece of cloth tightly around his neck as a decoration. It's crazy.

[Dead Dog]

I saw a lawyer at an arraignment wearing a Scooby Doo tie with a powder blew suit. His level of competence seemed equivalent to his taste.

[1L]

My company went business casual five years ago (field service - office equipment).

I think even the most ardent supporters of conservative dress would agree that folks like field service techs, on site insurance adjusters, car sales people, and a bunch of similarly suited professions that must go outside (especially in the south) and still meet people look more professional in quality golf shirts with the company logo and appropriate pants and shoes. They look much better in these "uniforms" than they would buying rather inexpensive "professional" dress clothes because they don't want to spend a great deal of money on clothes they will soil and stain.

[Dead Dog]

..and my spelling

[1L]

This juvenile game of "it doesn't matter how I look as long as I do my job" is ending. The adults are back in charge, kiddies!

I think you have a point, and that's where I'm torn. On the one hand, you have people that probably need to be dressed up -- White House staff, some executives, etc. On the other hand, one can define professional dress as meaning something other than a dark suit, white shirt, and tie for men. Bush shouldn't come on TV without his suit, and I wouldn't dare go in front of a jury without one, but the typical office job doesn't necessarily require it.

[fogarty]

Bear Sterns is ordering its employees to 'dress up' but it's too bad that what is needed is a 'dressing up' of the upper management's ethics and morals. It is ironic - they are sharply dressed business suits on the outside, but on the inside they are still filled with corruption and greed. White-washed tombstones.

I won't repeat my oft-posted theme that management will to its utmost during this downturn to shaft as many employees as they can. The unemployment picture is such that right now employees will bend over for any amount of abuse - with nary a whimper.

[Captiva]

In other words, symbolism over substance

To a degree, yes. But the symbolism spills over into substance in terms of attitude, decorum, professionalism, etc. Both very important in my line of work (institutional investment management).

There have been a ton of psycho-babble studies about the effects of attire on people and they all show that people behave differently while "dressed up" and in my biz that is a plus.

And as much as I want some of the ladies in the office to wear sandals & thongs it would tend to distract me. ;)

[1L]

I also don't like seeing people going to church in "casual dress." It's disrespectful as well.

Would you rather they not be there? There are plenty of people who don't go to church because they don't think they have nice enough clothes. I would rather they come.

[1Old Pro]

NEWS FLASH: Solomon Smith Barney to require all men to dress in skirts and decides to hire more under age boys.

[Wolfie]

I have no idea why some here are so emotional about what other people wear to work. It smacks of dysfunction.

[Mr. Jeeves]

My company requires professional dress. There is always a benefit derived from dressing correctly. Just because this slovenly era allows looser standards does not mean that standards are not important.

I am just as appalled as the real Jeeves would be at the way some people dress for work.

[verity]

...make a more professional impression than many lawyers...

My dog does that without effort! :~)

[Sloth]

I have never understood a dress code for ANY organization that would be stricter than requiring that everyone be adequately covered with clean clothing and without offensive logos or slogans. Other than that I don't see any logic to it whatsoever.

[hot august night]

My family lives in a poor Southern farm town in the Bible belt, and I used to work in the convenience store down there during summers in college. As such, it was customary for droves of people to drop by after church for ice cream, milk, bread, etc. Even poor people in my town who paid with food stamps still had enough for one or two decent outfits to wear to church (you can buy a dress for $20 at the local K-Mart). We also have a poor black section of town, and you always see the ladies wearing dresses and hats when they go their local churches. You don't need designer duds to look respectful at Church; all you need to do is buy a cheap polyester suit and a $5 tie. It is not necessary to stock up on an entire wardrobe. Back in the Depression when people scratched and eked out a living, and were more religious and fearful of God, even the very poorest STILL made it a priority to look respectful for Church.

[southern rock]

There is always a benefit derived from dressing correctly.

What exactly is "correct" about wearing a completely non-functional, non-practical, uncomforatable getup?

[Mr. Jeeves]

Tradition.

[bankwalker]

What exactly is "correct"

Whatever the employer desires. Anybody that doesn't like it can go elsewhere.

[Redleg Duke]

There is another subtle effect as well. When I was in Engineering School at the UW, I used to wear a tie for almost all of my exams. It reminded me that this was serious. It helped focus me. I think that is what business dress does as opposed to casual.

[Redleg Duke]

No Eric, I don't mean style of substance. I mean that the way in which one dresses can reflect their approach to work. We have had all of the "style over substance" we can possibly handle with the previous "administration". If you will recall, they were really laid back also.