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!In other words, symbolism over substance.
This is news because its one company bucking an overwhelming and probably irreversible trend that's already completely taken over manufacturing as well as the high-tech world. In the last five years, I've seen precisely one facility that included manufacturing and had a "business attire" dress code. Even headquarters-only facilities have mostly gone casual due to the influence of the plants. These days, too many "suits" in manufacturing indicates a disconnect between management and production.
I work for a Tier 2 automotive supplier. We're usually jeans and golf shirts unless customers are visiting, and its only certain customers. We don't dress up for our largest because their rep doesn't.
So-called "business formal" attire is pretty much limited to those organizations dominated by the 50+ crowd, or those who have dealings with the public, particularly the older portion. Banks, certain other financial institutions, and government.
-Eric
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. ;)