Over the years I have seen the office dress code slip and slide from neckties to golf shirts to jeans to now god knows what. Casual Friday has bled over all the way to Monday. I see people in Hawaiian shirts, jeans and Converse tennis shoes. WTF. Are we running a Fortune 500 business or a refugee camp? It's appalling. People have no respect for themselves or how our company appears to others. Dress for success. If you look sharp you will seem sharp. If you dress like a sloppy mess people won't much care what you say they will assume your thinking is a sloppy, careless mess. I say bring back a written dress code - slacks, shiny shoes, and dress shirts five days per week.
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Ahh that is what PDC stands for!
Thank your for protecting our dress code performance.
I really don’t like to ware cloths in the summer when it is hot. Maybe we should at least move to clothing optional el natural Fridays!
The same people complaining they don’t get promoted are the same one who dress like a fashion plate from a refugee camp.
I'm aware this was a long time ago and most other places have relaxed their own dress codes. Let me explain why some companies relax is because when employees are comfortable wearing what they're wearing, they're more likely to be more efficient in their work since it matches who they are as an individual.
Honestly, I do understand casual fridays and this being the only day to say wear sweatpants if you get cold. But other than that, companies can still have a more laid-back/casual dress code as long as it doesn't negatively impact the ability of one's work. I know multiple people mentioned "business casual," on here and that may work for all those who brought it up, but it doesn't and won't work for everyone out there. Every employee out there should be allowed to be comfortable and happy and dress code is capable of impacting that for some people out there.
Ideal dress code: I understand the no crop tops, no sweatpants, and t-shirts with or without logos, but with logos: nothing offensive ofc, and no bo--y shorts ofc. But I'd be lenient on the shorts during the summer time for both men & women and same goes for knee length dresses during the summer time for girls as well. The dresses could be slightly longer than knee length as long as it doesn't touch the ground. Or slightly shorter as well. For tank tops for both men & women tho, I'd allow during summer time as long as long as the armpit areas aren't super long since it's still a business nonetheless. I do also understand no opened toed shoes as well. Other than this, I personally wouldn't care what one wore as long as work got done. It shouldn't matter one's appearance as long as work's getting done. Sometimes, a more laid-back/relaxed fit for dress code is better for some employees than others esp. depending on one's age imo too since everyone's preferences are different.
Yes I agree. There's business casual and there's dressing like a bum and some people just don't get it. It's called disrespect for others.
Ah yes - nothing like having your boss show up to work in an amorphous and over-sized “sack of potatos” t-shirt.
Dressing appropriately and being neat in your appearance is important. So is wearing shoes in good condition too. Wearing tennis or sports shoes in the business office takes away from the professional look. Wear a good pair of leather shoes and make sure they don’t look your only pair either, keep them polished and scuff free. Apart from dressing for success, keep your hygiene in check. Shave that stubble off your face or groom your facial hair, if you sport that kind of look. Take a shower each morning and wear deodorant. If you have bad breath or BO, that alone will destroy everything else you are trying to do to look professional.
Let’s face it, folks, if you are exceptional you may get away with dressing like a refugee. If you are terrible you may get by just a little longer by dressing sharply and keeping your head down. But if you are meeting new people at work regularly they will judge you by your professional appearance first. Sloppy dress says no self respect, no respect for others, no discipline and most likely terrible work. You will be canned sooner or later. Maybe by me!
It’s clear the slackers want to remain that way. No discipline, little effort, not much pride. I value myself and dress as successful as I am. I have the money to afford it too.
Give me the guy (gal) with converse feet, long pony tail and ball cap who can top jam the work in record time over the well dressed moron any day! In fact I have several who fit that general description on my team right now... and several bowtie bozos who walked with the box not so long ago.
At this point we can label this thread “butt kissers anonymous”... “its not what you provide in tangle skills and effort but rather if you dress for success?” Give me a break! This attitude is exactly why I departed Exxon years ago. If this is where Chevron heads next, I have every confidence my knowledge will be valued elsewhere. You all can cower in the face of “group think” bullying enforced by a few worthless old ladies, but I suggest it’s clearly time for some old cows to take their large wads of cash off the table and head to the pastures so the rest of us can get some work done. If you’r already out the door then bugger off...Enough already!
Ditto. The job I want is the job I do. I came appropriately dressed for the job I interviewed for and got, so I continue to dress appropriately for the job I do (and want to keep). Dress down and be frowned on by the decision makers. Perception is reality everywhere you go, folks.
This Professional Dress Code thread is really interesting. I especially appreciate the point brought up by @1baag who asked; “What are you all wearing to interviews?” That question puts the importance of this discussion front and center. While some of you dismiss the importance of dressing appropriately for the workplace, the question he asks brings everything into perspective, doesn’t it?
-1bbqf: Is this annal-retentive focus on how others dress a g-- “thing”. Funny I do not see it much around the other petro techs I work with...even from the ones who are g--. Geologists are a more informal lot than some of the MBA types I guess.
That actually brings up a good point - what are you all wearing to job interviews? Are you showing up in the same cabanawear you had on the day you were sacked for perceived unprofessionalism? I reckon you put on a suit!
-1anrb: If smarty fatty has a party (meeting) and no one shows up it might reflect its perceived value... send me an invite for best practice lookbacks for RSI safe willow wacking and you can expect my seat to be empty when you lock the door. Now, where did I put my ball cap?
It certainly seems @1btjb is one of those meeting no-shows or Johnny come lately guys who gets locked outside the conference room. Meetings do serve a purpose you goof. I’m sure you had to have been laid off. Lol.
From what I see all the suits are in meetings to address the critical need to raise the bar from 99 to 100% RSI compliance, while those in “normal” (bus casual) dress seek some time with the bozos out of the room so they can do their job finding some oil. Many be some of the posters here could find their focus of more use over at the preschool.
I’m one who does look down at others who don’t dress accordingly. No need for a coat and tie, unless it’s the normal dress attire. But what really gets me steamed are meeting invitees whose input would be used, but don’t show up on time or are no-shows all together. Total disregard for the other participant’s time. When I ran meetings for my projects, I would lock the conference door at 2 minutes after the announced start time and take note of who was in the room. Those no-shows got a scathing email sent to their boss about their direct reports failure to manage their time and lack of respect to their colleagues. I never had repeat offenders after doing that.
Baseball cap and jeans - really snappy and classy business attire. Good way to say “it’s all about ME”.
I was recently in a formal business meeting where a participant, in addition to being about a hundred pounds over weight, wore jeans and a baseball cap. He looked like a complete idiot. Luckily he didn’t speak to confirm our suspicions,
Um OP this the Chevron site not the Exxon site.
Perception is reality, especially with first impressions.
Dress like a professional, you tend to think and behave more like a professional. Would you want your attorney wearing jeans and T-shirt to court or to a mediation? Same principle with school uniforms and dress codes. Rightly or wrongly, people form lasting impressions on how one dresses.
Easy to make up storys when your Anonymous.... I know a nobel laureate who gets all her best ideas working nude;-).
I know at least one executive in San Ramon who dared to wear denim on a Friday and was promptly sent home by the CEO. Your attire is, in part, a way of showing respect to others. Casual appearance indicates you don’t respect others. This will affect how they think about you and will definitely affect your career progression.
Look at the other company sites and this one is the worst by far.
Dont you young "schooled" (not educated) children ever shut the hell up? Some advice from the s-hole continent - grow up, you folks from the non s-hole continent need to put a cork in it as the world is long tired of it.
Go and put some fresh lipstick on.
-dlxp: This dress code discussion is just a part of defining a broader corporate culture. The O&G industry is on an interesting mixed ground, rooted in big steel construction (the skill of getting huge infrastructure financed and in place) and the need for high tech and innovation to process the big data needed for the uncertainty analysis that guides that investment to the right place. A top down military structure insuring exact standards and clear specifications is needed in development (bring in the uniformity of the “suits”), but innovation and thinking out of the box rules the day in developing new opportunities (bring in the flexibility of leasure ware). Exxon is tops at the military infrastructure placement, but to a large extend needs to buy innovation opportunities from others. Chevron is in my mind a better balance of both, but that leads inevitably to internal tensions. Best bet might be to leave me & my chinos alone to innovate in the ivory tower has you and the rest of the suits can get on with sales and construction contracts.
If you find anyone in the office who dresses inappropriately, just stop and smile, then ask them for their name. After getting it, simply turn around and walk away. Management especially should practice that intimidating technique. The disrespectful dresser will soon catch on.
I like to show off my autographed Johnny Manziel jersey at the office.
What point are you trying to make with Albert Einstein? Unless you are a brainiac like him and indispensable to the company, you best adhere to an acceptable dress code. You can buck the unwritten code of conduct and try to be a trendsetter wearing grunge clothing to a professional office, but you’re likely to be kept back in your career until the next axe drops. Your choice.
Albert Einstein never had to show a profit during his career.
avap - a good point although we are privileged to hear 9fhz in depth correlations - such insight so will go far as they are dressed for the part (unlike Albert Einstein who did not own a comb).
When on assignment in the colonies and not sipping a latte and dressed to impress in the home offices we continue to pollute and exploit and rarely "perform as advertised", tell that to the widows of the folks who have died and suffered due to our presence as I am sure they will feel better knowing you were dressed for the part. Yes 9ztc you do work for Chevron and this will continue irrespective of what you are wearing.
Looking at the number of responses to such a pathetic topic says it all. Try being this passionate about being successful without the need to come to this site and voice idiotic opinions. That is called pride and cannot be bought in a store and worn.
Old story of the manager who walked in to a techs office to see every surface piled with paper and equipment...he said “cluttered office cluttered mind” and walked out, The tech following the manager back to his office saw that every surface was clear and said “empty office...”. Similar sort of exchange comes to mind listening to your dress code discussions. For me business casual works best for actually getting work done... but I am sure the suit and tie folks look dapper hanging around the lounge.
I have often found a strong correlation between those who practice sloppy dress and other aspects of their work life - sloppy desk, sloppy timekeeping, sloppy thinking.
Casual Friday is a nice thing thing to have, but has gone downhill and getting worse with each successive year that goes by. I always wore jeans (good ones without holes or excessive wear) and a nice Oxford short sleeve shirt (long sleeve in cooler months). But I never wore t-shirts or jerseys when working on Fridays. I occasionally would wear Nike running shoes, but they were clean and new looking. Casual Friday doesn’t mean “grunge” you know. Show some pride in yourself and to your colleagues. Christ, you work for Chevron.
Yes, “casual Friday” is taken by many folks as “wear my most slovenly outfit” day. In our business, impressions count, internally and externally.
Yes I admit I think lululemon is magic.
Gotta love those yoga pants - admit it!
Just out of curiosity OP, did you start your career at Exxon? In your reference to dress standards at major tech companies, I would note great differences between Google and Microsoft... and similar broad variations in dress expectations across that industry (not just rouge “coders”). Personally I find a tie to be a particularly stupid garment without any useful function and dangerous around machinery. Dress shoes are also generally lacking in practicality...so why ware them? Out of “respect?...for whom? Some traditions are best disposed of!