Part 3: HOODIES, TATTOOS, AND DREADLOCKS: OH MY!
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer caused a stir recently when he relaxed the Senate's dress code policy. When this happened, many people were surprised to learn that there had never been an official Senate dress code.
Senator Schumer’s relaxation of the rules was perceived as an accommodation for Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat known for his preference for shorts and hoodies over traditional business attire. Others point to Congressman Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who rarely wears a suit jacket or tie. Feminists bristled earlier this year when women in Senate were told they must keep their shoulders covered when wearing a dress. The winds of change are blowing through the Senate.
My regular readers will remember the lively discussion that ensued after I wrote about Senator Fetterman’s clothing HERE and HERE. Some believe that in a political or business setting, a traditional dress code signifies respect for the workplace, the job description, and one’s clients and colleagues. Others said: heck, it’s 2023. Three years into a pandemic-fueled ‘work from home’ society, we’ve learned that people can perform better when comfortable and happy.
I recently attended Fast Company’s Innovation 2023 conference. I was surprised by how relaxed the people interviewing and those being interviewed were dressed. I saw no suits or ties. Women were dressed extremely casually, some wearing dresses, others wearing jeans.
From a managerial standpoint, I’m conflicted! Dress for some is a uniform. For others, it’s a way to show their sense of style. And for still others, clothing is a statement. Managers want to maintain employee morale. We also understand the need for a code of professionalism.
As so often is the case with politics, Senator Schumer’s decision led to controversy. Many Americans were dismayed to see the controversy distracted senators from addressing other pressing issues, including avoiding a government shutdown.
After a bipartisan backlash–finally, the Elephants and Donkies agreed on something–Schumer’s directive was then reversed. A new dress code standard has been formally established, requiring members to wear business attire. The new dress code, laid out by Senators Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, and Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, explicitly mandates "business attire" for all members, specifying that men should wear a coat, tie, and slacks or long pants, yet remaining vague about the specifics of women’s attire. The new dress code now also requires a two-thirds majority vote to make any changes, making it harder to change in the future.
Senator Schumer stated that Manchin and Romney had forged the right path forward. Senator Fetterman did not directly respond to questions about the new rule.
As our institutions are crumbling, so are the statements being made about how we dress. Supreme Court judges wear robes. Perhaps everyone in Congress should be given a robe to wear. The Senate's decision reflects an effort to strike a balance between traditional and modern values. And so, dear readers, I ask you: how does a manager enforce professionalism while accommodating individuality? Does our clothing really have anything to do with the quality of our work? I look forward to some more fascinating debates!