Appearance of the Workplace and Workmates

Society Business and Career
1

salams

i dono if u guys have similar thoughts. we were discussing this among colleagues and there were other people who did think the same.

unless i am doing a social work job where i know the place will be run down but the reason i have is a noble one, i wouldnt want to do a full time job where the office is not clean and well maintained and people dont come dressed nicely and looking crisp and fresh. even if they are paying me much better.

while interviewing at places i realised i just deel depressed if i go to an office where the office is not well maintained, lights are dim, furniture is old and dusty etc, and people dont come dressed up well. its kind of depressing.

its always motivational to go into an office which is clean, nice looking and the people there have put an effort into their appearance and presentation. you just feel more light hearted and in a better mood to work.

and i realised that when i was interviewing candidates too…qualifications for the job notwithstanding, i do take the candidate’s appearance into consideration. i’m not saying they have to look like super models, ofcourse not shakal to Allah ne di hae jaisi bhee hae,…but i am saying that…are the presenting whoever they are nicely? wearing nice and clean clothes and looking decent and well kept? one interview candidate’s shirt was very old and his briefcase was dusty. he was a professor. i know some people might think this was shallow of me, but the fact is that i am sure he could have afforded a better shirt and cleaned his briefcase before coming to the interview? i dono it just dint give a very good impression…i’m just being honest…but i really couldnt help noticing that and to be honest it turned me off a lil bit, it did…

some ppl might say its being materialistic…but…i dono..i feel like these things are important…

i quit my first job after two days even tho they were paying me better and career aspects were far better coz i was not happy there. when i look back and analyse i think the major reason was that th office was run down…kitchen area smelly, carpet stained, chair covers torn etc, office dusty. the people working there, some of them used to come in not so clean well ironed clothes and the clerk used to wear a chappal and his feet were really dirty and just, it wasnt so clean.

hmmm…your thoughts on the issue…?

2

I think you’re talking about two different issues here Irem.

I do believe that your work environment is very positively correlated to your productivity. A well kept office makes you feel good about your employer and in turn you give in your best.

On the other hand, what one wears to work should be loosely prescribed and people should be able to express themselves according to their own preferences. Again, if you have that autonomy, you’d feel more encouraged and automatically you’d know the limits of how formal or informal you can be. I do agree that whatever it is you wear, you should come out as presentable.

To give you an example, throughout my academic career, I’ve seen my professors in a broad range of attire from very informal and sporty at the Dept. of Comp. Sci to very formal and starched at the School of Business. Now that I teach at a business school, I take the middle-road… I do wear jeans and a golf shirt or a denim shirt most of the times unless I’m running a graduate M.B.A. seminar where I would wear a tie or something too. I think when left to our own accord, most of us are intrinsically motivated to present ourselves in the best possible way.

3

Umar thanks for ur response...hmmm...i wasnt really getting at casual/formal...it was more abt cleanliness and overall maintenance...like someone could be wearing shorts but still look clean...but the example i gave u abt the clerk with dirty feet...and the kitchen area being smelly etc...i think that makes a huge impact....the office should be new looking and well maintained too...you should feel fresh when you come in...

4

^^ true say... no doubt about that...

5

agree with you irem partner :k:

6

Umar and Khanzada, great minds think alike innit :roman: