Obama institutes ‘business casual weekends’
February 2, 2009 by Fred HosierPosted in: Fun stuff on the Web, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
Suit jackets are no longer necessary in the Oval Office of the White House.
On his first day in office, President Obama was photographed in the Oval Office without his suit jacket.
While there are signs the Obama White House will be less formal than George Bush’s, there is another explanation for the lack of a presidential jacket. Obama likes it warm in the office.
“You could grow orchids in there,” adviser David Axelrod told The New York Times.
No-jacket weekdays are only the start of the more relaxed dress code.
The president has issued a call for “business casual” on weekends and set his own example. He showed up on a Saturday for a briefing dressed in slacks and a gray sweater over a white buttoned-down shirt.
How does this contrast to the Bush White House? Dan Bartlett, a former counselor to Mr. Bush, said one Saturday in the Oval Office he had on khakis and a buttoned-down shirt and he was chewed out for 15 minutes.
Tags: business casual, dress code, Obama
February 6th, 2009 at 10:32 am
I am saddened by the dressing down in the oval office. I want our president and his staff to look presidential and in charge. Like leaders. Call me old fashioned.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I say good for him, it shows his human side and he’s making a statement. He’s no different than the rest of us, he obviously dresses for comfort. Some executives beleive that if you’re dressed comfortably, you produce more quality work. Go ahead Mr. President, be casual and comfortable.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I have to agree with JBird. We don’t have “casual” days here. We have found its better to have everyone dress in a professional manner, because it brings out the best in them.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Being presidential is how you act not how you dress. But I also think that when our new president is dressed for formal occasions no one looks more presidential.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:52 am
I am not a big fan of casual days because I think employees take it entirely too far. Some people come to work dressed like they are about to clean out their garage. I do think it is nice that they can be a little more casual on the weekends. Being business formal 7 days a week can be a bit much.
Bush was business formal all the time and I guess to some looked very much presidential and he was a terrrible leader. At this point with the economic crisis that we are in I am more focused on how the presidents addresses the issues then what he wears on the weekend.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I agree with JBird. It is disrespectful to our country’s House. President Obama likes warmth in the Oval Office….Why isn’t the thermostat turned down since he wants all of us to conserve energy?
February 6th, 2009 at 10:53 am
JBird, old fashion! It’s not always a bad thing.
Dressing down has it’s advantages, such as, not using up so much AC to keep all the suits cool for wearing so much (undershirt, long sleeve dress shirt, suit jacket & neck tie). I also agree with Jeani statement. Way to go!
February 6th, 2009 at 10:54 am
I would prefer to see everyone dressed professionally. Casual days tend to produce casual work.
I hate to get political here, but – he likes it warm in his office? What was that about everyone setting their thermostats back to save energy?
February 6th, 2009 at 11:40 am
I work in a “plant” type environment even though I have an “office job” and am a member of Management. When I am in the office doing day to day things, I wear blue jeans and a nice shirt or sweater and STEELTOED boots and a hard hat. ..which does not make me less professional. If I have a meeting scheduled with an outside vendor, I will wear slacks or something “nicer”. I find when I “dress down” my employees can related better to me and I can go out into the plant, stand with them, grab a broom, have them show me how to perform a job function right along with them. If I was in a suit, I couldn’t do this. I understand the theory that “dressing more professional” brings out the best in people, however I don’t necessarily agree with it. People with a strong work ethic will do their best work using that work ethic no matter what they are wearing…suits or khakis.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Weekends are not typically considered “business days” and therefore business casual may be appropriate on those days.
Weekdays are another story. If you have “casual Friday” are you telling your customers that they are less important and do not deserve the same amount of customer service/respect/professionalism as they do on any other day of the workweek? Although employee satisfaction (comfort) is one factor, the final decision on any topic should be how will this affect customer service and the bottom line.
Business formal: full suit & tie?
Business semi-formal: Slacks, button down shirt, tie?
Business casual: Khaki’s, button down shirt, sweaters, no ties?
Regardless of dress type you have to be very specific, as SC says, there are always those few who will go to far.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Thank you very much Jackie T. for that lovely statement. I too am in a ‘plant’ environment with an ‘office job’. We adapt just like you for the circumstances. Even our VP of manufacturing and the ops mgr. fall into that category. It’s not what you wear, it’s how you conduct yourself.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I work in a manufacturing plant in which we dress very casual. However I think as the leaders of our country they should be dressed VERY PROFESSIONAL. All leaders in all countries view our government how do you want them to be perceived?
February 6th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Jackie – I work in a plant environment also and dress much as you do, except jeans only on casual Friday. I think dressing like a professional encourages people treat you like one.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I don’t feel that the way you dress dictates the way you work. If you are brought up to have a good work ethic, what you wear doesn’t make a difference. Personally, I find that I am more productive in a pair of jeans, nice shirt/sweater and work type shoes (no gym shoes). I am comfortable. I work in an office and I am the office manager. We have a dress code policy for casual day. It specifies what is expected as casual. Our production does not go down on these days. As far as the president, I see nothing wrong with business casual on the weekend. When he needs to he dresses the part. As SC stated, Bush was formal all times and he was a terrible leader. People should worry about what he is doing in office rather than what he is wearing.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I don’t think we are talking about my office or your plant. We are talking about the most respected office in the United States. It is the office where the most important decisions that effect our lives and our country are made. It is not a place where you discuss should we purchase a new copier or we have an employee that has been late to work on a continual basis. We are talking about major decisions, economy and military. I do think that out of respect, everyone who enters that office should be dressed appropriately. President Obama will gain respect from others if he is dressed more professionally rather than casually.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
It seems like the office of President is changing everything these days. Just curious why he is okay with running his office heater at high temps when the rest of us peons are supposed to be cutting back for the common good? I guess his promise that we can’t run our thermostats at 72 all the time does not apply to him. By the way, dressing the part does have an affect on how people perceive you. No one would expect plant office managers to wear suits but office managers in a service industry could certainly be expected to do so. “Been there”; we are worried about what he is doing in office since it is having grave consequences already to our jobs and staff. We may not be able to afford suits anymore once he is through.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Exactly what I was trying to say, Mel. I’m tired of the hypocrisy of this administration already. I guess “transparency and accountability” counts for us, but not them.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I agree with Pspencer. We are supposed to conserve enery and I bet heating the president’s office is like heating my house! Conserve White House!
I have noticed at my work place that the business casual is sometimes taken too far too. And that employees tend to act more professional and courteous when they are not dressed casually and actually produce more work. Go figure.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Mel,
don’t appreciate your comment. You obviously don’t know how to read. This artical is about what is being worn, not the job. I was stating that instead of worrying about what he is wearing, as this article seems to be exactly about that, people should worry about the job itself.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Casual dress is never good for a professional office. Business casual is acceptable on Fridays and weekends when important meetings are not scheduled. However, The White House is all about important meetings and important people. Mr. Obama wanted the #1 professional spotlight offered by this country and he should have to be totally professional whenever it is anything but “family or casual” occasions.
Why is the heat up so high in the White House? He should be setting the prime example for the country. It’s not a good example of “conserving energy”. It is a good example of “using other peoples money to do what they cannot afford to do”.
It is another prime example of “Do as I say, not as I do” Very sad!!!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
At the end of the day respect the person. I work in a manufacturing setting that dresses down but I came from a corporate environment, which of course was more professional. Just because you dress professional doesn’t mean you are better at getting the job done. I could care less about how anyone is dressing at the white house. What I do care about are the issues and the people they affect. You see, I understand that this is not just about me. We as a society are always worried about things that don’t concern us. I can walk into the corporate office in jeans and a button down and the level of respect that I get from the CEO is no different. I have proven myself by the quality of work and dedication I provide. Does anything else really matter? Dressing professional doesn’t bring out anything that isn’t already in you!
Obama…….Do you!!!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
It’s sad that some people in the United States cannot look at this for what it is, weekend casual attire. So what? Does anyone think President Obama is too dumb to know how to dress for the occasion? I’m sure if a weekend situation called for strict business attire, he would dress accordingly. As for Mr. Bush, he was using business dress to appear smart. Let’s stop looking for reasons to find fault with our President and allow him to do his job.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I think the denigrating of the Oval House was done by the President that had oral sex there, not the one who dressed down a bit. I for one am glad to see some changes and any sign that it is NOT “business as usual” is fine with me!
And for the record, I work much more productively/efficently when I am comfortable in the clothes I’m wearing.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Dione and Ross,
Well said.
As far as his thermostat, no where in this article does it state what his is set at. Just because someone said it is hot enough to grow orchids? Maybe that persons internal thermostat runs warm. In our office, everyone else is comfortable and I am hot. I “run” warm.
Also, people are losing the main focus here…. the job.
Dione and Ross hit the nail on the head!!!
February 6th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
It’s been proven that dress does indeed affect how we are viewed. It’s ludicrous to say otherwise, but I understand the more casual dress on a weekend. I agree with the views of the office being kept warm when we’re all asked to conserve. My thermostat at home AND at work is kept at 68 to conserve. Our system has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in cutting back the termostate in winter & up in the summer. Employees complain, but it’s saving when we need to save. It would be a much better statement if the Oval Office was kept at a conservative temperature, rather than warm. That does sound like even tho’ we’re being asked to conserve, it doesn’t go for the leaders.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Jeani,
Personally I prefer the business suit. I have always believed that the way you dress does have alot to do with how you conduct yourself I don’t so much have a problem with the fact that the dress is casual at time. There is a differance between business casual and “I don’t care” casual.
My problem is your statement that he is just like the rest of us!!!
This man was not my choice for president but I certainly hope that he isn’t just like the rest of us and for anyone to think he is, is just silly.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
It disgusts me that Obama wont dress appropriatly. He is not supposed to be’”like everyone else.” He is supposed to be the President of the United States and the most powerful man in the world. I am embarrased if other countries see that our President doesn’t have the decency to dress appropriatly. Didn’t Clinton embarrass us enough?
February 6th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
I like business formal. My current company is business casual. I think that when President Obama has an engagement during the weekend where he needs to be business formal he will dress in that manner, but for people to think that he is being disrepectful of the white house or of his position because he is wearing business casual attire is ridiculous.
Just think about all the CEO’s (many in the financial industry) who were highly respected because of their position, demeanor and their appearance……..they not only created a mess of their companies with their greed, but they also have put hard working people out of work. In some places these CEOs have devastated entire communities, but who cares they were dressed in a suit and a tie everyday and were respected by all.
We need to change our mindset and focus on what is truly important. Especially now! Measure a person on the content of their character.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
As I said he is not other people- including CEO’s. He is the President of the United States. How he dresses is an indicator of his character and how he views his position. What is wrong with being appropriate?
February 6th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Hey Been There,
Try not to get personal in your attacks. We are all professionals here and expressing our opinions. I did not attack you but merely reiterated a statement from a prominent speech given by your chosen “one” about Americans not being able to drive our SUVs and keep our thermostats at 72 all the time. Fortunately, I read more than this e-mail letter for my information. The clothes are part of perception of the position and he holds the highest position in our country. I don’t think it’s asking too much for him to present a professional image and for all his staff to do the same. I am certain he will do the same job regardless of what he wears. Therein lies the problem.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Appropriate in whose eyes? You guys are killing me. Let me enlighten you. Some times regular folk want and deserve someone that they can relate to. I know that’s probably killing some of you but get over yourselves. This reminds me of how people react when a key celebrity does something terrible and now their not a good role model anymore. Really? WAKE UP! This may come as a shock to some of you, but he’s just a man. What Obama is trying to do is make himself approachable to the everyday person. Yes, he is the President of the UNITED States. Key word … United. Something we are obviously not. That’s the first problem.
Have a little more confidence in someone who is not afraid to admit when he makes a mistake. Someone who really wants to stay in touch with the american people. You guys want somebody in a nice suit. I want somebody who is in touch with what’s going on. At the end of the day, will a suit improve our economy? No……..but I guess he will look good. Wow! Is that the change we really need?
February 7th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Being President is a “suit and tie” job. It always has been. The Oval Office is the most prestigeous office in our country. It comes with the job, or atleast it did. Would all of you support someone in your office for breaking policy? I think not.
Oh, I forgot. He’s the President and it’s time for a change.
February 8th, 2009 at 8:44 am
President Obama has decided to have “business casual” dress on the weekends – I say Hooray, he did make his campaign about change. As some have said, clothes do not make a person. For those who think casual days have gone too far, seems like a management/HR issue in your company. Being President is not a “suit and tie” job–I expect our current President to have the sense to determine what days he can be casual and which days require suit and tie.
Finally, for those who are bashing him after three (3) weeks in office – McCain lost, get over it and move forward. President Obama is your leader, Commander-in-Chief, etc. If you don’t like it, move to another country.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Well Barb, you aren’t very professional when it comes to message boards when you attack someone you don’t even know. We’re just voicing opinions, not attacking one another. The president puts his pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us. Maybe you ought to get off your high horse.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:06 am
I think that formal should be the norm in the White House – dressing down is inappropiate. Terrible excuse through – “Obama likes it warm in the office.” – it happens to be winter! Maybe as tax payers we should hope they should turn down the heat and add a suit coat to lower their heating bill and reduce their green house gas emissions…
February 9th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I guess we have a lot of uber-conservative Republicans in this forum. I am way more embarrassed by most everything that George W. Bush said and did than anything Obama could wear, Josey. It’s on the weekends for goodness’ sake. I’m sure he’s not wearing a track pants and a hoodie. Why wouldn’t he be taken seriously? He’s the first intelligent person to hold that office in 8 years.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Ever heard the old saying:
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover?
February 12th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Jeani,
I certainlt didn’t mean to upset you with my comment.
Like I said I have always believed that how you dress does effect how you conduct yourself, at the same time I believe that President Obama has the good sense to not embarrass the American people by his clothing. Whether he wears casual or business I am sure he will conduct himself as he should.
Like I said before he is not the man I voted for but he is our president know and I wish him nothing but the best–no matter how he is dressed.
P.S. MCDiaz–for you to say he is the 1st intellegent man to hold the office in 8 years is ridiculous. You may not agree with the things the president did–but he is an intellegent man.
February 12th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I think it’s a great idea. By the way, the cloths don’t make the man or women. What’s most important is getting the job done.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Dressing up someone who is incompetent doesn’t change the fact that they are incompetent. Nor does the opposite hold true. We have a simple clothing policy. Clean clothes in good repair that are weather appropriate. Except, Saturday, no pool or beach clothing at the office. Now this applies to the office only. Field work requires a uniform.
So I guess it’s kind of funny that the majority of the people who come into the office are suit and ties.
February 19th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Little by little our American values begin to erode. The resolve and discipline that made this country the best in the world did not come without a big price. We can easily recall what activities Clinton liked to use the Oval office for. Let’s maintain some reverence. Is that so hard for the leader of the most powerful nation on earth? Can we set an example to the world of what we stand for, to do what is right, instead of what is easy. We as Americans should not let the values that got us here be discounted no matter how inconsequential. Yes, this are different times, but when we begin to let the little things slip – it becomes a pattern. The powerful Roman Empire fell because no one cared to keep it up, it slowly eroded. I do not want my President to look like a tourist at the White House to me or anyone else in this troubled world. For God’s sake, look presidential. Instill trust and confidence to our citizens and world. He is the President, it comes with the job.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Mercury, Amen to what you said so eloquently…..Yes, we are talking about the highest position in the land….President of the United States of America not some corporation or company. We’ve lowered our standards enough…..USA should be above the fray!