Jandal January: How casual should work attire get?

As we get back from the summer break and into a new year of work, the scorching heat may have you wondering what you can wear to the office.

But what should be worn for the 9 to 5? And have expectations changed since the pandemic?

PR Guru Deborah Pead did not hold back when speaking to Checkpoint's Lisa Owen about whether it is okay to wear shorts in the work place.

"Look, I think there's a time and place for shorts, absolutely. You know, backyard pool sides, casual. But in the office? No, and certainly not around our office."

Pead also had this to say about footwear.

"The same thing applies for sandals. I mean, I've had the question a lot. 'Can the blokes wear sandals?' Women can wear strappy sandals? No problem at all. But you know, unless you're working for Jesus, don't wear sandals to the office."

But not everyone was taking a leaf out of Pead's book.

Stride Property Group have been running "Jandal January" for the last few years in their office. People and capability manager Christopher Mackintosh told RNZ's First Up their staff love the initiative.

"People can come in jandals, flip flops, shorts, T-shirts, just as long as it's not too much like you're on the beach. So no-one in bikinis or swimming trunks, but casual attire is very much welcomed.

"The idea behind it is just to extend the summer feeling a little bit while at the same time making sure that we're we're working as normally, but just in more comfortable attire."

Out on the sweltering streets of Auckland, office worker Elle had strong views on the matter.

"You should never wear Birkenstocks to work. It's not okay. You should wear them to the beach only, potentially to the supermarket as well. Never to work."

Elle said she wears heels every day, and owns a summer and winter pair.

"Yeah Birkenstocks aren't cute. I mean they're comfy, but at work you're portraying an image of how someone wants to see you. A cute pair of heels is always perfect."

As for shorts...

"Shorts aren't okay for males or females at work. Nope."

Down the road, RNZ met a retiree who did not have a problem with shorts, but did have an opinion on footwear.

"Professional is fine, but I wouldn't wear Crocs. I draw the line at that."

Alex said she now works on a wharf, where closed-toe boots are essential, but back in her office days, there was a non-negotiable that came with dress codes.

"I think if they are expecting you to be suited and booted, good air conditioning is quite important."

Jason and Lavonne were holidaying from Seattle on holiday. Jason works from home, and described his style as pretty casual, but he conceded that dressing up did have its perks.

"When I do dress nicer, say if I'm meeting a client for the first time and I do dress up maybe a little bit nicer, I do feel maybe a little bit more professional in those moments. However, for my overall productivity, it doesn't seem to have it in overall.

Lavonne works in a bank which has had a strict dress code in the past, but she said that has changed.

"Post pandemic, we have really dialled back our dress code. It used to be very formal, suits every day. Now we do business casual and I can tell you honestly, production has not changed dramatically, professionalism hasn't changed dramatically. Customers are still taking us seriously."

A software developer RNZ spoke to found formal dress codes counterintuitive.

"It would feel weird, actually. I think I'd probably feel less productive. Dressing up creates a sort of too formal, rigid environment."

An HR professional, who asked to remain anonymous, said workers should be able to dress accordingly for the weather.

"It needs to be comfortable. It's really important for productivity and workplace happiness, workplace culture, to be dressed appropriately for warm weather. Provided you're not working in an environment where closed toe shoes are part of PPE."

Back at Stride Property Group, Mackintosh said from today, 1 February, its back to business as usual.

"Every year I will receive emails saying 'Hey, Jandals January is great, but I'm thinking that maybe we should roll out flip flops February as well'. So I always have to push back a little bit on that and say no, no, no, it's just January I'm afraid, but everyone's super keen on it."