Do clothes affect promotions? Four in five managers say yes

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Do you look at an employee's clothing choice when considering them for promotions? According to new research from OfficeTeam, 80% of managers said clothing choices affect someone's chances of being promoted.

This sentiment was shared by 86% of professionals surveyed.

In line with that, the study found that workers put thought into their fashion decisions, spending an average of 11 minutes a day selecting an outfit for the office.

Interestingly, men took longer to pick out their clothes than women (12 minutes and 9 minutes a day on average, respectively)

By age, those aged 18 to 34 spent the most time deciding on their outfit (13 minutes), compared to those aged 35 to 54 (10 minutes), and those aged 55 and older (7 minutes).

To make choosing an outfit faster, 67% keep a separate work wardrobe.

Leggings versus tank tops: What is acceptable?

Compared to five years ago, HR managers revealed jeans, tennis shoes, and leggings have become more acceptable.

On the other hand, employers have become less tolerant of tank tops, tops that expose one or both shoulders (aka cold shoulder tops) and shorts.

What happens when an employee wears something inappropriate?

About two in five (44%) senior managers said they have talked to an employee about their inappropriate attire, and nearly one-third (32%) have sent staff home based on what they were wearing.

Half of executives who spoke with an employee or told someone to leave and change clothes were comfortable doing so. Slightly more than a third (35%) felt awkward stepping in, and another 15% didn't want to have the conversation at all.