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I’ve never liked “casual Friday.” I enjoy any opportunity to dress comfortably; but if it’s okay to dress that way one day a week, why not every day?
What’s more, casual Friday has always felt a little patronizing to me — a harmless tidbit for the little people.
Seems to me that most C-suite executives don’t think casual Friday is worth much, because they don’t indulge in it much. Sure, a CEO may try to show her oneness with the workers by wearing sneakers (immaculately white, not a scuff anywhere). Or a CFO might put on slacks and no jacket rather than his customary black pin-striped three-piece.
But genuine casualness, the sweatshirt and age-faded jeans variety, is for people who (in the eyes of the C-suite) don’t have much, so a casual day means a lot to them.
Those who wield real power (or aspire to it) don’t need a casual Friday. The ones who work in companies that care about clothes decided long ago to dress for success rather than comfort. Some of them probably prefer it.
Besides, they have their eyes on more substantial perks than casual clothes — perks like stock options and profit sharing. And who can blame them?
So while I appreciate any gesture toward casual clothes in the workplace, I’ve rarely taken advantage of it.
Then again, I didn’t go in for my high school’s official senior “Ditch Day,” either.