NEWS FLASH: FLIP FLOPS BANNED IN BIG BANK HQ!
Okay so it’s not exactly life or death, but the recent news that Barclays has banned their workforce from wearing flip flops is shocking to say the least; don’t they recognise the importance of style and comfort?!
Earlier this month, Barclays’ new Executive Chairman John McFarlane decided to ban the wearing of t-shirts, jeans, trainers or flip flops at the bank’s HQ in Canary Wharf, despite being happy with the existing culture and behaviour of the team.
Not everyone’s happy about the memo. Cue photo of disgruntled, suit-clad, bank assistant.
The ban even extends to ‘dress-down’ Fridays
The ban even extends to ‘dress-down’ Fridays and according to The Telegraph has specifically targeted Barclaycard staff because of their looser dress code, which is considered more in line with tech startups rather than their sibling suited and booted bankers.
McFarlane, who also sacked CEO Antony Jenkins, feels the HQ needs ‘smartening up’ in order to project a more professional image of the business, and appears to have a personal vendetta towards flip flops in particular.
We feel he should probably get with the times. After all, there’s evidence to suggest that a more smart-casual appearance helps to put employees at ease and get the best business action flowing.
The ‘Barclay ban’ on flip flops has sparked quite the debate. As McFarlane describes the new consensus for fashion and behaviour at Barclays as simply ‘business casual’, there appears to be differing viewpoints on exactly what this ‘style’ actually allows.
In fact, the whole flip flop debate seems to be based on the conflict between a ‘traditional’ and ‘modern’ stance on what business casual looks like.
When it comes to banks, it seems that this industry simply isn’t ready to break away from its conventional ties. Management Today goes on to note, ‘You wouldn’t want the person advising on your multibillion dollar merger to be wearing flip-flops and tie-dye shorts any more than you’d want your lifeguard to be dressed in black tie and spats. Sometimes conventional can be reassuring.’
Do you think we should be free to feel comfortable and stylish in our flip flops while working?
What do you think business casual should mean for business attire? Do you think we should be free to feel comfortable and stylish in our flip flops while working?
Or perhaps it depends on the industry we work in. Part 2 of this debate looks at whether flip flops have a place in other workspaces.
Are flip flops the new marmite in the world of work?