Employees are all up for dressing down

PETALING JAYA: Private sector employees are keen for their workplaces to follow in the footsteps of government offices to keep air-conditioning units at 24°C to 25°C to help cut down on carbon emissions – especially if it goes hand in hand with a more practical and casual dress code.

Flight attendant Regina Loh, 36, said casual wear should be allowed in the private sector on certain days.

“If it is ultimately to reduce our carbon footprint, why not? I can agree with the move (by the government).

“(In my line of work) it is understandable that I have to wear a uniform five days a week, but perhaps it will be good to sport casual wear on weekends or during certain occasions,” she said.

Real estate agent Jid Shaharuddin, 42, said having more casual wear days will not disrupt productivity or workflow.

“In the case of those whose jobs involve meeting clients, smart casual wear will help create a relaxed environment during discussions.

“But then, the dress code in the private sector is not an issue as many companies have adopted work-from-home policies,” he added.

There are other benefits to allowing casual wear in the office.

Tech consultant Dharmaraj Sivalingam, 40, said it is sensible to allow workers in the private sector to dress comfortably.

“This is also a way to reduce bureaucracy. As of now, it is common to have Fridays as casual wear days.

“We also know that private sector employees tend to spend more time at work, so a casual dress code would be more comfortable for them,” he said.

But this does not mean workers should chuck their formal wear, he said.

“We need to know how to dress accordingly. Of course, if there is a board meeting or a meeting with very important clients, it is only advisable to put on your suit and sport a necktie,” he added.

On the other hand, financial consultant Mark Looi, 40, said the government’s move to introduce more casual wear days for energy efficiency “might just be a wishful stopgap measure”.

“The climate here is warm and humid with a relatively stable temperature all year long.

“Regardless of the choice of attire and clothing materials, we will be hot and sweaty.

“That is why air-conditioners are installed in most offices,” he said.

On the plus point of casual wear, Looi said it would be more convenient than formal office wear.

“The time taken to prepare for work can be cut down, and I witnessed this first-hand in an IT startup,” he said.