Appearance at trade shows and when employees travel for business, representing the company, is covered by a dress code in most companies. Suits are de rigueur in business meetings and many companies supply polo shirts or cotton button downs with the company logo for people who work the sales booth at a show.
For several employees I've encountered over the years, personal expression was more important than the company's professional appearance requirement. This didn't fly in any case when the employee's responsibility was customer contact and service and they were the front line representing the company.
I chalk up their need for long hair; bushy beards; wrinkled, torn clothes; and / or visible, multiple piercings and tattoos as a sign of immaturity. Making a point that was so unnecessary as to be silly?
Whatever their reason, and I'm sure the reason was important to the employee at the time, their demand to represent the company in this attire, was turned down. In each case, the employee had the opportunity to continue to work for and represent the company, but in other ways. They were no longer welcome to play the role of the in-person face of the company to customers. In fact, company guidelines specify trade show attire.
Employees who travel on business trips frequently, and especially for longer periods of time, need ideas for packing clothing so that they look like professionals upon their arrival. They also don't want to weigh themselves down to exhaustion with more than they need and will use. With this thought, I came across a New York Times article about packing that made great points about how travel pros pack. Have you considered rolling your clothes?
That article took me to a travel blog, Another Flight Attendant Writing, written by flight attendant Heather Poole. Worth a read, she dishes and disses about her travel experiences. And, who would be a better judge of the 10 dark, dirty secrets of hotels, or recommended types of crew luggage, for example? You'll find lots of travel links from these worthwhile pieces, too.
Image Copyright Jack Hollingsworth / Getty Images
More About Business Travel
- Pack for a 10-Day Business Trip
- Travel Packing List for Business Travel
- Packing Essentials for Women
- Travel Packing Tips for Airport Security
More About Dress Codes
- Dress Code for Customers and Trade Shows
- Work Dress Codes and Image Collection
- Business Casual Dress Code
- Letter of Introduction for a Dress Code
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They are very interesting and necessary information. Thank you very much!