Power Suit vs. Workleisure
Whether called “power casual,” “business comfort,” or workleisure,” work wardrobes are changing.
In the past, workers dressed up for work as a way to project a professional image. However, with high employment rates and many workers hesitant to return to an on-site office, employers are having to relax dress codes or risk antagonizing staff already in stress mode.
Retailers such as Nordstrom are responding with marketing that points confused employees to appropriate attire for the post-lockdown look with phrases such as “workleisure” and “video-call-approved styles.” Gone are the tailored suits and stiletto heels of yore. Instead, knit pieces and flats abound.
While fashion watchers have not declared the business suit defunct quite yet—especially for those going into banking, consulting, and government positions—they do warn new grads not to look sloppy and remember to iron clothing. They also encourage job seekers to investigate what constitutes appropriate clothing at each company before showing up dressed down.
Maheshwari, S. (2022, April 29). The office beckons. Time for your sharpest “power casual.“ The New York Times. https://nytimes.com
Easy Way to Revise Syllabus for Student Success
Changing a few words on a course syllabus can alter a student’s perception of success in the class and improve academic outcomes. That’s the conclusion drawn from the Student Experience Project (SEP), an organization that promotes equitable learning environments and that is offering a free toolkit of resources to adapt syllabi designed to help instructors start the new semester on the right note.
Research spanning a decade has shown that when students feel welcome and supported in their educational pursuits, they perform better, especially for historically underrepresented groups such as Pell grant recipients and first-generation learners. The SEP toolkit offers advice about how to encourage a growth mindset among all students using the course syllabus.
One example suggests changing the term “office hours” to “drop-in hours” and adding a statement saying students are welcome to come by for help. This easy revision can mitigate the “hidden curriculum” of expecting students to know what office hours are.
Kelliher, R. (2022, April 21). How to make a syllabus sound more human. Diverse Issues in Higher Education. https://www.diverseeducation.com
Swearing at Work?
As formality in the workplace has eroded, language use among coworkers has followed suit, leading to some employees blatantly cursing. However, experts warn that swearing can derail a career. Below are some pointers on when and how to deal with this tricky situation.
- Know your audience. If you unintentionally swear and a colleague bristles, be quick to apologize.
- Never make cursing a default. Use of such language should be by conscious choice only.
- Avoid swearing to complain about a work situation. Doing so runs the risk of appearing doubly negative.
- Think twice before including curse words in written communication. Anything in writing, be it an e-mail or text that will be widely shared and seen should be free from curse words.
Feintzeig, R. (2022, April 11). Sure, work makes us want to swear. But should you? The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com
