Dress codes are a contentious subject in workplaces. Gen Y workers favor a more casual style than older workers, who are often uncomfortable with the idea of wearing casual clothes to work. Human resources departments often find it difficult to enforce company dress codes appropriately. Managers find that one of the ways to address this situation is by using the contingency approach. Which of the following is the best example of the contingency approach to management?
A) Rotec Inc. requires all employees to dress formally throughout the week, and allows business casuals on Fridays.
B) Sandman Designs allows employees who don't meet clients to dress casually, while employees who must meet clients are required to wear formals.
C) G&B Solutions developed a series of guidelines to let employees know what is considered appropriate and inappropriate office wear.
D) Waterstones observed and compared employee behavior and productivity on "formal wear" and "casual wear" days and used the findings to devise a company dress code.
E) Letterman Inc. invited employees to share their clothing preferences and used these suggestions to frame a company dress code.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The contingency approach involves adapting management practices to suit different situations. Sandman Designs' dress code policy is an example of this approach as it allows for flexibility based on employee-client interactions. Employees who meet clients are required to dress formally, while those who do not have to meet clients can dress casually. This dress code policy is tailored to suit the different situations employees may face, which is the essence of the contingency approach.

Dress Codes Are a Contentious Subject in Workplaces