Does working in your bathrobe work for you?

February 2007 was deemed the month for home-based workers to don their bathrobes to do their work. Whilst I appreciate the sentiment behind this idea, I can honestly say I’ve never worked in my bathrobe in the thirteen years I’ve been working from home.

For the record, I do enjoy the freedom that working at home gives me and constantly give thanks for it. But I find I cannot focus ‘professionally’ without being showered and dressed and out of my night attire.

I guess getting changed before going into the office helps clear the cobwebs from my night’s sleep and wakes me up properly. The routine gets me into the mindset that ‘I’m going to work’. I know that some home-based operators have and do work in their robes - I just can’t, it’s not me.

I can’t say I dress up - I’m usually in jeans - but at least I feel I could meet someone at the door if they came unexpectedly, and I can rush out at a moment’s notice if an urgent phone call came, from a family member say. Or, if a client wanted a quick meeting I could don a jacket as jacket and jeans appear to be quite acceptable these days.

I am aware that some companies have a ‘casual clothes Friday’ as both my husband and one of my daughters have this at their places of work.

I’m told that some years ago a study was conducted on the effect that this day had on the performance level of staff in a law firm. It was found that the amount of income generated dropped significantly on a Friday and it was attributed to the casual work attitude that came with the donning of casual clothes! The firm decided to revise their ‘casual clothes Friday’ policy which isn’t surprising.

Personally, working in my bathrobe doesn’t work for me; but that’s not to say that it doesn’t work for others. I perform and focus better when I am dressed properly. A pair of jeans or trackies are usually fine and I can always change into business pants or put on a jacket if a client is coming. However, that is quite rare as most of my client contact is via email and phone which means they can’t see me from the other end!

Kathie M. Thomas is the founder of A Clayton's Secretary, a Virtual Assistant Network with members in many countries. Dedicated to teaching others about business on the web, she is a multiple award winner, with 30 years' experience in her field.

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If it's after 9pm at night I can be found showered and in my dressing gown at the computer working. But no-one can see me and it's out of 'normal' business hours in which I prefer to dress appropriately in case of client contact or visits. Karen from Springwood NSW
I also feel I have to at least wear casual clothes whilst working from home. I feel too slobby to leave pyjamas and slippers on. You just never know who might knock at the door. Dom Banner from Melbourne
Whilst I don't disagree that you need to be attired appropriately on the offchance of a visitor, they also need to understand that if they want to drop-in they risk taking me as they find me. They're engaging me for my skills, not my fashion sense, not my weddedness to work. Denise Maffey CA from Kumeu NZ
Whilst I have no argument with those who need to wear specific attire to function at their best, one of the great things about Flying Solo is that I can dress comfortably to suit me whilst working from home, although I agree with you Kathie and am at least dressed well enough in case of unexpected visitors. Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
Hi Kathie, I'm with you on this one. The pj's and slippers just don't cut it for me when I'm working. I'm more likely to find myself surfing the web, checking out the rugby scores and just generally not achieving much. I also don't think the other parents at school (or my children for that matter!) would appreciate me arriving in the playground in a pair of fluffy slippers and pink jarmies! For me it's just part of the routine. I have to be relatively presentable to take the kids to school (jeans suffice for me too) so naturally I'm presentable for work too. If I was in my pj's it would obviously be Sunday and that's a day for catching up on Super 14 replays, watching the surfing on Fuel TV and hanging around the house with the kids. Defnitely not work gear! Karen Morris from Sydney | Read my articles
I live in jeans! And it's so easy to pull on a jacket if I know a client is going to drop in. Karen I can appreciate your comment - although for me it's usually much later at night. And Denise I understand what you're saying, although there have been times when I've had someone come visit in a business suit and I've felt rather under dressed for our meeting! Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary from Melbourne

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