Hindustan Unilever now has a ‘cool’ dress code

Treading on the path of Infosys, Hindustan Unilever (HUL) has also dropped the formal dress code and allowed smart casuals in office.

The FMCG major, which is known to have a strict dress code, has finally changed its policy and employees would be seen sporting jeans or T-shirts on trousers.

Reportedly, HR Director at Dove soap and Lipton tea maker, Dinesh Biddappa, had started setting the casual culture by wearing T-shirt on trousers.

“I have been deliberately wearing T-shirts on trousers on Mondays and not just on Fridays. It's part of our larger initiative to be inclusive by way of culture. We want to create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and do their best at work," Biddappa told Economic Times.

Biddappa added that the company expected its employees to use their judgment and decide on what to wear for an occasion.

He believes that the casual culture would allow employees to work more seamlessly.

Meanwhile, people at Mondelez India Foods are free to wear blue jeans or anything appropriate for the day.

Attire is a manifestation of the culture of a business and with a large number of businesses moving towards inculcating a more progressive and open culture at work, the dress code too is undergoing a change. In other countries where Unilever operates, dress codes are decided based on the relevance of the local culture and the prevailing weather conditions. In colder climates, people tend to wear jackets.

At some other organizations, managers are seen wearing the company's names/logos on their shirts.

At Mondelez India Foods, sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable, but clothing that has the company's logo is encouraged.

As per experts, for firms like HUL, the culture change will attract next generation of people.

(Image: Indiatimes)