Must You Iron Shirts For Work?

Everyone is still hoping that ironing is something our grandmothers did and should no longer be necessary in this generation. We want to be liberated from this hateful chore. But alas, it seems we can’t really escape from doing it unless we are willing to pay to get the professional cleaners to do it for us.

This is because a neat appearance is still needed for work purposes especially if you are a professional or frontline staff. While you can wear creased clothing during your own free time, a professional-looking attire still goes a long way when you are in a business setting. Why must you iron shirts for work has a lot to do with projecting the right image not only to clients and suppliers but also co-workers.

Image Matters

When you go to work in your uniform or shirt and tie, you are representing the company which hired you. Therefore, it wouldn’t look good to appear in wrinkled clothes especially when your job requires you to deal with external parties. It is a form of respect for your job, your company, and the external party to appear neat and tidy.

Bear in mind that people will form impressions about the company through its staff. Imagine if all the bank counter staff are wearing wrinkled uniforms. Wouldn’t it affect the bank’s professional image? Similarly, if you appear for an important meeting with a client in a wrinkled shirt, it may not inspire confidence as you can be taken as lacking professionalism.

Of course, one can argue that clothing does not reflect capability. Even if one is wearing perfectly ironed clothes, it does not mean that he or she is a good worker. However, the fact remains that first impression matters and people generally form opinions based on external factors first. Since you represent your employer, your image is also intricately linked to your company. Therefore, it is simply good practice for employees to dress appropriately and neatly in order to constantly uphold the company’s brand image.

Different Job Nature

Not every job requires us to meet clients and external parties. What happens then if your job only entails dealing with fellow co-workers? Must you iron shirts for work then? Generally, being presentable at work is a must. Even if you do not have to meet external parties, it doesn’t mean you should wear your most wrinkled clothes to work.

Your appearance can determine your suitability for promotion and career opportunities. Of course, you also need to have the capability and qualifications to go with it. But how you dress can be one of the deciding factors especially if your new position will require a certain appearance of authority and confidence.

On top of that, your dressing can also be a reflection of your self-esteem and personality. Dress well and you may feel more self-confident which is always a good trait at work. Even if your office has a casual wear policy, your clothes should still be ironed if they are wrinkled. Some people even iron T-shirts which are generally wrinkle-resistant!

Corporate Culture & Practices

No doubt there will always be a grey area of whether you must iron your work clothes or otherwise. There are different standards across different industries and individual companies. Some would have a higher standard than others such as banking and law. Others in the arts and creative fields may have more leeway when it comes to dressing.

Hence, try to be sensitive to your surroundings. See what others are wearing and dress to conform if you want to fit in. If everyone is wearing a nicely ironed shirt and pants except you, then you might have to buck up on your dressing in order not to be the odd one out. It may not be a must for you to conform but if you don’t, it may not do your career any good either.

At the end of the day, the choice lies with you unless it is expressly stated in your employment terms. Nobody can force you if you are unwilling and absolutely hate ironing. Even whether ironing is really necessary is highly debatable. But just be aware that your dressing can affect your career and work prospects. That is the harsh reality of life!