Productivity is bubbling over in an open necked shirt and a pair of 501s; latest findings suggest that the traditional armoury of the office, the suit is hampering our creative juices.

Just as the handy blackberry has crept into the realms of the ordinary and acceptable so has ‘dress down’ day. The tradition of offices across the UK for workers to discard their traditional suit and mark the end of the week in a carefully selected apparel – perhaps a t-shirt emblazoned with the name of the latest rock concert attended has become part and parcel of office life.

And according to Peninsula employment law firm, it’s a good thing. Seven in ten bosses in their study believe ‘dress down’ days are having a positive impact on productivity and performance.

Employees have also warmed to the idea with 88% feeling more at ease in casual clothing and 63% finding formal dress codes at work restricting.

Peter Done, Managing Director of Peninsula commented:

“The traditional view of business people’s dress at work is changing with the shirt and tie image diminishing, it is not unheard of to see directors in casual clothing brimming in their own confidence and asserting their own style to feel at ease in their workplace.

“Dress down’ days have proved a revelation and have played a part in revealing employees self assurance in themselves and confidence in their work performance, void of being stifled in a suit indicating a trend which I see continuing across various industries and companies of all sizes.”

In the Blairite days of open-necked shirts, hugs and kisses all round the move is seeing approval from those that rank from on high. Reported in the Sunday Times last week, Minette Marrin commented on the news of Sir Andrew Turnbull, the outgoing cabinet secretary who made a speech in which he welcomed a future without ties.

But according to Marrin it’s not something to be applauded.

“The people who started the trend of going tieless were people whom nobody trusted in the first place – artists, film producers, media executives and junk-bond traders. The few people whom we need to trust our doctors, lawyers and accountants still have to wear ties (unless they are women). But no doubt even this is disappearing and before long our consultants will examine us in blousons and bomber jackets and undertakers will dispatch us in sober designer casuals.”

Something you’ll agree that doesn’t perhaps gravitate towards the sense of occasion.

And even if we can come to eventually accept the death of the suit as we have done with the passing of the typed ‘memo’ can the replacement of a more casual outlook really help to burgeon and promote levels of innovation and productivity?

There is a slight irony of workers turning up in their ‘informal’ wear desperately trying to look relaxed and nonchalant while at the same time clutching their ‘how to relax’ and ‘manage stress’ books.

Indeed it’s not really all about the clothes is it? After all I could be dressed ‘down’ in my most relaxing PJs, feet cloaked in bedtime slippers but be the most stressed person around.

Flicking through the Times 100 Best Companies to work for it’s quickly apparent that they’re the best not because they share a love of high-street retailing but a culture in which productivity, performance and innovation are recognised and allowed to thrive.

Holding onto their title for an impressive second year running, manufacturers of the breathable water-resistant fabric, WL Gore put it down to a flat company structure and the absence of a top tier of management.

John Kennedy, head of the UK associates says: “Sometimes it’s a tough environment if you don’t have any frames of reference. But if you do any basic fundamental research into management, you know if you can get people to also think [what you’re suggesting] is a good idea you’re going to get things to happen a lot better and stick a lot longer.

“That’s not rocket science. It’s pretty simple stuff, but it’s amazing how many companies can’t get their heads round that.”

Like Marrin I feel slightly uncomfortable in letting all our professions go the way of Silicon Valley and new media when it comes to dress code and while I feel rather indifferent about the odd casual dress day here and there, I do believe that Peninsula might have slightly missed the point.

Can a pair of Levi’s after all be entirely responsible for productivity gains and the invention for the cure of cancer? I think not.

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