Crowe's employees like having the option to wear jeans more than they like wearing them in actuality. They describe it as liberating. "I'm just a kid coming from college," said Arnon. "The fact that they trust you is definitely refreshing." Few have made the transition to all-jeans, all-the-time. "It's easier for me to get dressed for business casual," said Matt Gigliotti, a senior associate at Crowe, garbed in khakis and a fleece vest. "It takes a little more thought now."
Some senior employees at Crowe still think workers should dress formally every day, said Cama. Messages have gone out to partners emphasizing the importance of accepting the policy. "You can't make people feel bad if they don't wear a suit," said Cama.
Some people believe that how workers dress affects their output, and some evidence supports that view. While one study found that those who wore doctor's lab coats performed better on a test than those who didn't, it's not clear that this confers advantages on those working in a suit in front of a computer. Another study found that wearing a suit makes people think more expansively, rather than paying too much attention to detail—not necessarily a good thing for number crunchers.
The firm has hammered home to employees that the new dress code should not detract from their work. Some version of the following line was echoed by multiple employees: "While our policy has relaxed, our commitment to client service hasn't," said Gigliotti.
"Everything is the same; we're just dressed different," said Arnon. "That's cool."