<p>Last summer I worked for a large fortune 500 company and everyone wore dress shoes, dress shirt tucked in, and dress pants. Some wore ties. I'm not sure if there was a strictly written out dress code (it was business casual), but my entire time there I couldn't forget that I was expected always to look a certain way. (I suppose this is true outside of work too, but at work there are not nearly as many choices for acceptable dress.) </p>
<p>I realize that this is really silly and that most adults (like it or not) deal with it or don't have a problem with it, but I am interested to know if some companies have more relaxed atmospheres. I am not talking sneakers, jeans, and a t shirt, but something a little more casual than business casual. </p>
<p>This summer I am back in my professor's lab again doing research, and it is great. I usually wear boots, khakis, and the same shirts I wore last summer except not tucked in. I think people around me dress even more casually, and couldn't care less how I looked as I am neat. (I guess they are also much younger than at my last job). Anyway, I just feel more comfortable working this way and consider this an ideal working atmosphere for me.</p>
<p>Business casual is still fairly common, though more and more in the States you see companies allowing jeans. Some even go further and let you come in totally casual. It all just depends on the company. The exception is if you have any kind of meeting with management you still want to be dressed up at most places.</p>
<p>Heck, I have seen people working at NASA wearing Megadeth tshirts, so I figure they are pretty lax.</p>
<p>It sounds like you get extra super dressy for research too.</p>
<p>My husband is a software engineer for a VERY well known California computer company. He wears t-shirts and jeans all the time. Some of the higher managers might wear khakis and a polo shirt.</p>
<p>This is true. A few members of my team have come in flip-flops and a T-shirt. I am not as bad. I wear jeans, polo shirt and sneakers…unless I have a more formal meeting.</p>
<p>I think software companies and/or software groups of companies will have the most amount of men with earrings, displayed tattoos, ponytails, t-shirts and sneakers.</p>
<p>Personally, I’d like to adopt 1870s dress codes. Waistcoats with the chain watch, Ascot ties, and a top hat. Throw a stylish cane in for maximum effect. Yes sir!</p>
<p>Sometimes I wish I would have been born in the 1870s…</p>
<p>Yeah, I work for a Fortune 50 company. At our location, engineers are free to wear jeans, t-shirts, whatever. But we work in a plant environment so that is kind of expected. Most engineers do jeans and dress / polo shirts. But if you go to headquarters in Houston, business casual.</p>