Alone in office

[weldfab]

My company has recently downsized and gutted the office. I was moved up from the shop floor to answer phones, greet customers, ship packages, make drawings in solidworks, and basically do everything involved in running the business except handling the accounts. The owner does that when he's not running the shop.

I'm almost always alone and there is no formal dress code, the owner doesn't care if I wear jeans and a t-shirt. Should I? Or should I shoot for business casual, suit and tie, what? I meet with customers and vendors, and I want to project an image of professionalism, but I don't want to come off as unapproachable either.

 

[Joffrey]

Not sure you can be unapproachable when you're the only one in a client facing position. Dress in a way you think best presents your company. IF that means jeans and a tucked in dress shirt/polo or tie and jacket or jeans and untucked tee, go for it.

 

[i10casual]

I would just do button down and chinos with some casual bluchers. Add a relaxed sport coat in the cooler months, like an Apolis jacket. No polo, no canvas shoe or boat shoes. I'd also start seeing what you could do to help him with accounts. Make his job easier on top of your work.

 

[Douglas]

Hard to say without knowing your industry. Coat and tie in just about any shop environment these days is likely overkill. I myself work in manufacturing and run the company; I typically wear slacks and a button-down shirt, often with sleeves rolled or a sweater in winter, with leather shoes 90% of the time. Depending on weather I may wear linen slacks, khakis, or cords in a more conservative (e.g. not jeans-style cords) cut and style. Most of my employees wear khakis and polos. This is considered acceptable most of the time here unless we are expecting special visitors of some sort; depending on that context I may throw a sportcoat on. In the winter months I will often wear a sportcoat, but that is because I like to, not because I have to. I have not worn a tie into the office in many years, and few others in here have either. The only time I have a suit or tie on is if I have some other engagement during or after the workday; e.g. a speaking engagement or funeral.

In your case I would likely wear what I wear; i.e. khakis or better and a button-down shirt. If you want to project something extra, wear nice versions of this, well-tailored, with nice shoes.