YOUR BUSINESS DAY
Working Naked – I Don’t Believe The Statistics
What are you wearing?
Remember when they used to tell you if you were nervous about speaking in public you should imagine the whole crowd in their underwear? Those folks on your Zoom meeting? I’ll bet money some of them truly are, under the desk. Probably the ones you least expect. Think about it on your next Zoom.
Well, don’t think about it too long. Pay attention to that meeting. And don’t let thoughts of Jeffery Toobin distract you. Sometimes things go way too far!
There’s an even greater chance that the person at the other end of your business phone call is stark naked (or nekkid, as we say in the South). You wouldn’t know it and it doesn’t impact you in the least. Their brain is fully clothed as always.
Tracy Stengel has recently written an article in which she cited a study that said 29% of at-home workers worked naked. Tracy was shocked at that percentage being so high. I say it’s too low.
The Scenario
It’s not as though you always plan it. You take a shower (cleanliness being next to godliness and all that), throw a towel around you, and go turn on your computer as your body dries.
You happen to open your email, and a few catch your attention. You start to respond and your workday has begun. That conference call on your calendar? You just do it. You don’t have time to put on clothes and who will ever know? Just wear that professional voice and they will envision you in that beautiful suit your words convey. They don’t need to know it’s actually your birthday suit.
It doesn’t take long until it is late afternoon and you still haven’t put on a stitch of clothes. Don’t let them tell you it’s unprofessional. I say you’re a committed employee who is paying attention to the important things.
Further Research
Tracy went on to talk about experts who said you needed to put a psychological marker between your work life and your home life. I have a full ceremony as my psychological marker each morning. I call it opening my laptop.
One of my favorite places to work is on my bed. Laptop in my lap (why else was it given that name?) pillows at my back, all of my paper around me. (I’m trying to stop the paper. I really am.)
This is not good for you, say “the experts”.
This self-proclaimed expert (me) tells you to give it a try. While I usually make my bed, on my most decadent days I will crawl beneath the bed covers and snuggle up to my work. No, my sleep is not impacted. I know that they say beds should be reserved for sex and sleep, but there are no sleep problems here. Possibly because I feel less anxiety than the average person.
That Tie-Wearing Guy
Tracy met a guy at a dinner party that wore a tie to his home office every day. He evidently can’t work well unless in uniform.
I spent the early part of my career in suits with skirts and slips (young ‘uns, you can Google what slips are) and high heels and pantyhose. Maybe I really am an outlier, but that “uniform” never made me perform better at work. In fact, the very opposite.
“Is that a run in my pantyhose?”
“Oh no, it is!”
“I have a meeting in three minutes! What am I going to do?”
I never had the spare pair of pantyhose with me, which would have been the best solution. I’ve never been that kind of woman, Sometimes I did have clear nail polish to stop the run. Scotch tape also works if the run is far enough up the leg. But look at those minutes wasted out of my workday worrying about stupid pantyhose.
The uncomfortable high heels. The guys choking in their ties or stifled in their jackets. You can’t convince me that better work was done in those days. Well, maybe there is a chance they focused intently on work so their mind was not on their pain. But that would be the only logical explanation I can come up with.
Is Clothing Optional For the Remote Worker?
Of course, clothing is optional for the remote worker. Oh, maybe you have others living in your house who wouldn’t appreciate it. Respect them. Put on some clothes. But if you are like me and live alone, or with others not offended, I’ll bet it happens on occasion.
There are many positive benefits. More time working, less laundry, less wear and tear on the clothes, no uncomfortable garments annoying you as you try to think.
Plus I predict we’ll see a renaissance of sorts after all of this is over. Major changes in our lives bring out creativity, as does relaxation.
You Never Know
I’m wearing clothes to work these days. I am on Zoom all day long and I believe the other people in the room appreciate it. Still, I am wearing leggings or a comfy dress. Most outfits I’m wearing would work in a business casual environment, especially if I add makeup and jewelry. I don’t while working at home. Many workplace environments had already started going casual pre-pandemic. I doubt the days of traditional business-wear will return for most of us.
Evidently, there’s even a Working Naked Day, but that isn’t until February 5, 2021. And planning for participating just seems weird.
If it happens, it happens. No problems if you can’t truly be exposed. Only do it if your work focus is not compromised.
Respect the camera, respect the occasion, respect the people, respect the job, and don’t be stupid. But yeah, if you can maintain your professional integrity and image, naked may be OK.
Thanks, Tracy Stengel for the inspiration and generously suggesting I give my take on it all. I’ll bet you’ll all be writing naked in no time. I’m just not going to think about it.
Kim McKinney has enjoyed a long career, most of it fully clothed. She is a huge proponent of working-at-home, no matter what people are wearing.
