Ties and heels — debate on attire rages on

It's been a month since we last dipped our collective toe in the casual dress debate, and the letters just keep on coming.

As you may recall, late last year I wrote about a survey on casual dress in the workplace and talked about my inherited hatred for neckties. That initial column and a follow-up a few weeks later have drawn a bevy of reader responses, both on the deseretnews.com Web site and through e-mail. So I'll share a few more today.

Bill responded to the follow-up column to say he does not mind casual dress in the workplace "as long as workers aren't in direct and regular contact with customers."

"There should be a certain standard of dress, as it does promote a positive impression when dealing with customers or clients," Bill wrote. "What I have a problem with is how this casual dress has permeated itself into all other aspects of life. I have been to weddings, funerals, formal concerts and theater productions where people have been wearing jeans and polo shirts. Or worse, shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops!

"Sadly, I am not exaggerating. People need to relearn how to dress up these days!"

As much as I hate to admit it, Bill has a point. I would love to go to church on Sunday wearing jeans and a T-shirt, but instead I put on "the uniform" of a white shirt, suit and tie. It's appropriate attire for the occasion, and I think that's what Bill is saying.

Another reader, Earl, sent an e-mail to respond to a column I wrote about customer service, but he steered it to the casual dress issue.

"My biggest gripe is look at the way employees dress," Earl wrote. "Especially the post office. They used to be neat and clean. Now they look like some of them are homeless. ... I called the post office, and all they said was, no, we really don't have dress standards. The union wouldn't stand for it.

"I don't expect them to look like Cliff Claven, but you talk about rude, obnoxious employees, look at the post office and their total disregard for customer service in dress and manner."

I have not had Earl's experience with postal workers. Those I see always appear to be appropriately dressed. But I do see how sloppy dress could, possibly, affect a person's ability to provide good customer service. Maybe.

It's hard for me to give in on this issue, because I really do hate neckties. And a couple of other readers feel the same.

For example, Jo Ellen expressed her disdain via e-mail.