
I've always wondered why there's a preoccupation with workshifters' attire--specifically, the assumption that we're all decked out in pajamas. There's something subtly disparaging about it, too, as if workshifters are deceptively mucking about in PJs all day long. Have you ever lingered in pajamas? It gets old. Fast.
In addition to wearing daytime clothing, workshifters also need to stay groomed--just like everyone else. My husband and I go to the same hair salon and usually schedule our appointments back-to-back so we can carpool together. While one of us relaxes with a delightful pre-trim scalp massage, the other workshifts in front of the salon's fireplace.
During a recent trip to the salon, I overheard our stylist teasing my husband about his mullet. (He wasn't in full mullet territory, but things were definitely overgrown.) The mullet jibe reminded me of something I'd seen on Facebook. In a status update, one of my contacts mentioned that she was working from home and decked out in her workshifting attire for a remote meeting: business on top and party on the bottom (i.e., blazer on top and pajamas on the bottom). Oh, those occasional workshifters and their sneaky pajama-wearing ways.
Truth be told, I've had my own exercise in deception while holiday video conferencing with far-flung family and friends. Having been burned one too many times by my husband's uncensored room panning, I decided that this year I would carefully stage a single corner of the living room to give the illusion of decorum and order. Our official set was distilled to a twinkling Christmas tree, freshly plumped pillows, and steaming mugs of hot chocolate. You might say that our holiday background was all business, while the unvacuumed carpet, dusty woodwork, and precariously piled books screamed party (or, rather, the morning after the party).
This is completely silly, I know. We live and work in our house. So what if things are a little messy in the background? Personally, I've always felt that business attire is nothing more than a carefully constructed illusion of professionalism. Does wearing a suit mean that I am a better worker? Does it make me more productive? (No and no.) I've worked in suits-only environments. In my experience, suits certainly didn't make coworkers more professional in their work or the way they interacted with one another. In fact, suits may very well have been the reason they seemed so cranky.
But should there be a standard for workshifting attire? Yes: common sense. Gauge what's appropriate attire for your company or client environments and dress accordingly during video conferences. Otherwise, choose clothing that enables you to be productive, focused, and prepared for the task at hand. I happen to work better in jeans and a t-shirt. If suits make you happy, then bust a move with your trousers and jacket.
Pajamas, however, are for bedtime.
Photo Credit: David Steltz


My shoes of choice are
collection including the over the shoulder laptop case, the big backpack and the little 



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