Don’t Judge a Book by its Hoodie: Learn to Embrace Generational Differences

Did your parents ever tell you to not judge a book by its cover? It’s time to remind ourselves of this adage in our current hybrid /remote and cross-generation workplace.

One result of the pandemic was an increased gig economy, and with the gig economy we have far more individuals working independently. We have an increased hybrid and remote workforce. And the truth is, our general dress code changed when we were all working remotely.

Gen Z and younger Millennials may feel more comfortable in casual clothing at work than Gen Y and Boomers.

As a Boomer, I always feel more prepared when I dress more professionally, but that’s just one opinion. While working remotely, alone in my house, it can be difficult to put on a blazer or dress up my outfits with jewelry every day. That said, I am sometimes surprised when I am meeting a vendor remotely for the first time and a (usually younger) professional arrives in a t-shirt or a hoodie.

What I have learned is not to judge the t-shirt or hoodie as a sign of unprofessionalism or even incompetence because that person might of course be quite competent. The in-person office dress code is perhaps still in effect at an office, depending on the industry. Tech still is generally casual. And a millennial who comes from tech to a financial company for instance, may still dress like they did at the tech firm.

Now, not all Gen Z’ers like to be casual, just like all Gen Y might not like to be dressed business casually. For many, dressing less casually makes them feel ready for work! So judgment goes both ways - don’t judge the more dressed-up person, either.

Take a moment to look beyond the hoodie and make sure to assess the talent and individuality beneath. It is a new working world and we have much to gain from cross-generational teams and learning.