Ferrari Thursday

Software companies in the Nordic countries don't have a dress code; or even if some do, the dress code definitely doesn't extend to development division. One could instead say that we have a Casual Friday everyday.

Which is great! You wear at the office clothes which are as comfortable as what you would be wearing at home: t-shirts, pullovers and jeans. We software developers (let's just say "programmers" like everybody used to say!) prefer to work in comfortable environments (like everybody), and we can — because in our job we meet code, not people. The people we mostly meet are like-minded individuals from our own company or similar companies. We don't meet our end users nor the company's customers.

It's just a Uniform

Wearing a business attire daily is very rare. Since we often don't leave the office, why would we wear a "uniform". You need a uniform when you meet others, in most cases customers.

The casual surroundings in which we work daily, have caused us to shirk a business attire. A tie and a collared shirt or a skirt are often openly despised. And yet, at the same time, we look up to them. In the end, they are a uniform; and we cannot not respect a uniform. It is a human trait: uniforms gather respect, military and civil uniforms alike. We don't liken a business attire to a uniform because it is voluntary and it varies so much from user to user.

No, It's Much More

A man's suit should make him feel like a prince. It should cry out to the world, "Here I am! Don't judge me! Love me!" — Simpsons tv series, Episode Simpson and Delilah

Cxense's Stockholm office started a new kind of "team day". On some Thursdays — but not every week —we dress up to our uniforms (business attire) and come to work like every day. But instead of leaving for home one by one as normally, we all leave exactly at 5 o'clock, and go enjoy an after work drink. Just one drink, and discussion on issues not directly related to work.

Wearing a suit is still voluntary, and everybody is invited to after work drinks regardless of clothing. Then why do it? Because some of us like it. Because wearing a suit (and having the 5 o'clock deadline) boosts our productivity, makes us work a little more and finish before the deadline to go out of the office knowing that we worked today as much as we could. It's The Eight-Hour Burn coined by Bob Martin. It increases our self-confidence.

Practice Makes Perfect

Besides, it's the only chance many programmers really get to wear a suit; and therefore, to practice wearing a suit. Dressing into a "business uniform" is a skill too. A skill that might one day be needed, in case any of us switches to a role where meeting customers is required. So practicing to wear a suite in this light, funny setting is also showing that one can.

For the same reasons the company supports Ferrari Thursday. The costs are minimal, and participation remains voluntary, so it doesn't create too much pressure. It becomes a win-win situation. Not to mention that, if office manager ever needs to bring guests to the office, to show his people working, he knows that Thursday is the day.