Too much cleavage costs jobs....

The career perils of cleavage: Low-cut tops can be a woman's biggest mistake, say bosses

By ELEANOR HARDING
Last updated at 9:36 AM on 9th December 2010

Women who show too much cleavage at work are sabotaging their careers and could even face the sack, according to a survey.

Contrary to the idea that womanly wiles are an advantage in business, bosses have named low-cut tops as one of the biggest mistakes a female worker can make.

The consequences can be disastrous, with one in five managers admitting they had fired someone for not dressing ‘appropriately’.

Julia Roberts at work with her legal team in the film Erin Brockovich. A survey has found that women who show too much cleavage at work are sabotaging their careers and could even face the sack

The study, carried out for entrepreneur and Dragons' Den star Peter Jones, also found that almost half of bosses had overlooked someone for promotion or a pay rise for the same reason.

 

In a bid to help smarten up the nation's office workers, Peter has launched a collection of cufflinks, socks shirts and ties, available online. 

Mr Jones said: ‘I know from all my years in business that if people look smarter, they feel the part and they achieve more – both in terms of productivity and career progression.’

Most bosses also reject candidates at a job interview if they look scruffy, with 80 per cent saying the way people dress at work can have an effect on their career.

At the top of employers’ list of bugbears were wearing trainers, un-ironed shirts or flip-flops.

The survey of 3,000 managers and workers was designed to assess the impact of so-called dress-down Fridays, which have become a growing trend in office culture.

It also showed geographical differences in office dress, with Southampton named as the UK’s scruffiest city.

Around two-thirds of people surveyed in the city said they did not think they dressed smartly enough for work.

Wolverhampton was named the smartest, after four out of five of those polled said they were happy with how they dress for the office.

The news comes after Whitehall civil servants were ordered by ministers in September to smarten up and stop dress-down Fridays.

Younger employees had been turning up to work in faded jeans and T-shirts at the end of the week instead of their usual suits and ties.

In the private sector, the fashion for dressing down is also facing a backlash, with many men now turning back to the traditional suit.

Stores are reporting an increase in tie sales during the downturn, with many employees struggle to cling on to their jobs.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1336987/The-career-perils-cleavage-Low-cut-tops-womans-biggest-mistake-say-bosses.html#ixzz17d4RluMf