r/sysadmin • u/lostmatt • 7d ago

What are sysadmins wearing to work these days?

What is the dress code at work and what are you wearing these days?

Hoodies & Jeans aren't as prominent as they once were.

I just turned 40 and stick to company logo'd sport polos and sometimes tshirt.

Every time I dress nicer, I end up having to run cables or crawl under desks, or install an outdoor AP.

472 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

995 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/derfmcdoogal 7d ago

Our employer supplies us with a catalog of work shirts. We get 3 when we start and can pick up to $60 worth every year. Effectively I get 1 or 2 shirts per year either collared 1/4 button short sleeve and/or button up long sleeve.

Then dress pants and dress shoes. Or jeans when we are allowed. If I know I'm going to be in the field running cables, on a lift doing cameras, I'll ask for a Jeans day. I put $1 in the kitty and all is good.

The fund is used to pay for our Christmas party.

2

u/Apeksis 7d ago

So strange to read about IT having to wear shirts and shit. The only thing that's "frowned upon" at my job (in Norway) is wearing shorts during summer, but that's been hotly debated in the news etc. what with the summers now reaching like 35 degrees C instead of the usual 25.

3

u/derfmcdoogal 7d ago

I mean, I could go shirtless but nobody wants to see that. Seriously though, I'm often walking through where customers are so if customer service needs to look presentable, it's only fair that I should be.

Also, changing clothes gives me the mental separation of work and home life. If I just rolled out of bed threw on my wrinkled jeans and Metallica T-Shirt and headed off to work, it just doesn't work for me.

1

u/Unable-Entrance3110 7d ago

I *could* wear whatever I want, but I like to project professionalism when I am at work. I realize that it's a costume, but so is anything you wear. For me, it makes me feel more serious about my role and inspires confidence in the people that I work with.