Dear Leisure Enthusiast,

As you know, "Casual Fridays" allow for strategic unwinding in the workplace while maintaining operational standards. But without proper protocols, offices risk descending into unacceptable levels of fraternity-style conduct.



Accordingly, the Vacation® Committee on Strategic Workplace Relaxation presents these essential guidelines to ensure high levels of both staff morale and corporate productivity.


Humorous socks may inspire admiration. A whimsical necktie may spark delight. Yet when two or more novelty items are worn simultaneously, the effect is rarely one of corporate competency.

As a general guideline, the more authority one possesses, the less casual one’s outfit should appear. Short shorts, to use an egregious example, should remain the exclusive domain of interns and junior associates.

The afternoon possesses its own rhythm, and a skilled office disc jockey respects it. Reserve the more spirited compositions — steel drums, mariachi, and their ilk — for the final stretch of the working day, when memoranda have been dispatched and the last conference call has been concluded.

Premature indulgence can draw unwanted attention to even the most unassuming Casual Friday participant. Before enjoying an in-office beverage, first await a suitably senior individual to initiate proceedings.

A poorly timed meeting invitation is among the gravest of Casual Friday offenses. By mid-afternoon, the discerning professional has quietly redirected their acquisition strategy from companies to canapés. Resist the urge to convene a formal gathering at all costs.