eBusiness Weekly
Tafadzwa Zimoyo (The Boss) Business Closet
Anyone who grew up in Zimbabwe will agree that October is the hottest month of the year.
The hot weather looks set to continue over the next couple of days before normal rains come in November. Drinking a lot of water, the yummy ice cream experience or your favourite cold drink, will definitely make you feel better.
In today’s competitive and modern business world, it is critical for every employee to maintain a professional look, exhibit their grooming for the workplace.
This also means the employer must ensure that workplace temperatures are reasonable through some control mechanisms.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the temperatures in all workplaces inside buildings must be reasonable.
Will it be fair to see employees with sweaty armpits? This is not to say the employees should abandon a basic and yet crucial role to look after themselves well.
In such weather conditions, it is advisable that clean armpits and roll on should be your close friend.
Some might be allergic to some brands of roll on. If so, they can try spray deodorant or switching brands as chemical components of these products differ from one manufacturer to another, while varieties of the same brand are also different.
I presume, in this day and era, it’s not an issue as it has been talked about over and over and besides, it is directed to adults.
Would you want to repeat the same topic on grooming and etiquette.
Back on the desk, with such weather conditions, employees need to know how to cool themselves.
First and foremost, switch on any fans or air conditioners to keep workplaces comfortable and use blinds or curtains to block direct sunlight.
Staff working outside the office should wear appropriate clothes and use sunscreen to protect themselves from sunburn.
Don’t forget to stay hydrated. Employers must provide staff with adequate drinking water at the workplace.
I always find it weird, visiting my friend’s workplace and there are no water dispensers or even refrigerators.
Workers must drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration and not wait until they are thirsty.
On attire, I know a couple of people still have questions on what to wear. It is common sense one cannot wear belly-baring tops or short shorts at work. While these are clearly comfortable in this heat, they have never made it to any corporate’s approved dress code, well except if you work for a bar or night club.
But the rules of workplace grooming, from nail art and shaving, are a little tougher to decipher.
Remember a first impression is made every day, even though it is hot, we still need to be well groomed.
While every office environment is different and no list of rules is ‘one size fits all,’ here are some of the helpful basic guidelines that women and men in traditional workplaces should be following.
For ladies, cover those under eye circles.
If you’ve got dark circles, it will make you look sleepy, committing a major workplace sin.
“Don’t look tired at the office,” said Lauren Faul, a stylist guru.
She said that this doesn’t help you at all.
The secret is before leaving the house, stand one metre away from the mirror, to check if there are any mistakes or adjustments that need to be done.
Ask yourself, would you want such an employee,
Another rule is that no falsies.
If you’re not on television, please you don’t need to be wearing false eyelashes to work. Again keep your nails short, clean and neutral-coloured.
One of the biggest offenses is overly long, false nails or elaborate nail art.
If you can hear your nails while typing, said Herald Features Editor Roselyne Sachiti, then they are too long.
– Go easy on the perfume.
This rule applies to both males and females.
Someone should not be able to smell you unless they come in for a hug, interestingly, how far true is that?
Plus, everyone has different scent preferences — you don’t want to be associated with a bad one.
Some people are also allergic to certain perfumes and to that end, several offices have actually instituted no-perfume policies.
Perfumes should be like lingerie, thus something for you to enjoy, and for somebody who comes in close.
Moreso, proper grooming and a professional appearance are important to gain not just positive impression, but also respect at the workplace.
