Corporate dress codes sure have relaxed over the years! It really wasn’t all that long ago that folks dressed up for the office like they were going to a semi-formal affair. Can you imagine today trading in your Dockers and polo shirt for a suit and tie? Not likely.

The trend toward dressing down for the office has been great for workers (although not so much for dry cleaners)… so great that employees now expect it as a matter of course. So what can you do to make it more of a perceived benefit?

• It’s no surprise that casual Fridays are hugely popular. Even if you’re already instituting a fairly liberal dress code during the week, allowing employees to wear jeans on Fridays is seen as a big “plus”.

• Let employees don their denims on other designated weekdays in exchange for a $5 donation to a local food bank or other charity. It’s a great way to get people engaged in the community and raise money for worthy causes, with the added benefit of positive PR for your organization.

• Consider corporate-branded casual apparel as a recognition item. It’s a nice perk for employees and provides free advertising for you!

More benefits for you: a relaxed dress code doesn’t mean a lax work force! In fact, surveys and studies show that more comfortable employees are more productive. It improves morale, encourages bonding among peers and between employees and management, and demonstrates a flexible corporate culture.

Now, when you really want to shake things up a bit, try a Black Tie Tuesday!