Beyond of course stuff like lawyers in court and politicians? Several years ago, I seem to remember it being more common to see employees at some businesses wearing dress clothes+a tie, but it seems it has faded away. The other day I was standing in line and I heard a lady talking about how her teen son has to wear a tie to work, so I guess it would be some sort of department store?

What jobs/businesses in the US still require people to wear ties?

27 comments
  1. It’s really gonna depend on the industry and differs regionally. I had to wear a tie when I worked in a restaurant and also when I was a cashier at a retail place in my younger days. I’m pretty much in the construction industry now (sales) and rarely do people down here in Florida wear ties. In fact, we tell some of our vendors (from the north) to ditch the ties/suit and just come in a polo/slacks when they come down here and we go see customers/engineers.

    But there’s a company in our building, I think they sell some types of health insurances (looks like a call center), and they are all dressed in ties and the women dressed up as well.

  2. I work for a large health care organization in the midwest. If you’re office staff and not clinical, ties are expected. If you’re above the level of front line manager, a tie and a jacket are expected.

    I think it just depends entirely on the company. Mine happens to be pretty traditional.

  3. I guess it’s not required but when I go to visit customers (unless we’re on the golf course, or at an event) I’ll wear a suit and tie. I think it’s professional, and I look damn good in a suit if you want my personal opinion. Look good, feel good.

  4. There are a few niche jobs that might still require them, but even in industries that are traditionally very suit and tie (finance, sales), people opt for business casual, only wearing a suit for important meetings.

    Some food industry jobs (think high-end country club, restaurant, or wedding venue) may ask employees to wear a tie when serving or hosting, but it’s definitely not the norm overall.

    Airlines still have a somewhat formal “pre-flight” attire for male employees, but many change into a more standard uniform once they board the aircraft.

    Same thing with having beards, having grey hair, etc.

  5. I wear a suit and tie every day.

    It is fading though and is becoming less and less common in careers outside of finance in the northeast.

    Personally, I prefer it. I look great in a suit but I feel like it really puts me in a mindset for work. I was wearing lacrosse shorts and a tee the first couple of days of the pandemic and it just didn’t feel right.

  6. Retail pharmacists wear neckties, at least if you’re a male pharmacist at CVS.

    Source: Witnessed this as a pharmacy technician at CVS.

  7. Ironically, the jobs that often require a tie are now more commonly lower end service and sales jobs, like waiters at certain restaurants, people working the counter at Enterprise rental car counters, certain retailers (men’s shoes, men’s clothing). Very few office jobs tend to require it these days.

  8. I used to work security at a casino and we wore ties as part of our uniform. Our supervisors also wore uniforms with ties, but they looked more like a normal suit. Our managers had to wear their own suit and ties. Some other departments required their managers to wear ties, but we were the only ones with uniform ties.

    Currently I’m an engineer, and the only time I’ve ever seen people wear ties to work is for proposals and other presentations.

    The first thing that comes to mind though for people who wear ties to work is employees at suit stores.

  9. Congressional staff

    High level government staff

    Lawyers under certain circumstances (court, client meetings, etc)

    Lobbyists

  10. When I worked in city government we had to wear suits and ties. I wear a suit and tie as a professor, but it isn’t required.

  11. I worked at a couple different banks and both required men to wear ties. Tellers were allowed to wear a polo on the weekends, but still wore ties mon-fri.

  12. Only wear a tie during a client-facing meeting who are expecting something like that. I tend to try and match the energy our clients give us. First meeting with a suit and tie to be safe(unless otherwise told) and then adjust as needed.

  13. I work in retail- all of our male sales managers on up are required to wear at least a dress shirt/pants and a tie, with a full suit and tie required for when district or corporate management visits.

  14. Lots of airline-related jobs: Pilots, flight attendants, gate agents
    Lots of hotel-related jobs: Hotel manager, front desk, porters, doormen

  15. I worked in real estate. The older guys wore suits and ties. The younger ones, not so much.

  16. I work in civil engineering. When meeting a client or providing a presentation we’re expected to be dressed “for business.” That usually means at minimum slacks, tie, and button down for men, or slacks and blouse for women.

    In the office, it’s 90% jeans and “nice shirt” (which could be a polo, button down, or just a tee). Honestly after pandemic WFH you’re lucky to get anyone into the office.

  17. It’s much less common to wear a tie to corporate office jobs at least here in NYC. I remember it changing over in the late 90s. One of the big accounting firms I worked at switched to business casual back in 2000. I suspect pretty much most of their peers were relaxing the dress codes back then too.

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