Acceptable officewear? Pinoys say yes to jeans, no to jogging pants

The image of the office worker in a perfectly pressed suit and tie behind a desk may not be all that accurate anymore.

Luxembourg-based research group Regus reports that in a survey of almost 40,000 Filipino business workers, 59% said that more casual shirts are now considered suitable office attire.

Jeans are even more welcome, with 82% giving it a workplace wardrobe tag.

Getting even more casual, 18% of those who work at home confessed they do their job in their pajamas or underwear—although 92% of them do wear proper attire before a video call.

Flip-flops (18%) and tracksuits (21%) aren't very welcome yet, but sandals (39%) are also getting more nods of approval.

“While a suit and tie remain standard in only a few areas of businesses, jeans and smart-casual attire are now common well outside the creative industries," said Lars Wittig, Country Manager for Regus Philippines.

"Perhaps also influenced by Silicon valley’s casual and much talked-about attitudes to workwear, workers now expect a more laid back approach to office dressing." he added, bringing to mind Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his famous grey shirt.

"That said, there are still some important cultural boundaries, and business people in most countries draw the line at flip flops and gym clothes." — Aya Tantiangco/BM, GMA News