Professionalism (original) (raw)

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Standards expected in a workplace

Professionalism is a set of standards that an individual is expected to adhere to in a workplace, usually in order to appear serious, uniform, or respectful. What constitutes professionalism is often debated and varies from workplace to workplace and between cultures. Professionalism is typically defined as a mix of professional ethics, appropriate behavior, and dress code.

Professional attire advertisement (1930)[1]

Common traits of a "professional" person include:[2][3][4]

Expectations of professionalism are often unsaid or unwritten. Trainings and clear communication can help young people entering the workforce avoid "unprofessional" behavior.[5]

A business's professional standards affect its reputation.[6]

Cultural differences

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Cultural expectations of professionalism differ around the world. In Japan, humility is valued as a professional trait. In the Middle East, hospitality is an important character quality of a professional person. For international companies, understanding differing views of professional behavior is important. Time zones can also pose a challenge for professional communication.[7]

Having tattoos is considered taboo in some workplaces, but this has been changing in the 21st century.[8] A University of Miami survey found that respondents who had tattoos were more likely to be employed than non-tattooed respondents, although the researchers cautioned that this result was correlative.[9] In New Zealand, some businesses have dropped bans on traditional Māori tattoos.[10][11]

In the United States, some workplaces have "Jean Fridays" where employees may wear blue jeans to work for free or for five dollars.[12] The allowance of jeans into the white-collar workforce on Fridays has led some workplaces to adopt jeans as professional attire for the whole week.[13]

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, professional expectations around video calls, work-from-home behavior, and after-hours availability began to change. Video call "camera etiquette" became more widespread and important.[7]

In the 2020s, American CEOs began to curse more frequently in public, sparking discussion on to what extent cursing is "professional" in the workplace.[14] Whether cursing in the workplace is a legally protected right in the US or not was a contentious issue between the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Labor Relations Board in 2023.[15]

Criticism of concept

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Critics of professionalism typically say that some specific standards, such as hairstyle or clothing restrictions, are outdated or overly limiting. Professional standards may be seen as conformist or as "selling-out."[16]

Hairstyles are also subject to professionalism requirements in many workplaces. In the United States, employers have banned natural hairstyles for African Americans, resulting in a push for CROWN Act laws (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair).[17][18] Professional standards that generally apply to only one race have been criticized as a form of discrimination.[19]

  1. ^ "Mar 20, 1930, page 7 - The High Point Enterprise at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  2. ^ "Professionalism". Virginia Tech. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  3. ^ "Professionalism" (PDF). U.S. Department of Labor. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2020.
  4. ^ Jennifer Herrity. "15 Characteristics of Professionals". Indeed.com.
  5. ^ Korn, Julia. "Gen Z Isn't Unprofessional—They're Untrained: Lessons From Erin McGoff". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  6. ^ Balle, Louise (2010-08-04). "Professionalism Standards". Chron - Small Business. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  7. ^ a b MacArthur, Heather V. "Professionalism's Moving Target: Navigating Today's Nuanced Workplace". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  8. ^ "Tattoos at work: Are they still an issue?". BBC News. 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  9. ^ Beard, Alison (2018-11-01). "A Tattoo Won't Hurt Your Job Prospects". Harvard Business Review. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  10. ^ "Māori broadcaster becomes first to anchor news with traditional chin tattoo". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  11. ^ "Air New Zealand drops ban on staff tattoos". BBC News. 2019-06-10. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  12. ^ Rohloff, Chloe. "Dress codes affect more than just students". The Charger Online. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  13. ^ "Teachers In Jeans? Trigg County Schools Officials Debate". WKDZ. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  14. ^ Lazarus, Lily Mae. "Profanity is becoming mainstream in corporate America's C-suite". Fortune. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  15. ^ Spencer, Glenn (2023-08-15). "NLRB Says Profanity in the Workplace Is Fine". www.uschamber.com. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  16. ^ "The Surprising Power of Professionalism in an Age That Questions It | Psychology Today". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  17. ^ "House passes Crown Act banning discrimination against Black hairstyles". NBC News. 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  18. ^ "The Official CROWN Act". The Official CROWN Act. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  19. ^ Baer, Drake. "Professionalism is a bias-making machine that needs to end. Here's how to dismantle it". Business Insider. Retrieved 2026-04-25.