Working in the burbs versus the city. What a difference? (living in, bus)

[terrence81]

I just mentioned the difference between working ITB (Inside the Beltway) and OTB (Outside the Beltway) in another thread but figured I'd start a new one. So does anyone see a difference in the office environments in the burbs versus the city?

When I worked ITB in Arlington it was my first "real job" with occasional meetings in the city. A meeting in the city was this to-do affair. A suit and tie day. Dress code was strictly enforced every day and it was very polished because one never knew when a customer would be in the building.

When I worked in Chantilly it was fairly laidback. Everyone was all about their polo shirts and khakis. No suits. Now that I work in Herndon its even more laidback. I just rock a collared usually button down shirt and jeans to work. I hate the commute to Dulles but love the laidback atmosphere.

The further my workplace gets from the city it seems that the older but more laidback co-workers become. In Arlington it was young go-getters kissing a$$ and doing anything to get to the top. In the burbs everyone wants to get ahead of course but their more concerned about their kids, their next vacation, or what to do this weekend. Fewer live to work types and more work to live types.

Am I wrong in my observation? Could it just be a coincidence and at the end of the day overall an office is an office? Or is there a difference in the office environments in the Virginia suburbs versus the District?

[Curbed Enthusiasm]

Originally Posted by terrence81

Now that I work in Herndon its even more laidback. I just rock a collared usually button down shirt and jeans to work. I hate the commute to Dulles but love the laidback atmosphere.

I wear a suit and tie everyday (in the District) and have a 10 minute commute. I am far and away happier than I would ever be wearing jeans everyday with a miserable, gridlocked commute. After siting in an hour of traffic, I am anything but laid back, no matter what I'm wearing.

[terrence81]

Originally Posted by Curbed Enthusiasm

I wear a suit and tie everyday (in the District) and have a 10 minute commute. I am far and away happier than I would ever be wearing jeans everyday with a miserable, gridlocked commute. After siting in an hour of traffic, I am anything but laid back, no matter what I'm wearing.

Well the commute problem can be solved by moving closer to work in Herndon like you moved closer to work in the District. However, my contract is only until the summer so I really don't want to move out to where my office is only to be re-assigned again. So I choose to continue living in West Springfield despite hating the commute.

Although I do like being 25 minutes from the city. If I lived in Herndon it'd a longer drive to see my city friends (I have NO friends in Springfield or surrounding suburbs). I used to live in south Arlington and worked in Fairfax the commute was killing me though. So I moved to Springfield for a 20 minute commute, only to find out 3 weeks later I would no longer be working out of that office. Needless to say I was not amused. I don't want to go through that again. I do feel like my social life and my gas tank have taken a hit by living in the burbs but a small hit. Moving to Herndon would cripple said social life. At the same time this seems to be where the jobs are.

Also I've had jobs where you can jeans and some of them totally sucked.

[yrb]

This has nothing to do with burbs versus the city. I had a job in DC (corporate, office job) where you could wear shorts, jeans too if you wanted to look more formal

[The Heartbreak Kid]

I work for the Government and I notice different trends. I wear a shirt and tie everyday but Friday, I take off my ties on Fridays.

At my agency.

1. The managers typically dress nice everyday except for the service related areas but they still will dress for meetings

2. Most of the young African American's typically dress nice everyday

3. The older African Americans who have moved up the chain tend to dress nice all the time but the ones still in lower positions tend to not dress as much.

4. The younger white workers in my agency tend to be a bit more casual except for meeting days.

5. The political employees are always on point.

[11KAP]

it depends on your title how you have to dress i guess, unless it is casual day.

[terrence81]

Originally Posted by yrb

This has nothing to do with burbs versus the city. I had a job in DC (corporate, office job) where you could wear shorts, jeans too if you wanted to look more formal

Well dress was just one aspect that I noticed about working ITB versus OTB. I also observed less attitude and fewer people willing to throw others under the bus OTB as well.

Originally Posted by The Heartbreak Kid

I work for the Government and I notice different trends. I wear a shirt and tie everyday but Friday, I take off my ties on Fridays.

At my agency.

1. The managers typically dress nice everyday except for the service related areas but they still will dress for meetings

2. Most of the young African American's typically dress nice everyday

3. The older African Americans who have moved up the chain tend to dress nice all the time but the ones still in lower positions tend to not dress as much.

4. The younger white workers in my agency tend to be a bit more casual except for meeting days.

5. The political employees are always on point.

Interesting observation about race. I've worked in several office environments while living in the DC area. All of them have been majority white with only one 2 week gig in Tysons being close to being diverse. In other words I'm almost always the token black guy.

So I've never noticed a difference race wise in dress even when I wasn't the only black guy. White and black seem to dress the same. I'd say that when numbers are low there's more comradarie amongst black co-workers. Back in Georgia most of my jobs were majority black. No comradarie and too much gossip.

Originally Posted by 11KAP

it depends on your title how you have to dress i guess, unless it is casual day.

That's a good point while many of the guys in my office wear jeans and such a lot of the higher ups will still at least wear khakis.

[GMUAlum08]

i work in dupont and wear jeans on friday and no tie the rest of the days. i freaking love it.

when i was working in alexandria i had to wear a tie everyday and that got old. can't imagine having to wear a suit every day. kill me please

[Curbed Enthusiasm]

Originally Posted by GMUAlum08

when i was working in alexandria i had to wear a tie everyday and that got old. can't imagine having to wear a suit every day. kill me please

Wearing a suit everyday is like wearing a wrist watch. It might feel a little different at first, but you get used to it very quickly. I find a good, breathable wool suit far more comfortable to wear in the summer than jeans. And I've never truly understood America's love affair with denim, which is a heavy, tough, inflexible material, and now that form-fitting, skin-tight cuts are in fashion, I'd hardly call them comfortable.

Getting back to the OP... I notice a difference in people as soon as you get out to Gainesville and beyond. People just seem to be kinder and gentler as you get 30 miles out of DC, not to mention they have awesome southern accents.

[terrence81]

Originally Posted by Curbed Enthusiasm

Wearing a suit everyday is like wearing a wrist watch. It might feel a little different at first, but you get used to it very quickly. I find a good, breathable wool suit far more comfortable to wear in the summer than jeans. And I've never truly understood America's love affair with denim, which is a heavy, tough, inflexible material, and now that form-fitting, skin-tight cuts are in fashion, I'd hardly call them comfortable.

Getting back to the OP... I notice a difference in people as soon as you get out to Gainesville and beyond. People just seem to be kinder and gentler as you get 30 miles out of DC, not to mention they have awesome southern accents.

I've NEVER had a job where a suit was required everyday. Used to date a guy who had such a job. He always had my pity in the summer. There's just something more comfortable about jeans. Also jeans don't have to be pressed or dry cleaned so you can just grab a pair and go.

Gainesville is so...far away. You know in the past year I've only left the DC area thrice in the past year. Georgia for Chirstmas, Rehoboth for Labor Day, and NYC for my birthday. So haven't been past Gainesville in ages. Although you are right once you get past Gainesville there are indeed southern accents.