work attire

[*koni*]

In my first private practice job I was supposed to wear trainers, tracksuit bottoms and tidy t-shirt or polo shirt. That was the same during internships at hospitals, though they usually provided the "uniform" (still polo shirts).

I now work for a company with mainly OTs and there is a lot of office work. But we still offer some outpatients physio as well - yet I'm supposed to wear "professional business attire". - seems weird & uncomfy while doing tests & instruct exercises.. yet I haven't seen any other private practice PTs wearing sporty. Maybe that's just a NZ thing?

What do you other people wear at work? Sporty? Or casual business?

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[Fyzzio]

Hi,
you mean black suit and tie?
Yep, sounds weird and impractical and is certainly not a NZ thing.

While I don't agree that trainers and trackpants are necessarily professional attire (and soooo cliché), I think that comfortable dress pants and a polo shirt are.
That's what's worn in most clinics that I have seen.

Cheers,
Fyzzio

[*koni*]

More like dress pants, fancy shirt and polished shoes. Or for us females: skirt and pumps?!? Would be a little weird instructing mat exercises wearing a skirt and balance exercises in high heels...
Aside from clichee I always thought that tracksuit/trainers was the most practical for moving around lots and depending on your treatment (and your client's size), a treatment session can equal a good gym work out!

I think "professional" look differs between professions, not everyone has to look like a lawyer to portrait professional competence. I would still consider eg a builder to be competent who wears steel caps or a lab tech who wears a coat.

[Fyzzio]

They ask you to wear a skirt and pumps for work in a Physio clinic???
I would change the job.

And no, where I work, wearing trainers and trackpants are exactly not the image we try to portrait.
Not every Physio session is a physical work out and not every Physio works in a Physio clinic.

Fyzzio

[*koni*]

Haha no they haven't asked me to wear skirt & heels but it says in my job description "professional business attire" and I googled it to see what exactly that includes.. and was a little shocked to see skirt, pumps, blouses and blazers, especially after always wearing clichee sporty look (or hospital uniform) so far..