Dress codes and cultural codes
Decoding the unwritten rules at American tech firms in Bangalore
My initial months at my first company, an American MNC in Bangalore, India were a period of adjustment for me.
I was fortunate to have supportive colleagues during my first year. They helped me grasp the cultural intricacies of working in India, from leading teams to hiring practices. They taught me when to spot counterfeit situations, decipher the significance of certain events, and identify safe living areas. My mentors were invaluable in my transition to an Indian work environment. I owe a debt of gratitude to them.
During the day, we took short coffee breaks, using the time for 1-1’s or bonding as a group. A South Indian filter coffee for them, a black coffee for me. Sometimes, filter coffee for all of us. Drinking it hot, from a small glass sitting outside, on a cool spring afternoon was a joy.
One day, while walking to get coffee with a colleague, he asked, 'When are you going to start wearing Indian clothes?’
I was taken aback. I had dressed for work as I always had - professional attire of pants, jacket, and shirt. No one had mentioned my attire during my first three months in Bangalore.
I was conscious of a desire to just pretend I had not heard the question, but we were on friendly terms and his tone was affable and enquiring. So I said politely, I hadn’t considered it at all.
Having worked for American tech firms in various global locations, I had never needed to consider adhering to a local dress code.
Being in India, didn’t change that. I guessed the local teams didn’t know what to make of this new entrant. I looked Indian but spoke and dressed American. I had returned to India for work, an uncommon choice.
At work, most Indian women leaders and engineers preferred traditional Indian clothes - sarees, salwar kameez (an Indian dress). To me, these were attire for Indian holidays, not work.
Some summer days in Bangalore, especially in May, are hot. The offices were air-conditioned but if you had to be outside walking between offices, or visiting customers or partners, lightweight clothes are helpful. But this is no different than when I visited offices on a sweltering day in Plano, Texas.
Some colleagues, including a friendly female account manager who was a partner also tried helping me. One comment hinted that everyone initially undergoes 'such a phase' when returning from overseas, implying an eventual adjustment to Indian dress and customs. It was an awkward moment, and I chose to disregard the comment.
While some places in India, such as temples, country clubs, and luxury hotels, require dress codes, but a Silicon Valley headquartered, American tech firm was the last place I expected hints about a dress code. Fortunately, no HR manual dictated such a requirement, leaving me unaffected.
After those initial months, the subject of attire never arose again in that company. But I noticed that some female engineers began wearing pants to work.