Casual Mondays

One of the things I love about working for Midwestern University is that, starting in June, we spend the summers with not just one, but two casual days.

Dr. Goeppinger, our University President and CEO, sent us an e-mail after Memorial Day and let us know that we add Casual Mondays to our week, joining Casual Fridays for the balance of the summer until Labor Day. "The two day a week business casual is designed to make the summer more relaxed," she wrote.

During all other seasons, Casual Fridays are a nice way to feel a little looser as the weekend approaches. It's not a huge change of apparel for me - it basically means I switch from khakis to jeans and maybe from dress shoes and socks to more comfortable sneakers. But it does make a difference.

During the summer, however, the difference is much greater, especially as we navigate to July and August. To me, it's less an issue of being "more relaxed" as it is one of "sanity saving." Having grown up in the Midwest and matured in the desert, I have felt the choking humidity of the former and the skin-searing heat of the latter. When it hits the upper 90s with 80% humidity in Downers Grove, or when the thermometer hits 118 degrees in Glendale, having an extra day to pull on a pair of dress shorts or some other tasteful, HR-approved casual outfit can be a lifesaver.

Adding a second casual day may not seem like much to some of you, but small gestures like these add up. And there are plenty of other "small gestures" that Midwestern University offers its faculty and staff that makes this place a terrific place to work.