SUPER CASUAL THURSDAY

WORDS Haven Staff PHOTOGRAPH Ella Doyle

Destroyer Media and Marketing, the parent company for Haven and LKLD Magazines, is a considerably progressive workplace. We have a four-day workweek, swear like sailors, occasionally drink on the job, play loud music, and don’t have a strictly enforced dress code policy. It’s not unusual to walk into the LKLD office and see someone dressed in a power suit for a meeting and someone else in sweats working on the magazine’s layout or writing a story. I’m wearing sweats right now, in fact. Tomorrow… I won’t be wearing anything. That’s because Thursday is the only day of the week that a dress code (or lack thereof rather) is enforced.

Because of our four-day work week, Thursday is our ‘Friday.’ So, instead of casual Friday, we opted for ‘Super Casual Thursday.’ The Super Casual Thursday work model is this: we work our butts off… with nothing on our butts.

One study by the Harvard’s Institute for Efficiency and Satisfaction in the Workplace showed that “For every ‘extra’ piece of clothing worn, an employee is 4% less efficient. When you think of underwear, pants, shirt, belt, jacket, tie, etc., those percentages add up,” according to the study’s lead researcher, Hugh G. McKnockers.

We took a vote and put that study to the test in our office. LKLD increased overall efficiency by around 37% percent with just one nude day during the workweek. How do you think we produce two magazines each month with such a small staff? Totally naked. That’s how.

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Productivity wasn’t the only motive to bear all. Since enacting Super Casual Thursday (SCT), we’ve all become a lot closer. “Now, nothing’s a secret. It feels like we’re one big family. I know every tattoo, piercing, wrinkle, flop, flap, lump, and bump,” said Nicole N. For example, our art and production manager, Steven M., has a tramp stamp that says ‘Adobe Premiere’ in a beautiful script font. Another sick tat says ‘Design Daddy’ around his bicep surrounded by an image-safe zone, and who could forget his Dungeons and Dragons chest piece.

We knew Christine C. loved her job, but we would never have known that she had a belly button ring and magazine ad rates tattooed on her ribcage if it weren’t for SCT.

According to web developer and graphic designer Ella D., “Negative energy sticks to your clothes, even after you wash them. It’s good to have one day, completely free of bad vibes.” She’s right. The consensus around the office is that the breeze feels nice, and Thursdays cut down on chaffing and wedgies.

Additionally, not wearing clothing has been a tremendous help in our ‘Go Green’ initiative as we use less electricity for air conditioning during the summer.

Are there cons? Of course. For personal reasons, some of us don’t wear reading glasses on Thursdays because some things don’t need to be any clearer. Also, a certain someone keeps using the copy machine to make copies of their butt. It’s a waste of paper and leaves cheek prints that someone else has to Windex off – Nate. To avoid any HR nightmares, management came up with rules for Thursdays:

1. No jumping, jiggling or sudden movements 2. No chair sharing 3. No resting your boobs on a teammate’s desk 4. Sweating prohibited 5. No stretching 6. No judging (while in the office) 7. No excessive lotion or oil 8. Blinds are to remain closed at all times 9. Respect Kevin’s personal space 10. If meeting with a client, wear provided suit jacket (because we’re professionals) 11. Eye contact is mandatory

Currently, the LKLD office is in a building with a shared bathroom and public spaces. We keep one robe on the coat rack to wear when entering those public spaces. And we do wear shoes. We’re not animals.

“American society, particularly the formal workplace, can be so uptight and restricting. Our motto is ‘Let it all hang out,’” said editor and partner Amy S. Many co-workers have remarked on being able to maintain the sense of comfort and individuality that working from home during the pandemic provided. In all honesty, most of us didn’t wear pants on work calls then, and we don’t wear pants now.

Super Casual Thursday has dramatically improved morale, workflow, and creativity. We’re so grateful to management for the freedom to freeball. You better believe we’re gunning for Lakeland’s Best Place to Work 2022. Or should we say ‘breast’ place to work?