Paper memos and desk phones were all the rage in offices in the ’90s. But later, offices swapped envelopes for email and added auto-scheduling, among other things. Here are 17 ways in which work culture has changed since the ’90s. Do you remember any of these happening?
From Paper Memos to Email Norms
You’d see paper memos in interoffice envelopes in practically every hallway during the ’90s, but that changed as offices wired up. Outlook spread, which meant that cc and bcc became the norm, and out-of-office replies turned routine. Attachments and scanned PDFs also eliminated fax traffic, and paper memos are practically non-existent now.
Casual Dress Codes Loosen
Back in the ’90s, suits were the norm in many offices, but this started changing after Levi Strauss mailed its 1992 “A Guide to Casual Businesswear.” Tech employers began pushing everyday casual through the 2000s, with handbooks spelling out when denim and sneakers were fine. The majority of offices now support neat-casual norms. Don’t be surprised if you see hoodies or cardigans instead of blazers.
Non-Discrimination Policies Expand
Policy text has changed a lot, too. During the 2000s, big employers added sexual orientation to their nondiscrimination sections, and the 2010s brought wider inclusion of gender identity. Work culture became much more sensitive towards people of different backgrounds. EEO statements on job listings have adopted more inclusive language. This has become standard wording across many U.S. companies.
Hairstyle Protections Enter Handbooks
That’s not all for discrimination. Employees’ hair choices have also received specific legal backing, which began in 2019. Several states passed CROWN Act laws that bar discrimination based on natural hair and protective styles. Many employers updated their grooming policies to protect people’s hairstyles, and this gave workers more freedom to express themselves as they like.
Volunteer Time Off Becomes a Program
It was after the 1990s that volunteer days stopped being ad hoc drives. They became structured time off as part of formalized paid VTO, which many companies now list right alongside vacation and sick leave. Volunteering is much more of an official thing, with dedicated days and donation matching. It’s not something merely for employees to choose.
First-Name Basis With Executives
Titles at work are much more casual these days, and many teams have moved away from using “Mr.” and “Ms.” when addressing leadership. Instead, people are more likely to use first names. Style guides also encourage employees to use names and roles, rather than honorifics, while event agendas and Q&A slides did the same. Talking to people in the office is more relaxed nowadays.
“People Team” Becomes Standard Language
Speaking of language, department names changed across many companies. “Personnel” gave way to “Human Resources,” and then “People Operations” or simply “People Team” is more common. Why did this happen? Because companies wanted to come across as more humane than they did during the 1990s. You can’t blame them for that.
Mental Health Days Added to PTO
Taking a day off because you were stressed is no longer something you have to disguise as a “sick day.” Now, companies have started spelling it out in their policies. Take the time off if you’re feeling burned out. In some cases, HR departments even encourage people to use the days instead of saving them forever, which has made it a little easier to be honest about mental health at work.
Office Kitchens Stock More Than Coffee
That sad office coffee pot has given way to entire snack stations at most offices. These days, you can get sparkling water and granola bars in the office, so you’re no longer limited to caffeine. This makes the office kitchens a great place for random conversations to happen. They’re open to anyone, instead of just a select few who like a cup of joe.
Pronouns in Email Signatures
Many employees have begun putting pronouns in their email signatures, and it was something that spread slowly at first. It began with HR, and then went across entire companies. Some workplaces have also added guides showing people how to set it up if they want to. Adding pronouns has become much more normalized.
No-Meeting Fridays Gain Popularity
Years of calendars stuffed with back-to-back calls led some teams to start guarding Fridays. That’s why many offices have a rule now. No meetings on a Friday unless it’s an emergency. This way, people can use the time to actually get their work done or just breathe. It’s a strict rule in some companies, while there’s a little wiggle room in others. Either way, workers have realized how much better things feel when they have at least one day “free.”
Office Swag as Standard Onboarding
Branded gear has changed from being a rare freebie to a standard welcome gift. Most new hires will open a box on their first day with a hoodie and stickers, which helps them feel part of the group right away. Companies might even ship them out to remote employees. The goal is to make everyone feel included in the company, one way or another.
Work From Home Wednesdays
In the 90s, working from home was almost unheard of, unless you were waiting for the cable guy. Most offices assumed that being productive involved being at your desk all week long. It’s not that way anymore. Companies have started experimenting with midweek work-from-home days, with Wednesdays being the favorite for many employees. It splits up the grind in a great way.
No More Assigned Seating
People used to decorate their cubicles almost like mini living rooms. They had family photos and maybe a candy dish, along with their desk phones that had a curly cord. It was people’s way of showing that this area was their space. But it’s flipped these days, as people share their desks and have portable laptops. You might sit somewhere new every day as part of hot desking. But really, it’s just the idea that your seat isn’t permanent anymore.
Learning by Sharing Mistakes
Workplaces in the past weren’t exactly forgiving when things went wrong. If you messed up a project, you had to just hope it didn’t stick to your reputation because there was no concept of openly talking about mistakes. But not anymore. Many employees have stopped sweeping problems under the rug, and they now treat slip-ups as part of the process, because they are.
Quiet Hours for Focus
Quiet time wasn’t really a thing in the 90s, as your boss could call you at your desk anytime. A ringing phone meant you answered. Today, companies have begun carving out blocks of time where employees aren’t expected to respond instantly, no meetings, no Slack pings. You have the actual space to think and work. How revolutionary is that?
Pet-Friendly Offices
Bringing a dog to the office in the 90s would’ve been a huge mistake because workplaces were much stricter back then. The idea of pets roaming around cubicles wasn’t even on most people’s radar. These days, it’s not strange to see water bowls tucked under desks or a couple of dogs napping during a meeting. It’s simply part of office culture.
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