Dress Code: No Suits.
When someone’s been injured at work, they’re not just facing physical pain—they’re also confronting fear, confusion, and uncertainty about the future.
At Prism, we believe how we show up matters just as much as what we do. That’s why you won’t find us in stiff suits or polished wingtips. (No offense to our fancy-dressed friends! This just doesn’t match our services in the same way.) Instead, we dress a little more casually—on purpose. It’s a small choice with a big impact: one that helps us build trust and show empathy in moments when people need it most.
Psychological research consistently shows that clothing can influence interpersonal relationships.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that people often respond more positively to individuals who appear “appropriately nonconforming,” especially in traditionally formal settings. This “red sneakers effect” suggests that when someone intentionally deviates from the expected dress code, it can signal authenticity and confidence—two traits that help foster connection. For an injured worker already navigating intimidating legal processes, talking to someone who looks human rather than hierarchical can make all the difference.
It’s not that there’s anything inherently wrong with suits, ties, pencil skirts, and pointy patent leather heels, it’s just about an awareness of our attire in different environments and what that attire signals. For us, we’re dressing under the belief that our more casual look signals we’re not here to dominate a conversation or posture for authority, but instead, to listen, understand, and walk alongside our clients with humility and respect.
Every industry leverages some sort of “uniform” to communicate whatever it is they’re trying to communicate. Doctors have white coats. UPS drivers have the signature brown top and shorts. Lawyers have suits and nice dresses. These things are all appropriate in their own contexts. At Prism, we know mediation is all about relationships, so every part of our process—including our attire— is geared towards fostering relationships right off the bat. It may seem like a minute detail, but we know it matters.
In short, we believe the small stuff is the big stuff.
By trading ties for polos and pants suits for sweaters, we’re sending a message that’s rooted in our values: you matter, and your story matters. Empathy isn’t just a buzzword to us—it’s the fabric of our culture, quite literally. And if that helps even one injured worker feel a little more at ease, then it’s worth every intentional choice we make.