I don’t know if people think talking about working in pajamas sounds cool or new age or what. But it’s really ridiculous. It attracts the wrong people as freelancers and the wrong people as clients.

Working in pajamas is not a freelancing perk. It’s a choice. And it’s not limited to freelancers. It’s an option available to most people who work from home.

I’m not saying there aren’t freelancers who work in pajamas. But I refuse to believe it’s a primary motive for anyone other than a slob. I could be wrong, but I just give most of you more credit than that.

Any adult who is making business decisions –in other words, basing their family’s financial wellbeing-on the freedom to wear pajamas is a joke. I’m not even going to try to be any politer about that.

Imagine someone thinking, or worse, saying: No, I don’t think I’ll pursue that job because then I have to wear real pants.

What?!!

I don’t even own pajamas. And if I did, I don’t think I’d find them so pleasing that I want to get up, skip bathing, and marinate in them all day. Unless there’s some luxury brand that’s secretly blowing people’s mind below my radar, I don’t see the appeal.

More importantly, I don’t see why grown folks even bring something so asinine into conversations linked to their profession.

If you wouldn’t want to meet your clients in pajamas, why publicize the fact that that’s what you wear when you’re working behind the scenes?

The mental image you paint of how you conduct your business affects the financial welfare of your business. And, it can impact the larger perception of freelancers.

It was bad enough that freelancers made sleepwear seem like such an integral part of what we’re about. But people who hire freelancers have also jumped on this bandwagon of nonsense.

Have you seen the job ads that list the ability to work in pajamas among the list of things that the company has to offer? If you haven’t, I assure you they are out there.

Do you know what that means? It means these prospective clients are letting you know out of the gate that they aren’t taking you seriously as a professional.

What bonafide business arrangement includes discussions of wearing pajamas?

When companies are glorifying things that aren’t real perks, it also usually means they are trying to make the job sound better than it is.

That means you’re probably about to be overworked and underpaid. And, chances are you’ll end up with work you won’t be eager to put in your portfolio.

Working in pajamas being a perk is just as absurd as fast food companies listing uniforms as a company benefit. Ummm… if you don’t get a McDonald’s uniform from McDonald’s where else are you going to find shirts with golden arches? Have them tailor-made?

Most freelancers aren’t dressing in suits on the daily but we aren’t scuffing around the house in pajamas either. If you’re one who is, so be it. Just know that it’s not a valuable or worthy topic.

It’s a topic that feeds an unsavory and unprofessional stereotype.

To go from talking about business tactics, skills,  quality, and rates to glamorizing unlimited access to flannel, that’s buffoonery. Shut the f…front door! Please.

See Also: Freelancers Are Tired of You Calling This Easy