That's all gone now, replaced with a more relaxed atmosphere. Fridays are dress-casual days during the spring, fall and winter. Every workday during Houston's long, hot summers have been deemed dress-casual. One Friday each month, the executive offices are opened to all Continental employees who decide to drop by. While Bethune was being interviewed by a journalist last year, Continental employees on vacation from Utah dropped by in shorts and T-shirts.
Workers applaud the new atmosphere at headquarters.
And whether the two are related or not, Continental's financial performance is now flying high. The atmosphere and accouterments of an executive office offer some revealing clues about the company and the personality of the person running the show. Some pundits argue there's a firm correlation between the opulence of the office and the bottom line. The fancier the digs, writes famed investor Peter Lynch, the more likely the executives are to be out of touch with reality. Obviously they weren't wasting money on landscaping the office.