My manager has banned all vests, skirts and shorts

I think sleeveless tops are fine. I wear a lot for work in the summer. I’m not talking stringy, strappy vests but so many sleeveless tops are fine and professional looking. I think it’s a shame she’s banned those, I’d hate to wear sleeves in hot weather.

I'm another one genuinely confused as to why bare shoulders and arms are now deemed inappropriate?

Corporate power dressing and all that jazz has always included sleeveless blouses and dresses, weren't we all supposed to go all Michelle Obama arms at one point?

Same, HE and we can wear what we want. Everyone is wearing birkenstocks, few are in crocs. I don't wear straps tops because we bave aircon, but in the winter I wear hoodies and jeans. As long as we rank well in student surveys and bring in research grants, nothing else matters. People see past clothes.

It looks like an old tshirt, not work attire. I wouldn’t even go outside wearing it - just my opinion though

I might be wrong, but I think legally there is a minimum temperature people can be expected to work in, but no legal maximum 😧

I might be wrong, but I think legally there is a minimum temperature people can be expected to work in, but no legal maximum 😧

I think you need to go to HR. From your policy I don't think she's entitled to do what she's trying to do. Contentious question, but is she trying to stick to her own cultural norms? When she said ankle length for skirts I wondered if she'd had a strict upbringing?

We seem to have returned to Victorian times. It’s an ARM, not an arse or a tit. And anyway, different work places have different levels of formality.

If it gets to 40 plus in the office I might, I'd also point out I have a medical condition that is worse with heat so please get some air con that works for our giant glass box so I can concentrate on work and not how unbearably uncomfortable I am.

So no shorts, no vests & skirts longer than knee length?

Doesn't seem too bad?

I d ask the union what the situation is over the uniform and “appropriate “ see what they say

seems over the top

acas https://www.acas.org.uk/extreme-temperatures-in-the-workplace. Have this section

You can wear weather appropriate clothing that isn’t shorts and a vest top. I’m wearing a voluminous linen mid calf dress with elbow length sleeves, it’s the coolest thing I own. Tight clothes that expose flesh are way hotter.

Agree I used to have a very smart job in the city, and my workwear uniform was mainly on the knee dresses many of which were sleeveless. I had a jacket for meetings but not just for day to day sitting at my desk. I assume there are some people who are dressing inappropriately and this is the best way she can think to word it to stop them?

That's ridiculous. Ask her if she seriously claims you should be reverting to the Victorian age. Or would she be happier if you opted for the full nun's robe and wimple?

If they want people to return to the office then they should at least allow people to wear weather appropriate clothing.

Don't come to my neck of the woods, then. One of the standard work wear items in a professional setting for women is a sleeveless sheath dress, usually in linen or a linen blend, solid color, knee length or slightly above. Bare shoulders aplenty.

Ah I was ‘lucky’ to wear pale blue nylon J cloth uniforms then 😂
With poppers! And so be it if your poppers caught on a door handle when exiting a milk kitchen with your hands full of baby milk on a maternity ward and opened the entire top of uniform (in front of a seating area for new fathers) 🙈

OP does need to count her blessings imho

Just wear it, what’s she going to do, send you home?’ Make you strip off?

Rules exist to protect 99% of people from the 1% who want to do their own thing.

I think we can see from this thread that this data needs updating, as an awful lot of people seem to want to do their own thing and wear their own thing on company time. I am old fashioned, but I agree with the ‘heads, shoulders, knees and toes…but heads are ok’ line posted up thread. I also think that your employer can decide what you should wear, within reason, because they are paying you (which is often overlooked - you’re not doing them a favour by popping into the office, they are paying you). If you don’t like it, go and work somewhere else.

OP, your manager's decision sounds bizarre.
And I like your modified t-shirt and wouldn't bat an eyelid about anyone wearing it in office context.

So what to do... personally, I think we have to take these things with a pinch of salt. It's f*ing boiling, and to dictate what you wear in the heat while swanning around in her aircon is just poor practice IMO. Wear something YOU would be prepared to stand up in court and defend as reasonable to wear in your context (obviously you're not going to end up in court - I just mean in theory). If she complains, tell her it's hot and you are dressed perfectly reasonably. Bet she won't, though....
🌻

Banning skirts (and presumably dresses) is just bizarre
I’m ok with the rest of it
our office is now mega casual. At the moment shorts and flip flops are the order of the day. Though we do tend to cover shoulders for (virtual) client meetings

@itsjustthepricewepay Your post really puts my issues into perspective. I thought I had it bad because of occupational illness, but I am horified that there are people who actually can't wear skirts and vests to work.

I definitely agree that you need to quit your job.

Go in nude and say you need a bonus to afford a new wardrobe of office attire.

Other people who also work in the office ? 😂

There’s no enforceable maximum (so you can’t refuse to work if over 24)

You're within your legal rights to refuse to work if you feel the environment poses an imminent risk though. I would've been well within my rights today with it being 37°C in the truck I was driving and the company mandating that I wear heavy safety trousers, long sleeves, and heavy boots.