My manager has banned all vests, skirts and shorts

I don't want to see anyone's armpit if I'm not at the beach, pool or a very dressy and appropriately cool occasion.

Yabu for exaggerating and saying that the only option she's left you with are ankle length trousers, there's still a lot of scope for outfits that dont include vest and shorts that are both cool and work appropriate. If you're not customer facing you could just pull a longer skirt up to your knees anyway when sitting at a desk or whatever and get the same amount of bare skin.

She is being unreasonable by going so OTT given you aren't customer facing and its only hot like this a few days a year. And also by keeping a lovely air con office to herself while the rest of the staff are sweltering.

Tbh if its that bad id just pull a sicky next time its really hot - Im not someone who does that often (haven't had a sick day since I had covid in 2021) but fuck it, if the workplace is going to treat me like a naughty schoolchild by measuring hemlengths they don't then get pure professionalism back in return!

I think the whole department should pile into her office until the aircon situation can be resolved.

I don’t think your top is smart enough OP- sorry.

If it were a Tailored sleeveless top (like a shirt with a collar, just sleeveless, or something like this, I think that’s office appropriate:

I don t think shorts are appropriate. Vest tops can be okay depending on the style.

skirts that sit at the knee

so what's wrong with a midi length? Which is about calf length.

why quit a job just because your manager doesn't want beachwear in the office? Jobs aren't that easy to find.

I agree about vests and shorts - sorry - I don't think they belong in an office environment. If she's had to ban certain items, I suspect its been in response to some people wearing inappropriate styles. It's something that we are notoriously bad at in the UK - dressing for work in hot weather. Whereas in hot countries, on the continent for example, they seem capable of dressing for the weather and still looking professional.
The issue is the temperature in the office, this can be raised with HR.

Why have knees suddenly becone an issue.

theyre just bloody joints in the middle of your legs , they'll be insisting elbows are covered next.

As long as she does the job what does it matter what she wears? it's not a public facing role.
It's a very old fashioned attitude.

I'd start with a H&S complaint about working in 35 degrees. I know a top temperature is not mandated yet but it's in the post legislatively. There are still employer obligations to manage heat and this is from the HSE website. If none of this is happening then you have grounds to complain about multiple things, not just a sleeveless blouse which on the face of it I would wear and simply say that it's not a vest. Because it's not.

When people are too hot
You can help ensure people are comfortable in warm conditions:

• Provide fans, such as desk, pedestal or ceiling-mounted ones
• Provide air-cooling or air-conditioning and adequate ventilation
• Ensure windows can be opened to keep air circulating
• Shade employees from direct sunlight with blinds or by using reflective film on windows
• Position workstations away from direct sunlight or sources of heat
• Place insulating materials around hot plant and pipes
• Provide cold water dispensers (water is better than caffeine or carbonated drinks)

• Introduce flexible working patterns, such as job rotation, moving workers to cooler parts of the building where possible
• Allow enough breaks to allow workers to get cold drinks or cool down
• Relax formal dress codes – but make sure personal protective equipment is used if required

Where do you work?

Many people have no choice and have to wear uniform and/or PPE - firefighters, police, nurses, doctors, retail , hospitality. Be grateful you don’t have to do that. I don’t think shorts and vest tops are appropriate for a professional workplace.

I’d just wear a maxi dress?

This too. The sooner the maximum temperature is brought into law the better!!

Then you don’t have to work. Check NHS health and safety working guidelines. They can’t make you work like that!

I would make a complaint to Health & Safety and HR.

Personally I would like to see it a legal requirement that if employers have either a dress code or staff uniform there should be a proper Health & Safety assessment

@itsjustthepricewepay

HR

you work for the NHS not her little tin pot dictatorship.

This woman is enforcing her own cultural or religious beliefs on your department & needs shoving back in her box!

any vest top is not appropriate in the workplace. No one wants to see armpits

Shorts, vests, mini skirts and flip flops I would understand.

But regular skirts? I don't see anything wrong with that.

Also does this banning of certain clothes only applies to female employees or have men also been issued with similar requirements?

Not getting it OP. proper linen trousers are cooler than shorts. Wear natural fabrics and buy a hand held old fashioned paper fan.

Knees being seen when your sitting is an issue??

I think 1950 is calling for you.

I would leave any job where the manager was so controlling. If you’re not public facing in the heatwave she should be encouraging you to dress for comfort, within reason (public decency). But the replies show how stuck in a corporate mindset people are.

Me too, we have no air con in our stuffy office and sky light windows which let the sun in but no air flow.

can you wear a light cover up over a vest?

The shirt is fine.

I'm working from home in a bikini and just keep pulling on a floaty shirt for calls on cam.

Are you in a unionised workplace? If so, the reps should be raising this as a H&S issue, especially as there is no front-facing need for it. If not, is there a senior manager above your immediate one that you could collectively make a plea to? It's so unseasonably hot and if the company is not making provisions to keep the office at a reasonable working temperature, they should allow people to self-regulate via clothing.

I agree.
When I managed a large countywide charity the dress code was shoulders and above knee level covered.. I had a male employee who thought showing his hairy torso wearing a vest top with running shorts was appropriate. It definitely wasn’t.
I also provided deodorant and body wipes in the toilets and made sure everyone had cold drinks etc.
I would wear midi or maxi, short sleeve dresses or wide leg linen trousers with a short sleeve top.
Sandals were allowed.