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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sandals and crusty feet at work

462 replies

Offherrockingchair · 28/06/2026 19:47

AIBU to think that walking sandals and flip flops are not professional workwear? Yes, it’s been ridiculously hot, but I don’t want to see brittle yellow toenails, crusty dry skin and, in one case, flakes and chunks of skin hanging off the manky trotters of my colleagues 🤮 At the very least, if we are going to be subjected to your toe cleavage, have a pedicure first. And don’t get me started on the smelly ones!

OP posts:
hecalledmecaptain · 29/06/2026 23:01

Blackcatahotcat · 29/06/2026 22:44

That sounds miserable for your MIL. This wasn’t the case with the individuals I referred to.

But how would you know? mil doesn't tell anyone she has it.

Thephantom · 29/06/2026 22:48

I'd rather sandals and crusty feet, than judgy bitchy colleagues in closed-toe shoes who have much too much time on their hands and so keep looking at people's feet. Crusty feet-i wouldn't even notice. But judgy/bitchy colleagues...🤷🏻‍♀️

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 22:46

Blackcatahotcat · 29/06/2026 22:44

That sounds miserable for your MIL. This wasn’t the case with the individuals I referred to.

But again, why does it matter? If they don’t smell then you can just look away.

Fair play to you knowing the medical and podiatry history of everyone with manky feet though.

I presume you would know why I didn’t have toenails if you saw my feet?

Blackcatahotcat · 29/06/2026 22:44

hecalledmecaptain · 29/06/2026 20:18

You've described my mother in laws feet.

She has podiatry twice a month because she has a skin condition which is worse on her feet. She can't help it. Even after having been to podiatry her feet look awful, just much, much better than they did.

You'd think they were never looked after and that couldn't be further from the truth.

That sounds miserable for your MIL. This wasn’t the case with the individuals I referred to.

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 21:36

Tbf MN is obsessed with feet and shoes, to a batshit extent.

HelenHywater · 29/06/2026 21:33

I have that @Ilovemum - I didn't know that was what it was called! It's horrible isn't it?

lljkk · 29/06/2026 21:32

YABVU

Baby193 · 29/06/2026 21:25

I wear smart sandals to work all the time in summer. I have regular pedicures and my toenails are painted but even if they weren’t I’d still wear them. It’s honestly never once occurred to me that people are looking at my feet and judging me - as long as I’m comfortable I don’t care! And the same for what anyone else on this planet is wearing. If it’s not affecting me I could not care less, I don’t know why people are so weird about it.

Esmeraldathe3rd · 29/06/2026 21:12

I don't like seeing acne, eczema, cold sores or hairy ears either but unfortunately other people have imperfect bodies and still have the right to be among us. I, on the other hand, am absolutely perfect in every way.

Rosebud987 · 29/06/2026 21:03

I’m a solicitor and have had sandals on all week. I do however have pretty feet and a pedicure and they’re smart sandals/wedges…. I don’t mind as long as the feet are tidy and clean

RampantIvy · 29/06/2026 20:42

We can't wear flip flops at work for health and safety reasons, but sandals are fine. I haven't seen any of the men in sandals though.

I drive to work so no issues with dirty public transport.

Fizbosshoes · 29/06/2026 20:39

I sometimes wear flip.flops to work, once I wore crocs, theres no dress code. I dont have manky or smelly feet. But generally I dont because I feel like my feet get dirtier when commuting in flip flops, and I cant run for the train if im.late.

Everyone (men and women) wear shorts, the other day i wore a tshirt that when I reached up to a high shelf about 1" of midriff was on show, and no one died.

RampantIvy · 29/06/2026 20:35

straighttola · 29/06/2026 07:27

But sandals don’t stand out from the norm!

And @DappledThings You are right of course. It was more in reference to another thread about very skimpy shorts. The first response was "If you don’t like it, don’t look.", but if someone is in front of you it is impossible not to see unless you walk around with your eyes closed.

"It is unavoidable seeing people in any sort of clothes or footwear that stand out from the norm, or even those that don't." - I think you missed the last part of my sentence

GregoryFluff · 29/06/2026 20:26

I constantly wear sliders in the summer, I hate having hot feet
My heels are dry and a bit cracked, my right one much more so, oddly
I do moisturise them but I work long shifts, on my feet the entire time and I do a lot of walking
Don't like it, don't look

hecalledmecaptain · 29/06/2026 20:18

Blackcatahotcat · 29/06/2026 09:19

Oh jeez we had some corkers in my last office. Hard skin on heels that can NEVER have been filed and another person had unpainted toenails that looked like whelks. Utterly repulsive.

You've described my mother in laws feet.

She has podiatry twice a month because she has a skin condition which is worse on her feet. She can't help it. Even after having been to podiatry her feet look awful, just much, much better than they did.

You'd think they were never looked after and that couldn't be further from the truth.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 29/06/2026 20:11

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 18:42

But to see someone’s feet and register that they are grim involves quite the detailed examination. I don’t have toenails most of the time and my feet are a horrible shape so according to the MN standards I should probably wear winter boots all year round.

Stop looking at the feet of randomers, people - it’s creepy as fuck

You evidently didn’t understand the Plain English in my post.

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 20:04

GoingToEgypt · 29/06/2026 19:54

Why are so many people so defensive in support of feet? It’s nothing personal, everyone has their own phobias etc. I detest feet, which is why mine are firmly hidden away unless on a beach. Agree, sandals should be banned in the workplace!

Actually people aren’t defending feet, they are defending the right to show your feet if appropriate, regardless of how ugly they may be.

BlueFahrenheit · 29/06/2026 20:02

GoingToEgypt · 29/06/2026 19:54

Why are so many people so defensive in support of feet? It’s nothing personal, everyone has their own phobias etc. I detest feet, which is why mine are firmly hidden away unless on a beach. Agree, sandals should be banned in the workplace!

I run my own business and allow my employees to wear sandals, as I want them to be comfortable.

Whatever their feet look like is none of my concern.

GoingToEgypt · 29/06/2026 19:54

Why are so many people so defensive in support of feet? It’s nothing personal, everyone has their own phobias etc. I detest feet, which is why mine are firmly hidden away unless on a beach. Agree, sandals should be banned in the workplace!

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 19:50

Minasama · 29/06/2026 19:10

Hard agree OP, this is basic professionalism and grooming.

In your opinion. ‘Grooming’ makes women sound like show poodles.

I am scrupulously clean (hair, body and clothes) - that’s all that’s needed.

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 19:49

shrunkenhead · 29/06/2026 18:59

Yes. Why are they falling off?! If they've weakened maybe consider a gel pedicure. You can buy self adhesive acrylic toe nails in Boots.

They literally pull off from the bottom.

So they have literally nothing to stick to. I’m not paying for a pedicure as I loathe being touched unless it’s medically necessary.

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 19:46

Judging · 29/06/2026 17:46

If you can’t reach your own feet, get them done by someone else. Or keep them covered. I don’t expect perfect pedicures, and many people just have ugly feet, but letting them become yellowed, thickened and cracked is just manksville.

Why should people go to the effort and expense of having their feet done just because others may deem it their business?

backformoreofthesame · 29/06/2026 19:40

Minasama · 29/06/2026 19:10

Hard agree OP, this is basic professionalism and grooming.

Professional and grooming - by your standards . Who made you queen?

OhGraciousMe · 29/06/2026 19:39

Gwenhwyfar · 28/06/2026 21:21

Fuck off. If it's extremely hot my ugly feet will be out.
My face is ugly too, but I'm not going to wear a paper bag over it.

What a charmer.

Minasama · 29/06/2026 19:10

Hard agree OP, this is basic professionalism and grooming.