Should my daughter be wearing slippers in her office?

[janneyhu]

With the snow last week my 22 year old daughter had been wearing her hunters to work.

But instead of taking shoes to change into she has taken slippers- she says she's not dealing with the public (although clients do visit) and it is more comfortable and practical.

It's up to her employers. I'm an employer. If she were my employee and there was no possibility of her having client contact and she was doing her job I'd not be bothered.

(apart from inwardly rolling my eyes and thinking more slipping standards but then I'm not keen on women wearing trousers in an office and a man not wearing a tie is the beginning of the end of civilisation as we know it)

I've never worn slippers at work, though my boss and his wife have (our office is next door to their house).

He wouldn't turn a hair if I did, I'm sure. When I started and asked about dress code, he said I needed to look smart when we had visitors (who are always by appointment) and to sound as if I looked smart the rest of the time :)

Phaedra you don't like women wearing trousers Did we fall down a wormhole to 1975?

Depends on the office and the dress code.

The dress code in my office states that we have to dress professionally, so I'd expect my line manager to pull me over for a word if I started walking around the office in slippers (unless I had a valid medical reason to be allowed them).

But other offices will have more informal dress codes.

I would never, ever wear slippers or pad about in my stocking feet at work - I think it looks massively unprofessional

I had a shoe drama on the way to work (sole started coming off) so I took them off and stuck it down with glue when I got there. Had to sit at my desk in a pair of odd socks for a while until the glue dried properly.

One of the Psychiatrists popped over for a chat about a client and he kept furtively looking at my feet (I'd swung my chair round to face him). I suspect he was judging and psychoanalysing me for my lack of professionalism.

I didn't walk around the office like it though, far too many staples etc dropped on the carpet that the crappy office cleaners hadn't hoovered up.

I'd think it a bit odd to see someone in slippers at the office but if management were okay with it then none of my business really.

I would wear slippers at work if I had room to carry them in my bag. And my dressing gown. I doubt my boss would give flying duck but customers may be a bit put off. I now have two pair of winter boots though, nice ones with a bit of a heel and cheap, flat, fluffy lined ones that won't last until spring but great for cold day/snow emergencies. If you're concerned OP, maybe buy her a pair of the latter, they're no more than £20 if you can spare it and quite frankly warmer than slippers.

My boss often wanders about in her socks. Academia. We put shoes on in front of the students though.....

I'm in Germany and my kids have to change into 'hausschue' aka slippers for school - keeps the classrooms/corridors clean and dry.

In a non-client facing role I wouldn't have a problem with your daughter's approach - better than clumpy/wet/dirty boots

In the office I used to work in there were about 11 employees and quite a few of us who would walk round without our shoes on. I never saw a pair of slippers though

you don't like women wearing trousers Did we fall down a wormhole to 1975?

No I don't like women wearing trousers in the office. Oddly in my profession almost every one apart from me wore trousers in the office. That has changed and it's surprising how few,certainly in my office do. I've really noticed the change in trainees over the years.

In my department we have 8 female solicitors ranging from early 20s to mid 50s ; only 2 wear trousers and one of them only occasionally.

This has nothing to do with the culture in the office (if the office were a person it would read The Guardian)

Back in the 80s I worked in a civil service department where one member of staff in his 50s always wore slippers. That's about the only thing anyone remembers about him and was generally seen as a sign of eccentricity.

I guess most people see slippers as an informal type of footwear, so not generally suitable for work. Not sure how slippers could be a health and safety risk - they are probably a lot safer than stilettos or other high heels

Meant to say "Oddly in my profession almost every one apart from me wore trousers in the office in the 1990s"

What's wrong with women wearing trousers?! Does showing their legs enable them to do their job better? This one has truly baffled me.

I'm curious why do you care whether other women wear trousers of skirts in the office Phaedra? I almost always wear trousers I feel more comfortable in them even, not just physically, thought that might be because on the odd occasion when I come in a dress or skirt people always comment "ooh Pud's got a dress on!"

I didn't say "wrong" I said I don't like seeing women wearing trousers in the office.The 2 are different unless you're objecting to my having an opinion at all. I don't think they are an attractive garment in or out of an office.

Your point "about showing their legs" has nothing to do with anything being discussed.

It's ok I guess if she's not client facing. I'd draw the line at a onesie though.

Very unprofessional! Whatever next? Pyjamas and dressing gown? A onesie?

I don't "care" I simply don't like trousers, I never wear them. I don't think they look as smart as a dress or skirt.

Tailored trouser suits were big in the 90s. They became a (boring) uniform for professional women. It seems to have moved on and where I work dresses seem to be the preferred choice.

And it is a choice. There is no dress code beyond try not to frighten the clients. The slippers on a behind the scenes person is fine.

YABU for referring to her wellies as 'Hunters'! ;)

Phaedra that's due to changes in fashion though, late nineties/early noughties trousers were common as it was fashionable, dresses are now back 'in' hence the change. It's not a social change as such.

It is a bit unusual opinion for a professional women these days to say that she 'doesn't like women wearing trousers in the office'. If you don't like trousers in general that's a bit different to 'not in the office'

Personally I's be extremely happy to see our a my colleagues in skirts (I do love a kilt) but I don't think that's quite what you are suggesting though...

Only relevant question would be what the workplace dress policy is and if her managers and bosses mind.
The tutting disapproval of her mum comes a long way doen the line of things to worry about.

Op. Seriously?

I do this exact same thing. Wear whatever is most comfortable to walk in depending on the weather and then change into office shoes or, if I'm in the mood, boot type slippers. I keep both in the office sobi don't carry them about. No one has ever said anything (public sector).

prettyblue thanks I wasn't suggesting don't wear them. I reserve the right not to like them tho'

Although as the uniform tailored trouser suit has disappeared I do think trousers in general have a greater ability to not look smart if being smart is relevant.

I was in a marketing training session last year where we were shown pictures of various people and asked to comment on what signals they were sending out. Completely coincidentally 2 of them were one of a woman in a skirt and another in trousers.

To marketing person's annoyance far more negative comments were made about the one wearing trousers but the exercise had been set up that it was supposed to be the one in the skirt who was displaying off putting signals. Group was the mix of ages and genders you'd expect in a law office.

I wear slippers at work but then it's my office. In my home.

When I went out to work I had smart shoes to change in to so I could wear trainers to work for comfort.