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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

People who remove their shoes in an office environment..

239 replies

RougeSeas · 29/11/2016 21:19

AIBU or is this actually now an acceptable thing to do?

I've just gone back in to an office based role, there's a contact centre and i work the other end on a different team.

Many of the women come in, then spend the day walking about with no shoes on..

It seems very unprofessional and a bit grim Envy

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SleepymrsE · 29/11/2016 21:23

I had to comment on this. My old boss used to do this ALL the time and it drove me bonkers. He'd come into the office and the first thing he'd do was sit down and take his shoes off then go make a coffee. When I was pregnant I told him in a hormonal outburst how much it bothered me. His response was 'well I'm not going to stop doing it'. When I returned from maternity leave, he'd left the company but I still found a pair of his shoes under the desk!!

AngryGinger · 29/11/2016 21:28

I take my shoes off at my desk, but I draw the line at walking about with no shoes on. I would, but I couldn't be bothered with all the funny looks haha! I also have a pair of slippers at one of my offices - I work between two offices (just me and my boss in there and not customer facing) because that office is bloody freezing

Camomila · 29/11/2016 21:31

I only ever take my shoes off if I need to stand on my chair to reach the top filing cabinet. I think that's acceptable shoe taking off.

SunnySideDownUp · 29/11/2016 21:34

I always used to do this! I would always wear shoes to meetings etc, but for getting to the photocopier etc I'd leave them off. Usually because I wear heels at work that I can't really walk in!

RougeSeas · 29/11/2016 21:35

Agreed camomila

Surely if after wearing shoes for an hour they need to come off, better shoes are required.

It's gross..

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CountryPlumpkin · 29/11/2016 21:35

I went to a training day recently and the guy sitting in the row in front of me (we were both sitting on the aisle) took his shoes off and merrily rotated his ankles throughout the first presentation.

His feet stank. I couldn't concentrate on anything except his socks whirling round and round. I moved seats as soon as discretely possible.

SadAngry

NumbNelly · 29/11/2016 21:35

I do this but don't walk round. I put them on if i leave my desk. If I'm on nights I'll wear slipper sockd

Revenant · 29/11/2016 21:36

I take them off at my desk where no one can see. If I need go anywhere I put them straight back on, I'd never wander around shoeless in the office.

RougeSeas · 29/11/2016 21:36

So why wear them? I wear heals i can walk in and wear all day... It's only women I've seen do it aswel

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Revenant · 29/11/2016 21:37

(And I don't have stinky feet either, so no one can see or smell them)

OublietteBravo · 29/11/2016 21:37

I swap my driving shoes for my working shoes when I get to the office. My colleague does the same in fact the bottom shelf of her cupboard is full of shoes. But neither of us wander around without shoes on.

JellyBelli · 29/11/2016 21:38

I used to take them off under my desk, but not walk about without them.

Heratnumber7 · 29/11/2016 21:39

I manage office moves. You wouldn't believe how many shoes we find under desks left by people we've moved to new offices. I could open a shop if we didn't throw them all away.

downwardfacingdog · 29/11/2016 21:39

Why is it gross though? Assuming the feet don't smell.

HappyGoLuckyGirl · 29/11/2016 21:40

I've done it on the odd occasion but 90% of the time I wear flats anyway.

If my shoes do come off its only if I have socks on. If barefoot then definitely not!

IJustWantABrew · 29/11/2016 21:41

My boss used to rock up to work without shoes on. She would drive into work in her socks. She literally didn't care, it was her business. She used to keep a few pairs under her desk in case she needed to pop into the shop to serve a customer.
If your going to do it, clean socks and clean feet. Used to work with someone who would take her shoes of (never wore socks) her feet bloody stank Angry

EdmundCleverClogs · 29/11/2016 21:42

Yuck, that's grim! I don't understand these oddballs who think they're entitled to have their nasty feet literally bared in public spaces. Keep that to your own homes and be bloody professional at work...

ThatsWotSheSaid · 29/11/2016 21:45

I'd love to do that. I only ever wear flats but I like the feel of no shoes. I don't do it because I imagine others like you would judge. Why does it bother you?

ChippyMinton · 29/11/2016 21:46

I remove mine sometimes as medication makes my feet and ankles puff up. And might even put my legs up in a spare chair . I do wear fabulous, and clean Wink socks though and don't around without shoes.

CaraAspen · 29/11/2016 21:46

Spelling matters. Argh

RougeSeas · 29/11/2016 21:47

Their feet must get filthy as i doubt big offices have the carpets cleaned regularly, mine certainly doesn't.

We get emails about dress down days and they always put 'remember this is a office environment, so smart professional attire' surely this involves keeping your shoes on.

It's almost on par with people who POO in the only toilet... Urghh

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RougeSeas · 29/11/2016 21:49

I do judge this issue, yea thatswot because the majority of people like me adhere to the company rules about dress code which is bloody uncomfortable enough.

Maybe I'm jealous that i too don't get to be comfortable

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BumDNC · 29/11/2016 21:50

I don't like wearing any shoes much but don't walk around barefoot in the office. With tights or socks under my own desk is fine. I am on my own a lot anyway!

Thurlow · 29/11/2016 21:50

What's wrong with pooing in the toilet?!

TheSoapyFrog · 29/11/2016 21:50

A lot of us used to walk around without shoes on in the office. Dress code was smart casual and the public did not have access. If a bigwig happened to be doing the rounds, then we would put the shoes back on. We spent more time sat at these desks than our own sofas and had been there so long it was like a second home and we were probably just a bit too comfortable.