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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

OP posts:
NerdsAndMonsters · 29/11/2016 23:12

Lulu I like your subversive line of thinking!

MaxPepsi · 29/11/2016 23:13

I poo at work.
I sometimes take my shoes off at work and walk around the office barefoot or in socks/tights. However I never take boots off, only shoes.
I wear flip flops to work in the summer and take those off.
I wrap myself in a blanket in the winter because it's fucking freezing and there are only so many layers I can wear before I can no longer move.
You'd all hate me!

FrancisCrawford · 29/11/2016 23:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DonaldTrumpsWig · 29/11/2016 23:16

Why is it gross to take your shoes off indoors in an office (especially ones with carpets) any more than it is if you go into someone's house. ? (Unless your feet smell in which case that's fair enough.)

haveacupoftea · 29/11/2016 23:18

Can we make work slippers a thing? Someone should design some professional looking ones and go on dragons den.

FrancisCrawford · 29/11/2016 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ledkr · 29/11/2016 23:26

I walk about in my Dicks but do put my shoes on to go and do a big poo in the toilet!
I'm a fucking rebel me

Pearlsofmadness · 29/11/2016 23:27

The hot water bottle girls!!!

My DP works in an office full of them. When it's their 'time of the month' (which seems to be synchronised) they sit around with hot water bottles on their bellies and moan constantly about how unfair life is. They also refuse to move anywhere and send the men out on errands for them.

There are only 2 men in the office and 5 women so this is noticeable and gets on DP's nerves- he can't seem to understand why they are all so precious- to be fair, neither can I. He can't say anything though because apparently that's 'sexist'.

Ledkr · 29/11/2016 23:27

Grin my socks not my Dicks

MaxPepsi · 29/11/2016 23:28

francis look up plantar fasciitis
Very painful until you get insoles. I went to a podiatrist for mine.

FreshHorizons · 29/11/2016 23:29

No- they need to bring shoes to change into, if they are not comfortable - or wear comfortable ones in the first place.

FreshHorizons · 29/11/2016 23:31

You should ñever walk around without shoes with plantar fasciitis - sensible to go to a podiatrist and get the special insoles.

melj1213 · 29/11/2016 23:52

Surely that is what people should do? Wear shoes that are comfortable enough to remain accustomed to their environment

I have various pairs of comfortable shoes, but I work in a retail customer service role. I spend up to 12 hours a day, 5/6 days a week standing at my workstation, walking through the store to check enquires for customers, going up and down stairs to check if we have "any more in the back"/go to the office etc even the most comfortable shoes aren't enough to stop my feet aching after about 5 hours.

If taking my shoes off while I stand at my workstation doing paperwork/imputting data into my computer (and occasionally walking a few steps over to the area I serve customers from; then over to the cupboard where I store things until they're collected/returned to the shopfloor; then to where I keep extra paperwork) helps with the aches ... who does that hurt?

MrTCakes · 30/11/2016 00:14

Do we work together OP? Hmm

I have seen lots of women walking around without shoes on in the office. Only bothers me if they don't have socks on - but that is because the floor is dirty and they might step on something sharp or whatever.

I sometimes take mine off at my desk. I can also be one of the annoying ones with a hot water bottle at certain times of the month since having ds.

Like the idea of work slippers.

MrTCakes · 30/11/2016 00:16

And now everytime I need a hot water bottle for period pains I will think of you op, and your apt name of RougeSeas

ColaSpangles · 30/11/2016 01:00

I don't want to be over earnest here but please can I remind you that lots of people have conditions that mean they end up with the runs most days... it's bloody miserable for them feeling the pain AND the shame!

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 30/11/2016 01:26

MaxPepsi

I poo at work
I sometimes take my shoes off at work and walk around the office barefoot or in socks/tights. However I never take boots off, only shoes.
I wear flip flops to work in the summer and take those off
I wrap myself in a blanket in the winter because it's fucking freezing and there are only so many layers I can wear before I can no longer move.
You'd all hate me!

No -You are completely normal.

SenecaFalls · 30/11/2016 01:41

Fascinating thread. I live in a warm climate in the US and hardly ever wear shoes in my house, but I seldom see anyone at work shoeless. It wouldn't bother me if people kicked their shoes off at work, but it's just not something that people do in my workplace. They do, however, freely use the restroom facilities for all intended purposes.

WhereTheFuckIsMyFuckingCoat · 30/11/2016 01:56

I'm in Australia. It's not unusual to see people walking to work with no shoes or socks on. Or round town, the shops etc!

RhodaBorrocks · 30/11/2016 01:59

At this time of year my feet are encased in boots at work and because I get terrible chillblanes they do not come off.

However, in the summer, there is nothing worse than enduring your feet getting more and more sweaty encased in a leather prison, so if my work wear for the day doesn't work with sandals (ie. Having a big meeting so need to be in a smart dress with court shoes) then you can bet my shoes are coming off under my desk. Airing them means they get less sweaty and less chance to smell. And I have foot deodorant/anti perspirant too, just to be extra safe. I won't walk around the office barefoot though - our carpets are minging!

I don't mind any feet out at work as long as they look clean, nails are nice (preferably painted, but neat will do) and there's no obvious smell. But I've been in some of the offices where staff wear the grimmest flip-flops with feet thick with crusty yellow skin and long toenails. Boak!

And I do poo at work. All respect to those of you with trained bowels, but I have IBS and when I gotta go, I gotta go. But it's OK, I am the one providing the cans of air freshener that no one else in the office can work out where they are coming from .

No blankets at work. I thought I was cold blooded until I met my colleagues, but they keep my office like an oven and I keep having to open windows so I don't fall asleep (we can't adjust the temperature)!

RhodaBorrocks · 30/11/2016 01:59

At this time of year my feet are encased in boots at work and because I get terrible chillblanes they do not come off.

However, in the summer, there is nothing worse than enduring your feet getting more and more sweaty encased in a leather prison, so if my work wear for the day doesn't work with sandals (ie. Having a big meeting so need to be in a smart dress with court shoes) then you can bet my shoes are coming off under my desk. Airing them means they get less sweaty and less chance to smell. And I have foot deodorant/anti perspirant too, just to be extra safe. I won't walk around the office barefoot though - our carpets are minging!

I don't mind any feet out at work as long as they look clean, nails are nice (preferably painted, but neat will do) and there's no obvious smell. But I've been in some of the offices where staff wear the grimmest flip-flops with feet thick with crusty yellow skin and long toenails. Boak!

And I do poo at work. All respect to those of you with trained bowels, but I have IBS and when I gotta go, I gotta go. But it's OK, I am the one providing the cans of air freshener that no one else in the office can work out where they are coming from .

No blankets at work. I thought I was cold blooded until I met my colleagues, but they keep my office like an oven and I keep having to open windows so I don't fall asleep (we can't adjust the temperature)!

MidniteScribbler · 30/11/2016 02:30

I'm a shoes off girl in my classroom or office. I'm not officially one work time after school anyway, so people who don't like it can stuff off.

I'm training all of my little darlings that come through my classroom to do the same. On rainy days we often take off our shoes and socks after lunch so they can dry, and on really hot days (Aussie hot, not UK hot!) we often take our shoes off as well. You can often come into my classroom and see a long line of shoes along the front wall.

But I never poo at work, so I guess I'm not totally without morals.

GreatFuckability · 30/11/2016 02:55

I never wear shoes unless I really have to, i have a deepseated hate of them. Surely how dirty my feet get is no ones problem but mine?? As long as my feet don't smell who is it hurting exactly? I do wonder at people using the word 'rude' to describe not wearing shoes. What's rude about it? I'm a health care professional and I work with the public. Often barefoot in my office. No one cares.

GreatFuckability · 30/11/2016 02:57

And as for using a toilet to shit.....ever hear of IBD/IBS??!?

lizzieoak · 30/11/2016 04:02

I've worked in Canada the last x number of years. I've never seen a shoeless man in the office, but probably about half the women kick off their shoes - at least while sitting down. I'll walk to the printer, or the copy shop without shoes, but plug them back on to go to the loo.