Would you find this strange? Shoes off 👞 and flip flops 🩴 on

[Speckledhem]

I work in a role where I visit families in their home. I totally get it is expected in some homes that I remove my shoes, ok fine I do this if I must.

But…

I visit a family each week and not only do I need to remove my footwear but I have to wear a pair of flip flops (sliders) that they provide and leave at the front door for me to change in to on arrival.

It makes no difference if I have socks on or not, I am expected to wear pink sliders for the duration of my visit. I then change back into my own footwear when I leave.

I don’t know if these sliders are just for me or for all visitors.

They are a Chinese family- is this cultural? I find it absolutely bonkers.

Anyone else experienced this?

If you know how to use Google, OP, why didn't you establish for yourself that there are many cultures around the world that do this rather than come on here with your disingenuous questions?

That's very considerate of them. Common practice in scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
I have slippers available for visitors to my house if they take off their shoes

We’re white British and have a cupboard of house slippers - the free ones wrapped in cellophane that you get in hotels. We ask guests to take their shoes off as we don’t want babies crawling on the floor that has mud/dog poo on from outside shoes. Plus I don’t want to have to wash carpets that get dirty with mud. They can either put the slippers on or walk around in socks.

@Speckledhem

I think it’s just frustrating that I already have to plan what I wear on the day I visit as in wearing slip on shoes that are easy to take off and put on. There is nowhere I can sit down at the front door so I am already having to kind of stand on one leg whilst holding a heavy bag (which is what I need for my work) and if I lean over my rucksack falls over my shoulder and swings around.

Then to be expected to wear some crappy sliders which all other visitors are expected to wear is a bit much. It’s not like I’m some smelly teenager who doesn’t wash or change their socks.

As I said I’m there in a professional capacity.I was going to just bring my slippers. But some of the comments here have been completely over the top. I now don’t want to even go there at all. It’s really annoyed me.

I work for myself and it is a private arrangement so maybe it may be time for them to find someone else. It’s just the last thing in a string of things that have frustrated me over the past few months

Yeah, do them a favour and stop working for them. They'd be glad if they knew how you're sneering at them and starting a thread on Mumsnet. You sound awful. I hope you're not a health care 'professional'

Gosh you’re all absolutely mad 🤣, all because I don’t want to wear someone else’s footwear - to be honest they are not the easiest family to deal with (other reasons than the sliders), so I’ll recommend a colleague to take them on.

'Cheap crappy plastic sliders' can be easily cleaned and even disinfected. It is a courtesy

@GertrudeKerfuffle

'Cheap crappy plastic sliders' can be easily cleaned and even disinfected. It is a courtesy

I’m sure they can, but the expectation for me to wear them is unrealistic and unreasonable

@Speckledhem

Gosh you’re all absolutely mad 🤣, all because I don’t want to wear someone else’s footwear - to be honest they are not the easiest family to deal with (other reasons than the sliders), so I’ll recommend a colleague to take them on.

Good riddance to you

In that family's culture, it is unrealistic and unreasonable for people to come into their house wearing outdoor shoes, but you are unwilling to respect that for the time you are there working?

What do you mean? It wasn’t your house I was visiting was it?

@GertrudeKerfuffle

In that family's culture, it is unrealistic and unreasonable for people to come into their house wearing outdoor shoes, but you are unwilling to respect that for the time you are there working?

But respect works both ways, I am happy to remove my shoes, just not wear the sliders

Gosh you’re all absolutely mad

Nearly everyone thinks you're attitude is unpleasant but rather than reflect you conclude we must ALL be absolutely mad?

Just clarifying -
In their own home, showing their own preference, is shoving their culture on you.

However - You refusing to cooperate is not shoving your culture in them?

I am gobsmacked that this is news to you. I have never known an indian / Korean / Chinese / Japanese family who are comfortable with outside shoes indoors. To many - it destroys the sanctity of the house

In Scandinavia and Germany - this is also common.

Offering house slippers is polite and gracious …
You really need to rethink your cultural sensitivities

I think you not understanding cultural differences is bonkers. It's their home. They aren't asking you to change into a Mr Blobby costume.

@BIAx3

Just clarifying - In their own home, showing their own preference, is shoving their culture on you.

However - You refusing to cooperate is not shoving your culture in them?

I am gobsmacked that this is news to you. I have never known an indian / Korean / Chinese / Japanese family who are comfortable with outside shoes indoors. To many - it destroys the sanctity of the house

In Scandinavia and Germany - this is also common.

Offering house slippers is polite and gracious …
You really need to rethink your cultural sensitivities

Not really, I’ll just work with people who have the ability to compromise

I had this with an Indian family, I was tutoring their teenaged son. It wasn't something I was familiar with and I found it a little strange to start with, but they had all hard floor throughout the house so it was actually handy as I didn't get cold feet or slide around in my socks.

Dogs shite & spit on pavements, it’s hygienic OP.

the expectation for me to wear them is unrealistic and unreasonable
I think you're making a bit of a mountain out of a molehill. What's the big deal with wearing a pair of flip flops for a few hours? You said you wear socks so it's not like their foot germs are coming into contact with your feet. What's the big deal?

OP wants 'compromise' the other way round. Anything else is wrong.

Have you never had any cultural sensitivity training if your job involves visiting others? Or just met people from other cultures full stop… if you don’t like it, bring your own. But it’s perfectly normal

Then to be expected to wear some crappy sliders which all other visitors are expected to wear is a bit much. It’s not like I’m some smelly teenager who doesn’t wash or change their socks.

and hopping around with your bags falling over the place. 1) put bags down, 2) take shoes off stepping over threshold to put on first slipper, 3) pick up bag 4) try to act like a grown-up professional

you say you are insulted they think you have manky socks (they haven't said this, it's in your head) by insulting their other guests manky feet.

Do them a favour and end the relationship.

I lived in Germany for many years...this is absolutely normal there too (Birkenstock type sliders usually though, or towelling 'hotel style' ones 🤣)

It would never cross my mind to be so rude as you OP. Do better!

@CelebrateAndDream

I lived in Germany for many years...this is absolutely normal there too (Birkenstock type sliders usually though, or towelling 'hotel style' ones 🤣)

It would never cross my mind to be so rude as you OP. Do better!

But I haven’t been rude, I’ve been completely compliant and polite. I’ve realised however that I am uncomfortable about this and no longer want to do it

@Speckledhem

I think it’s just frustrating that I already have to plan what I wear on the day I visit as in wearing slip on shoes that are easy to take off and put on. There is nowhere I can sit down at the front door so I am already having to kind of stand on one leg whilst holding a heavy bag (which is what I need for my work) and if I lean over my rucksack falls over my shoulder and swings around.

Then to be expected to wear some crappy sliders which all other visitors are expected to wear is a bit much. It’s not like I’m some smelly teenager who doesn’t wash or change their socks.

As I said I’m there in a professional capacity.I was going to just bring my slippers. But some of the comments here have been completely over the top. I now don’t want to even go there at all. It’s really annoyed me.

I work for myself and it is a private arrangement so maybe it may be time for them to find someone else. It’s just the last thing in a string of things that have frustrated me over the past few months

I think it is more them that should be looking for someone else, you sound like an utter bigot that has no idea or interest in other cultures or customs. Seriously how can you have never come across this before, you must have been under a rock.

You keep going on about the sliders being cheap, what the hell does it matter what they cost. And what do you think is going to happen after putting your socked foot into a slipper? Have you never been bowling? Worn 3D glasses at a cinema or similar? You must have touched things that others have touched before.

You sound like you are in the wrong job if it is something that requires you to interact with other people.

@Brefugee

Then to be expected to wear some crappy sliders which all other visitors are expected to wear is a bit much. It’s not like I’m some smelly teenager who doesn’t wash or change their socks.

and hopping around with your bags falling over the place. 1) put bags down, 2) take shoes off stepping over threshold to put on first slipper, 3) pick up bag 4) try to act like a grown-up professional

you say you are insulted they think you have manky socks (they haven't said this, it's in your head) by insulting their other guests manky feet.

Do them a favour and end the relationship.

I have tried to end it, (for other reasons), but they keep asking me to come back and I feel bad, but I really don’t want to be back which is probably why I am feeling this strongly about their sliders