Partner got really funny about swimwear I wore to work away day

[JadeHoliday]

We had a two day work ‘away trip’ last week where one of the bonding things was going to an indoor swimming complex with slides etc. Really fun!

When I got back from this, my partner said ‘you didn’t wear a bikini did you’- which I said I obviously did.

He thinks that’s disrespectful and I should have worn a swim suit ‘rather than have my arse out in front of colleagues’(!)

I told him he can’t control what I wear and he got the hump. He thinks I was trying to make myself attractive and impress colleagues..

Would you say I should have ‘covered up’ or is he being unreasonable

I’m early 30s. We went on a walk up a hill for our team building event and I wore wide leg trousers because I didn’t feel comfortable in leggings in front of colleagues! Can’t imagine wearing a thong in front of them. I don’t know what planet you’re living on OP 🤣

A thong bikini sounds inappropriate for a work trip. Another sort of bikini would have been fine, of course.

What a load of cobblers

I'm in my 30s and think wearing a thong bikini to a work event (even a fun one) is really weird.
Apart from anything else doesn't having your arse cheeks out
A) hurt
B) slow you down
While going down water sides?

So glad I'm self employed because I won't have to deal with a work show us all your arse trip. Why does anyone need to show their arse on these work do's anyway, do they get paid extra for being an exhibit?

All of those are an hour or two. This was two days. If those were working days then that would need senior management signoff for the working time as well as HR for the various interpersonal issues that might arise (e.g., leering at arse cheeks in thongs).

I can't swim and I am quite afraid of water, so if I was asked I would have declined to go. If I was forced to go (because "The whole company will be there, there will be work as well as FUN™®©!!!!") I would be standing at the shallow end with a forced grin, and I would be judging the managers by how they dealt with colleagues who for whatever cultural, religious, or personal reason did not feel able to join in.

Let’s be honest, anyone wearing a thong bikini is looking for attention. Even if you have the best arse in the world thong bikinis are not flattering.

If this was suggested in my office, I'd have to feign illness.
Stuff of nightmares.

Attention seeking of course.
I can't imagine why anyone would want to show their actual buttocks to their colleagues unless they wanted those colleagues to look at them. It's not as if there are no normal bikinis available to buy. Tbh I'm with OP's husband, I'd have worn a swimsuit at a work event.

@FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar
I totally agree, I would never ever do this! It’s absolutely terrifying.

Agree. Blimey. A thong bikini.. 😬😮

I didn't vote. I don't think a thong bikini is appropriate for a work event but I don't think its your partner's business either.

This ☝️☝️☝️
And to be honest, a pool involving slides and activities would call for something rather more robust than a piece of fabric smaller than a handkerchief surely? I’m no prude but if I were on a water slide I’d defined want to be confident that I wouldn’t lose my bikini on entering the pool at speed.

Oh god, the dreaded "Canoe and Mars Bar" weekend. Where you learn that half of the senior managers are macho idiots, and the receptionist has better organisational skills than all of them put together.

Cannot believe people are acting like a man has the right to decide how a woman dresses because he somehow has rights over her arse.

Your arse, just like your boobs, face and fanny, are yours alone.

Insecure little prick.

@JadeHoliday what would your company have done if there were people who didn’t want to wear a swimsuit etc in front of others due to cultural / personal reasons?

In my case it would be the colleagues suffering

TBH if the OP can’t understand why a thong bikini was inappropriate in such circs, it won’t be much use anyone trying to tell her.

A thong bikini to a work event? Unprofessional, inappropriate and attention-seeking.

Your body, your choice so he's unreasonable to think he even gets a say. But while I defend your right to choose what you wear, a thong bikini to a work event is rather a bold choice. Showing your ass to your work colleagues really doesn't scream professional.

What kind of work bonding away day has staff in their swimming costumes?

I voted YANBU until I read it was a thong bikini and now wish I could change my vote. Sorry, but thong bikini at work event...just no!

Gregg Wallace's production company?

I wouldn’t wear a thong bikini EVER 😂

Gross for a waterpark. Not appropriate for the rides and moreover you have to climb stairs which means - and I had a lot of experience of this on my waterpark holiday last year but mainly with the waterpark staff - that your face ends up on a level with their exposed butts quite a lot as you are going up the stairs.

And our HR department would have quite a strong view on this in terms of both exclusivity and appropriateness.