My manager has banned all vests, skirts and shorts

[itsjustthepricewepay]

I could cry right now.

I understand banning thin strapped vests but surely thick straps are fine? She’s also banned all shorts (including knee length) and skirts that sit at the knee. Basically we have to go down to ankle length trousers.

AIBU to genuinely consider quitting my job? Her office is air conditioned but we’re in a horrible hot sun trap!

Completely agree @ScupperedbytheSea and I am someone who LOVES a maxi dress! I totally appreciate its not for everyone.

We don't all aspire to look like respectable Tory wives from Tunbridge Wells.

I couldn’t look less like one! Dresses that allow the air to circulate are way cooler than bare skin. Look at how they dress in the Middle East.

Im not sure that women's dress codes in some middle Eastern countries is all designed to keep them cool....

Bur even the men’s clothes is kind of loose long and covering most of their skin.

They dress like that in the Middle East to keep the sun off their skin and because, in many places, society expects women (and men) to cover up.

If you stay out of direct sunlight, anything that restricts air movement over skin, including loose fitting clothes, will reduce the amount your skin can cool.

To protect their skin from the sun outside. Irrelevant indoors.

Just because you don’t like dresses/maxi dresses, @ScupperedbytheSea, doesn’t stop them being a sensible option to suggest - among other suggestions, of course. I don’t like sleeveless tops/dresses because my upper arms are not fit for public view - but that doesn’t stop vest tops/sleeveless tops or dresses being a valid option. I’m sure a vest top can be smart enough for office wear, and I absolutely agree with you that you deserve to be comfortable at work.

No that's not on. It's ugly but apart from that it's not professional and noone wants armpits flapping around in offices 🤢

It’s ugly.. what a bitchy unnecessary comment.

Nobody is making you wear it, and she didn’t ask for your fashion advice. She asked how to keep cool in a hot office.

Ok.

So you're not public facing but others in your organisation are.

Presumably they have dress code restrictions.

Do you think it's fair if they are restricted and you are not?

Are you in a mixed-sex environment?

Presumably the men aren't allowed in wearing vests and shorts.

Do you think its fair that they have restrictions that you do not?

If you dont like the job - leave.
If you dont like the job in the current heatwave - take some days off

You seem to think the rules could be relaxed and you'd still look professional and elegant. Can you be sure about the others in your environment?

To be cool you want lightweight loose clothing,not short clothing.

Only if the ankle is shoe free!

What you think about shoulders and 'normal' people is sort of neither here nor there as OP has posted her employers dress code - which explicitly states no "tops or blouses that expose the midriff or shoulders"

To all these posters telling the OP what actually is cooler dressing, it's a personal thing. People are different. I live in a hot climate. Thankfully, air conditioning is as normal and expected as electricity, so I have seldom had to pay much attention to what I wear indoors to say cool, but if I have to spend a day in 95 F weather, I prefer shorts and a tank top (as we call vest tops in the US), not a flowy midi or maxi and certainly not wide flowing trousers.

It's a matter of personal preference, not some universal notion of what people should wear to stay cooler.

The one time the AC failed in my workplace and it took several days to fix, we wore what we wanted to stay cool. I wore shorts and a tank top. But then again, my colleagues were used to seeing my arms (regularly worn sleeveless dresses and tops) so they were not unduly shocked.

Restrictive dress codes in a heat wave where there is no AC is mistreatment of employees, in my opinion. Client facing or not, but especially in non-public facing jobs. My guess would be that even in public-facing jobs said public would also be dressed for the heat.

In the meanwhile has the OP taken any action such as raising it with the Union HR etc

I work from home, but when I’m on calls I always cover my shoulders with a light shirt/ a cardi when I’m wearing a vest top as it feels inappropriate otherwise

When I'm at work I don't particularly want to see peoples thighs and underarms

Yep, I am aware of that. That was my point, that some people wear clothes like that to keep themselves cool.

I was thinking there's something more to it. A sleeveless top is fine (I used to own a very posh dark red velvet one and a grey silk one.) My church is weird about shoulders, although knee length skirts are fine.

I was also allowed to wear shorts at work. I wore them even in the winter one year as I was pregnant and always boiling.

Sorry OP, that outfit looks like you are wearing pyjamas to bed, not and outfit to work in.

She’s already said several times she wasn’t wearing the shorts

Completely depends on industry and if you have to see clients ... And who those clients are

I work with alot of professionals and one child protection meeting I chaired a probation officer walked in in a tiny skirt and a tight vest with her boobs spilling out

She wasn't a small girl either and was announcing how she was too warm and too big for this weather

The father inquest in the cp meeting was a registered sex offender

So there are some professions where I do agree with covering up

If you are just in an office answering complaints about broadband though I don't see an issue with wearing what ever makes you happy and comfortable

Doesn't change my response. That top is not professional.

Except that this is precisely what armpits are designed to do, releasing body heat!

So no shorts for men because you are judgemental, but skirts for women are fine, because that suits you? Christ.