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!

She sort of has - that's why she posted the picture

Every time I read a thread that involves working in the NHS, I wonder why such a huge organisation always seems to want to treat it's employees like children.

The more of OP's posts I read, the more I am starting to feel sympathetic to the manager

No tits, bits or pits at work.

They're inappropriate in the OP's case because the applicable dress code states as much (rather than just the manager)

Yeah, times have probably moved on just a tad since 1976. It's an odd quirk of older women; I've suffered, therefore you must now too!

That doesn't sound very work-wear ish though, it might be alright for a rock concert..

It sounds like people have been rolling up to work looking like they're off to the beach and the manager has had to put her foot down. They probably looked unprofessional and scruffy, you can't blame her for bringing in some rules/expectations..

Do you get the work done, and well? What does your manager say about your work and behaviours?

💯

I've been following this thread since the start and the emerging themes make me depressed for women.

• I don't want my wobbly arms/knobbly knees/thick ankles on display (lack of confidence and focus on percieved negatives. Just wear what you like. We are all imperfect)
• You should look presentable and elegant over comfortable (whose standards and gaze are we trying to please? Does it affect our ability to do our job - no)
• in my days we had it even harder (well, I'm hoping you'd want the next generation to have it easier, right? Otherwise, what is the literal point of anything?)
• constant policing of other women's style choices (just don't look at an arm pit if it offends you)
• focusing on OPs clothes rather thsn the real issue of her sub-standard office conditions which is really what should be the cause for outrage.

Sometimes sll of this just makes me sad.

It's fairly obvious from the picture OP has been posting, and her description of what she thinks is appropriate, that the last two lines of your post apply to the OP

Not all older women. I celebrate the fact that I haven't worn tights (AKA pantyhose) since the Clinton administration. And I am quite happy that pantyhose wearing has pretty much died out totally, at least in the part of the US where I live.

Is there a religious aspect from her? It sounds like a conservative catholic dress code.

Are men also included?

Surprisingly there is no law on max temperatures. I would have thought there would be restrictions above a certain limit. Still maybe worth raising working conditions.

https://www.gov.uk/workplace-temperatures

There’s no guidance for a maximum temperature limit.
Employers must stick to health and safety at work law, including:

• keeping the temperature at a comfortable level
• providing clean and fresh air

Employees should talk to their employer if the workplace temperature is not comfortable.

"Im unsure why so many posters seem to think
Shorts =
beachwear/scruffy/hotpants/swimming trunks etc"

Perhaps because OP has posted pictures of PJ shorts which, whilst she hasn't worn to work, nevertheless thinks are appropriate work attire

🤣

That was probably in response to her (misleading) post title and without the 'benefit' or then having read all her posts

Oh FFS. I'm Catholic and there's no conservative Catholic dress code for work.

I think I'd be ringing my Union 😂. I'm currently wearing a sleeveless linen dress to the knee. It has three inch wide "straps" at the front.

It feels like they are imposing unnecessary religious or moral beliefs onto staff. As long as I look professional and modest, it shouldn't matter whether it's a skirt, a dress or tailored shorts.

As long as u are not dressing like u are Madonna ( wearing underwear as outerwear ) then what’s the problem ?

There’s HSE guidance on heat stress and temperature in the work place. They can ask you to wear whatever uniform they like, but they can’t make you work in unreasonably hot premises. This is building management issue primarily, fine if they want you to wear trousers but they need to provide an office environment with a temperature where wearing trousers is comfortable.

This! NHS too and there will be a official dress code somewhere, your manager can't just make up the rules, deffo speak with HR for guidance. My old manager used to say, as long as you can't see up it, down it, or through it, it's fine, no toes on show either,! Good luck.

I agree with the dress code. You may have a nice-looking vest, but unless these restrictions are in place, young employees usually turn up half-naked, in miniskirts, thin-strapped vests, crop tops (believe me, I've seen it, and customers complain). Just get a couple of nice mid-length, flowy dresses, and you'll be cool all summer.

"Modest", when applied to women's clothes is replete with religious overtones these days.

Try saying it about men's clothes.

I get what you mean, but on the flipside it's often pretty clear that many employees bring it on themselves by acting like children. In the present case it appears that the manager, fed up of people rocking up to their office job looking more ready for a potter round the garden, has brought in a dress code that really isn't that unreasonable. But instead of just getting up with it, recognising that the basics of an employer-employee relationship is that the employee does what the employer says (within reason), and tries not to be a pain in the arse, the OP is getting all belligerent and has been advised to call the union!