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!

Exactly, I've worn stuff like that for work since the late 1990s and even in a law or accountancy firm and back when people were wearing suits all the time it passed muster.

Today I'm wearing a vest but with a kimono shirt, white cotton midi skirt and smart sandals. It's 34C at the moment in London and even if our dress code wasn't already relaxed I'd expect a relaxation where possible in these conditions.

I genuinely can't fathom the amount of people on this thread who seem to be outraged at seeing bare shoulders/armpits/knees in the summer.

I mean, I'm not suggesting people go in batty riders and bikini tops to the office, but where I work, men and woman are all able to wear shorts/skirts/vests if they want to.

No one is shocked. Wouldn't even occur to me to have an opinion. It's not Victorian Britain, and we're all perfectly professional.

Well most health boards have a dress code, don’t they? What does yours say?

Exactly what I’m wearing today, it’s way cooler than a vest top and shorts.

That's not a vest though. That's a sleeveless top/blouse.

I haven't worked in an office for about a decade now but before then I had 20 years of some very uncomfortable offices. Even though we were not usually client facing, we were expected to be dressed to work. It was very noticeable that on dress down Friday's very little work got done. Attitudes were poor as though people had already switched off for the weekend. One Friday due to a particular event we were told to dress as we would Monday to Friday. Afterwards it was noted how much more work got achieved that day. Soon after that specific guidelines were given as to what was acceptable on Friday's ie for men chinos and collared polo shirt was acceptable. For women shoulders should be covered and no shorts. Tops should either be collared or clearly smart casual. Actually no one objected as they could tell things had gone too far.

This is the vest. I’d say it’s appropriate.

I work in retail, so a uniform, company polo shirt and black jeans, Trainers or steel toe caps. We survive. No the shop is not air con. It's open door, open windows.

Are there religious implications around this request?

If it's genuinely hotter by 10 degrees than outside right now you need to speak to HR.
You need an air conditioner for your office urgently.

And until then this banning of perfectly reasonable hot weather appropriate clothing is not going to happen. It could well be too hot in there to legally make people work at all!?

Absolutely outrageous. And either you wear uniform or not. Office wear can include skirts and smart shorts and vests in summer.

What's so offensive about someone's upper arm or knees/calves? Do you work in Saudi Arabia? Even they get air conditioning.

There’s no legal max temperature in UK offices I do t think, but you can ask for a risk assessment if it is unbearably hot - that’s your right. I believe statutory guidance also says that management should allow a relaxed dress code where temperatures are uncomfortablyhot

So: she has just made a lot of work for herself if you make an official complaint about the heat. If you could faint first, it would be useful

I love your name!!!

But lots of people are saying showing shoulders/armpits is unsuitable so its potentially moot whether its a vest or a sleeveless blouse?

I was basing it on OP’s description of a t shirt with the sleeves cut off. She’s said this top is similar to the one she has and now is not allowed to wear.

What bizarre rules. I’ve always worked in casual dress code offices, shorts (mainly the men) and vest tops were worn in the summer but everyone looked fine. If you don’t see the public or clients whats the issue?
Why do we need to dress smartly to sit in an office?

@BillieWiper There is no maximum temperature (in law or in guidance) for UK workplaces, so no it couldn't be too hot to make people work. In addition, in the NHS there will be staff working in hot wards in full uniform (remember covid PPE anyone?!) doing manual handling work. The OP will be fine sitting in an office.

@itsjustthepricewepay You will be no warmer in a linen or cotton blouse with short sleeves. The fact the manager has had to make this statement suggests people have pushed their luck.

I didn’t suggest extra clothing, just a longer lightweight floaty skirt and light short or cap sleeve top You don’t need to wear shorts or a vest to be cool, you need looser fitting clothes.

It does sound as if your manager is on a bit of a power trip, but given there are alternatives which are just as cool, I’m not sure this is a hill to die on.

But you could wear skirts that are a little below the knee, yes? She hasn't banned skirts altogether.

A skirt that's in inch or two below the knee and a short-sleeved top or blouse should be OK and sounds cool enough for the office yet professional.

I like the way she's upholding standards. Otherwise everyone would be letting it all hang out, which she clearly wants to avoid.

is there a maximum temperature that people are expected to work in? What temp does the office actually get to?

It’s roasting in here. If I could take my top off I would, it’d horrible.

You could show up in a burqa and see how she’d react? 😅

Manager sounds insane! The shirt you’ve shown looks lovely and seems smart. I think the facilities room temp audit may be the way to go!

Last time I looked it up - I don’t think the legal protections around heat and the workplace are very strong because the law has to take into account industries such as glass blowing which would be very hot indeed. Suffice to say - The matron did NOT like the baby room thermometer I took in to say just how hot our ward was getting and could we please wear scrubs and not tights with our dresses! (And have our drinks at the desk)

The fact the manager said that ankle length skirts would be “most appropriate” suggests she somehow thinks there is something “less appropriate” about a mid calf length skirt. She doesn’t sound like someone who needs people to have been pushing their luck before she reacts.

I disagree, because the dress code has to be the same for everyone. If a sleeveless top like that is ok for one person then it's ok for everyone, including people of either sex who choose not to shave their pits and will have underarm hair on display which is inappropriate in a professional environment. If shorts or shirts that stop before the knee are fine for one person they are fine for everyone including the person who is going to sit in such a way that there's a clear line of sight up the shorts leg to his bollock sack.

It's disingenuous to ask "why" bare shoulders and knees are inappropriate in a professional environment - every culture sets these standards by consensus - and yes there are some cultures where it's considered very rude to show any skin apart from your hands and we aren't that uptight, and other cultures where it's totally normal to be completely naked and that's not our culture either. A professional office environment is always a step ir two more formal and more smart than a casual relaxed situation and covering shoulders and knees is a perfectly normal and fairlt basic requirement that is much more relaxed today than it was 30 years ago.

I would focus on pushing for an air con unit rather than worry too much about the clothes.

I don't think short shorts are office appropriate but knee length shorts or skirts are fine in my opinion for men or women.