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!

I used to work in an office with customers and suppliers coming in and out all day and knee length or sleeveless would have been fine in this heat (though I probably wouldn't have done both at the same time)

I did always feel a bit sorry for the men in shirts and ties though

No, they start work at silly am, then everything shuts for a siesta during the hottest part of the day.

Maybe your manager is deeply closeted and repressed, and struggling with all-gender lust.

Maybe she grew up on a farm, and human joints remind her of losing her animal friends to the abattoir

Maybe what she means but cannot articulate is that people need to iron their clothing, pull the necklines and armholes into place and give a tug or tweak or pat down to the hems after getting dressed, tuck errant strings into waistbands, etc. to look smart, but they are less likely to do that with hot weather clothing.

Whilst I agree that she is being absolutely unreasonable (I often wear smart vest tops with a thick strap for work) I think you need to focus on what can be cool.

Yesterday I was out all day in the sweltering heat and I chose to wear a pure cotton maxi skirt as I knew it would be much cooler than my shorts.

Cotton maxi skirts, thin linen trousers and short sleeved blouses will be cooler than a traditional polyester mix pair of shorts or pencil skirt.

It’s the age old story of people can’t use common sense
manager has to put clear expectations
one persons appropriate is another’s inappropriate

Flashing your knees! Disgraceful!!

According to many posters anyway & certainly the OP's manager who thinks ankle length is most appropriate.

bloody loon

😂😂😂😂

id be taking it to HR.

Yes, in some countries even police officers, newsreaders and politicians wear smart tailored shorts.

Others have breezy traditional dress options.

I think it’s fair enough to expect people to cover their shoulders and armpits at work , ie not wear a vest. A short sleeved top isn’t going to make you any hotter really, and I don’t think displaying armpits is professional.

The no skirts or shorts thing is bizarre though. Women wear skirts to work all year round, they’re basic female clothing.

That said, loose linen trousers are much cooler than wearing shorts or skirts so maybe look for these? H and M do decent ones quite cheaply or M and S is good. Linen is the way to go, or cotton. Nothing man made.

I am genuinely staggered by how many people have an armpit aversion.

Who knew!

They don't... for the simple fact that the offices are air-conditioned! So you actually often need another layer. Unless the organisation invests on proper air-conditioned to keep staff at a reasonable temperature they are being unreasonable to stipulate long dresses or skirts.

OMG that woman, a human, has <whispers> shoulders.

Gasp.

passes out...

Yeah it’s all well and good saying dressing well makes us do more work, but we all feel so lightheaded that we can’t concentrate!

I don’t have an aversion to armpits, but I don’t particularly want to see people’s armpit hair in an office.

That would be horrendously intrusive to write a policy about, so I think probably better to just say no sleeveless tops for anyone!

NHS is really clear about rules. Technically you should have rights with any skirt and must be knee length - hot weather tights can be removed but only with chief nurse’s permission (this is for nurses but as agenda for change pay covers nurses and admin, rules are the same). I’ve known variation in managers but if nurses can cope on the wards, admin can cope. Men still wear trousers in nhs admin roles.

It’s fine, I wear normal t-shirts to work. Not everyone is in a corporate setting

I don’t think dressing well has the slightest impact on performance or work ethic, to be honest.

I think people work best when they’re comfortable, and as happy as they can be. Which sweat beads dripping onto your desk isn’t going to give you.

I'm so glad to be in my airconned office wearing shorts and a vest!

'Office wear' is the absolute worst

What’s wrong with an exposed armpit?

FFS people like you are pathetic.

What are people doing at their desks if you are seeing armpits?!

Edit: Not that I care about seeing armpits, I'm just surprised anyone is actually seeing them

I'm not allowed to wear sleeveless tops, or low cut, high neck is preferred, also nothing above the knee and no footwear that shows toes. I do work with sex offenders though

While a sleeveless top can certainly be smart, probably just easier to have a blanket ban than have people making their own interpretation and getting it wrong. It’s a shame but I imagine it will be a small minority pushing boundaries that’s ruining it for the rest of them.

I have minimal sympathy though, in my line of work I often need to be in full length trousers with waterproof over trousers, wellies, parlour top and out in direct sun!

Vests are not smart or even decent.

Differing opinions

Vest tops are indecent 😂😂😂

😂Okay, Mary Whitehouse 😁