To think that “professional” standards shouldn’t apply during periods of extreme weather?

[toohotforallthis]

I live in an area that has a red weather warning for extreme heat for the next two days.

Today the office was sweltering. It’s been 35° minimum all day, but in the office it’s been closer to 40°. We’ve all been unable to function.

We had a “friendly reminder” that the dress code still applies - dresses to mid calf, no shorts, shirts must cover to the mid arm.

AIBU to say fuck it and turn up in a T-shirt and shorts tomorrow? We have no client contact whatsoever, I will not see a single service user tomorrow. The only people I will see are my coworkers.

My line manager has said she’s fine with it, but if the “big bosses” walk in (from their air conditioned office!), we may get in trouble.

Surely the worst they’ll do is send me home, which is a win for me 😂

Again, when you’re just sat still all day it would be. I am in the office for 8 hours a day

I’ve been doing all of that 😩 it’s just been absolute hell.

Wear what you like tomorrow and bring floaty dress in bag in case it causes a problem. Explain your health concerns if challenged too.

I'm amazed anywhere requires skirts so far below the knee in this day and age!

A few days here and there dressing down shouldn't be an issue to anyone normal. Let's face it, happy staff work better so value them.

But it is an issue. It doesn’t matter the circumstances: RULES MUST BE OBEYED!

I thought that people in European countries are more likely to wear loose clothing in natural fibres, such as a loose shirt and trousers for men and a flowy dress or skirt for women. I’m cooler in a dress, certainly.

I wasn’t suggesting I am more superior than you so I’ll forgive you for projecting as that obviously comes from a fear of social rejection should you not conform.
You’re clearly uncomfortable with someone questioning everything you know so I’ll leave you to obey the other people you see as more superior than you.

Is it 100% cotton?

I have never worked in offices that weren't fully airconditioned (or fully not airconditioned)

None of this "some people have aircon and others don't" - that seems awfully unfair and elitist it seems it's the higher ups who end up with the aircon

Have you confused me with op? I don’t have a boss dictating what I wear 🤷🏻‍♀️. She does.

In a previous office job, I was told I had to get a Dr's note to get a desk fan.
(No own-electricals permitted due to "insurance", I worked in a south facing building, no aircon, floor to ceiling "windows" which didn't open due to "security" - and they wondered why turnover was high)
My GP thought this was bizarre so questioned me about it - after I showed her a few photos of the office and the thermometer on my desk, I got a note which specified 2 fans, extra breaks if my desk temperature was over 25c, knee length shorts (not skirt, must have material between my thighs to prevent irritation) no tight clothing, and no polyester uniform, natural/breathable fabric only. She also gave me a stack of leaflets about the risks and dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Occupational Health agreed with my GP.

That was a fun conversation with upper management, but they declined the 'opportunity' to leave their modern environmentally controlled offices and try to work in mine for a few days 😂

Stop this now. Just stop.

Why does a dress have to be mid calf to look professional? That doesn't make any sense. You don't have to wear mid calf length dresses in court, which I would say is the place you need to look most professional. If I were having to give evidence in court I would absolutely wear a knee length dress

Yes.

The point is the boss shouldn’t be making these daft demands though. Just because someone is a boss, doesn’t mean it’s reasonable for them to treat you however they please.

I work in a school and wore a sleeveless vest today. I didn’t care. Other staff did too. The heat yesterday was unbearable in a classroom full of children and my shoulders shouldn’t cause any kind of stir. They’re shoulders.

Bonkers that management are dictating this when you’re not even client facing! We were told to wear anything cool-shorts, trainers that was reasonably smart-in our school this week. I’m in a mesh top with sleeves, vest top underneath, full length black trousers. I’d probably be cooler in shorts, but I have compression stockings so bit pointless.

This is a very similar post from the end of last month on tops and shorts..

It just seems so backwards

I have to admit I was very grumpy when I left the office, I’ve had a swim and an ice cream and I’m less so but still, it just seems inhumane. You wouldn’t keep a dog in these conditions

How are shorts, which tend to cling, going to keep you that much cooler than a cotton dress? You just seem hell bent on wearing shorts and a t shirt. Go for it then.

The pair I have in mind are so loose. I just don’t want to experience anything like today again, it was genuinely vile. Every time I stood up I felt faint

It’s perfectly possibly to dress modestly and in keeping with professional standards in the heat. I’ve commuted in London every summer and there has regularly been days or weeks in the mid to high 30s.
A loose light weight dress to the calf will not be any warmer than shorts and a t shirt.

I just think, in general, modesty is bollocks. The men can wear shorts and a shirt, but women can’t? What’s so offensive about my knees?

It does seem crazy. I've told my team to do whatever they need to to stay well in the heat, wfh, use flexi or go into their closest air conditioned office where we have desks. I've cancelled meetings where I can so they can get proper breaks and basically said we're all adults so make sensible decisions based on staying as comfortable as you can. It's a few days. I'd rather support my team to stay well than build resentment and have them risk their health. Your work seems to put ridiculous rules over what outcomes they should want - a productive team with decent wellbeing.

Do you have a union, OP?

Is your dress not cotton or linen?