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 😂

Ok so by your logic can you not buy a knee length skirt which will surely reach your mid calves? You know since you’re so petite?

Or do you want to be awkward for every sensible suggestion?

I am wfh in a cotton kaftan that falls to my feet, the sleeves cover roughly to my elbows. I am as cool as one is likely to be in this weather. A loose cotton dress or trousers and sleeved top are cooler by far than a tight T-shirt and shorts. You do not need to show lots of flesh to be cool, in fact, quite the opposite.
Edited to change cook to cool.

Linen trousers?😂

Has anyone ever actually SEEN what linen trousers look like when you've been sweating buckets and sitting down in them for hours? The creases would be of Olympic standard.

I'd say wear what you like OP, and if the Big Cheeses deign to come over from their air conditioned building and criticise your sartorial elegance, invite them to sit in your office for the rest of the day while you sit in theirs.

If anyone can find some stylish ones that come by 7am tomorrow feel free to link them!

I think the hot weather is making everyone responding to this post into a narky typical mumsnetter. I get it OP I will absolutely be wearing shorts and a t shirt tomorrow too ✊

A dress will be cooler than shorts and a T-shirt, which will make you feel hot and uncomfortable if you are sitting for a long time. The dress will act as a fan every time you get up for any reason.

There are plenty of informal workplaces, you’re free to search for whatever working environment resonates with you more.

I have always worked in a casual industry with casual dressing where short skirts or shorts are perfectly acceptable. I have always worn short skirts in summer or winter, but you knew your workplace had a dress code when you joined and it’s hot every year.

The less surface area covered the better

Actually no; if you look at how people in really hot countries do it you'll find it's loose cotton clothing all the way, which wicks sweat away from the skin

I see OP now says this is what she was wearing, so since nothing else will be any more comfortable the only other thing to suggest is a portable air conditioner

A lot of people on here are bloody insufferable.

No one should EVER question ANYTHING! We must all SUFFER under bullshit nonsensical rules made up by people sitting in (air conditioned) ivory towers! If you are in any way comfortable then you’re BAD! Anyone who complains about the torturous conditions is DRAMATIC!! 🙄

You need to speak to your union to negotiate better working conditions than that. If you haven't got a union - time to join one.

Get a grip, plenty of workplaces have uniforms.

Drinking 3 litres of water is probably what’s made you feel light headed and sick. You’ll have diluted your blood’s sodium levels and need to drinks some electrolytes. Too much plain water is dangerous.

OP I’m with you all the way. Plus your employers have a duty of care under health and safety laws and one of the stipulations is to relax formal dress codes. Quote them the 1974 health and safety at work act. if they start moaning

But that requires you to have the right clothes - smart linen trousers and shirts, silk vests etc. not everyone has them, in the UK it's rarely hot enough to need a "hot weather smart wardrobe".

Occasionally a bit of leeway is needed.

A local secondary school has completely foregone uniform for the kids and told parents "teachers may be dressed more casually than usual, we believe everyone works better when comfortable".

So wear a knee length skirt. Unless you’re choosing boiled wool, I’m not quite sure how a pair of shorts and then you cooler than a skirt

You’re not choosing shorts that are up to your bum are you? Smart tailored shorts I don’t cooler to wear than a lightweight skirt

You can pick up some really inexpensive cotton or linen trousers or a knee length skirt that will be one plenty of summer

Could you ask to work in the air conditioned office, hot desk style (pun not intended)?

No, the shorts would be about mid thigh. Very floaty and I ought

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.

That's appalling but to be honest I doubt wearing shorts etc. is going to make very much difference.

I think you should focus on getting them to do something about it, if not now, for next time - hire an aircon unit for example - rather than giving them the excuse of 'well, we did something about it - we let you wear shorts'.

Professional standards should always apply. And shorts and a T shirt are in fact no cooler than a below the knee dress/skirt, or pair of light trousers.

Were public sector. All air con units are in use across client facing areas, and a lot of them are breaking. They don’t have the budget to supply us with anything else.

Why should professional standards apply if op has no client contact? Just...why? Especially if those professional standards are incompatible with the heat.

I wear casual clothes to work unless I have client meetings and nobody gives a shit.

Totally agree.

I have 4 loose, calf length, linen dresses that I used to wear to work in hot weather and they are fabulously cool.

I'm retired now, so today I've been wearing a loose, thin white cotton nightdress all day, and hoping no-one comes to the door!

I think the main issue is your office would still be a horrible work environment even if you were naked. My child's school has only stayed open because they have air conditioning.

Their lack of budget should not be your problem. The money will be there somewhere, they just don't want to spend it on that.