Dress code at work, double standards?

[Freak12345]

Yesterday it was over 30 degrees and I made a mistake, I wore shorts with a blazer but the shorts were tailored and not skimpy hotpants/daisy Duke shorts or anything at all, slightly longer.

Anyway I got pulled into the manager's office and told to not wear them again, which fair enough I understand and I won't.

I was told the code is 'smart casual' however noticed the manager who told me off was in flip flops.

Later noticed the assistant manager had slippers on- well those fluffy slip on slipper-type things, and another staff member was in tracksuit bottoms?

I don't see any of those as smart-casual any more than tailored shorts, maybe they were all told off separately but I'm not sure, just seemed a bit off?

They sound like dicks tbh. Your tailored shorts are much more workplace appropriate than vests / flip-flops. As others have said, ask for a copy of their dress code. If there isn’t one and it’s all very ad-hoc/subjective then I’d definitely politely question why you were pulled up about smart tailored shorts (which are really no different to bare legs under a smart knee length skirt/dress) when others are wearing very casual foot wear / tracksuits.
For what it’s worth, our written company dress code says tailored shorts are acceptable in hot days, but flip-flops / gym wear / beach wear are never acceptable. So it’s interesting that tailored shorts are deemed an issue at your work, but flip-flops aren’t…

What’s wrong with bare legs?

What about short skirts on slim, milk-white women? Some people (me, for example, Scottish and red-haired) have never had a tan in their life.

If your headteacher wants to make a rule, then she has to apply it equally to everyone.

Whether the dress code is reasonable or not is a separate question from whether or not it is applied consistently. Does not seem the case here.

Allied to this is whether or not in what the UK calls a heatwave, someone could have worked from home if that was easier.

I'd ask for a bit of clarification on the policy as you're confused as to what is acceptable and what isn't.

Are you junior? I've noticed sometimes more junior members of staff get held to higher standards with things like this - a bit like the more senior people have 'earned their right' to be casual. (Rightly or wrongly).

Dress codes should be applied consistently, if it isn’t available freely HR will be able to provide it on request.

Shorts are fine where I work, they have the same rule as dresses and skirts in that they must be knee length when sat down.

Did you look something like this? And they are all in flip flops, joggers/cargoes with their bras on show? If so, they can fuck right off.

Oh blast - picture didnt add 🤦‍♀️

OP could you clarify the length of shorts, ie are they more than a hand span above the knee? Mid Thigh? An inch below the crotch?

I do think it makes a difference.

Most offices nowadays really don't care unless you're customer facing or meeting members of the public, it doesn't sound a very fair or up to date place. I do personally think, when I was working in client facing roles, thighs were a no-no. I wonder if it was that which pushed your manager over the edge. It sounds more like she either isn't a fan of yours, has an inferiority complex and likes bossing new hires around in a way she wouldn't get away with anyone else, or maybe there's some kind of rule somewhere nobody told you about (seems odd if others are wearing shorts, flip flops or vest tops though). Is anyone wearing anything currently above the knee?

We had this years ago-I see no difference between "city" shorts, which were popular a decade and a half ago, and a knee length skirt. In fact, the shorts are less revealing than a tight pencil skirt!
And the men point out it's sexist, because they can't wear skirts, so women get to have lower legs out, but men can't.

Does your company have an HR department?

If it does not I would request a statement from said manager to clarify what people should wear and not wear. I would still challenge the fact that others are dressed in casual outfits.

It may be stereotyping but have these other people got longer years experience in the company.

We had this in the workplace, and I was happy for staff to wear appropriate length shorts.. I persuaded my manager to agree.. then some started wearing really short shorts so she banned them again
my motto now is.. so long as we can’t see up it, down it or through it…
im more irritated by belly tops - which is a no no

My assumption is that you were showing more skin than the manager thought appropriate but didn't want to say directly

Just measured, shorts are about a palm length up from my knee but not full hand

Aren’t cycling shorts a pretty short length?

Whats the actual difference between flip flops and mules?
Or toe post flip-flops and sandles.

High healed mules are definitely not casual
Birks are they sandles or flip-flops

It all becomes a very fine line.

Unless you have huge hands then I think your shorts are perfectly appropriate for the office and your manager should explain the dress code.

They either don't like you, or are jealous of you/or both.

It sounds like you looked a lot more professional than others there!

Good luck with your job interview!

I would have looked surprised and said something like 'oh are these not appropriate?' and waited for her to explain. You clearly thought they were ok so it's perfectly normal to want to know why they weren't ok so you don't slip up again. In my view, tailored shorts in the office are absolutely fine, flip flops are really grim for the office. So yes it sounds like a weird dress code.

Not necessarily, they come in all different lengths.

There are women all over the US, NYC included, wearing skirts/dresses with bare legs in the office, in the boardroom, in the courtroom, etc. I wouldn't even know where to buy pantyhose (tights) these days. I think I last wore them in the late 90s. When it's cold, I wear trousers with thin trouser socks.

Dress codes tend to be carefully gender-neutral, so pantyhose would not even be mentioned in a written dress code.

YANBU tailored shorts are the same as a short skirt unless they are very short. I guess it depends whether it's acceptable for the men though.

What an odd thing to say. What about people in dresses? You can wear knee length or midi, be perfectly smart and have legs on show