Birkenstocks

[mynamechangemyrules]

I’m in my 26th year of teaching and in a new role since Dec. Just been told I can’t wear my trusty Birkenstocks to work… ‘health and safety’. Am seriously tempted to come in barefoot tomorrow. A colleague has just said they’ve ‘never’ been allowed to wear sandals at anywhere they’ve worked. Someone please tell me the H&S implications of this and whether I can argue it.

I’m not buying fucking sweaty trainers and I’m not wearing my DMs all summer. I said I’d wear Teva type sandals but they’ve said they need to be closed toe. Don’t know how they haven’t told me off before but saved it to the hottest day of the year so far. I go from DMs in winter to Birkies from April to October so this is quite seriously a deal breaker for me 🤣

Advice for sandals appreciated too as I’ll have to stay here a while anyway!

Karrimor Ithaca from Sports Direct?

I don't see the issue with Birkenstocks...a lot of us (myself included) have been in sandals this week and no one has passed comment!

Plus it's not like we are working in lovely, modern buildings or offices with air-con where perhaps they could ask people to wear more formal shoes...schools are greenhouses and we should be able to dress accordingly!

We can wear sandals as long as they have a back - so no flip flops.

Last year we were suddenly told we can’t wear backless sandals for health and safety. We are allowed open toe though so it’s not too bad. I just wore strappy ones, but I’m now five months pregnant and already struggling to bend to fasten the straps so I’ve been wearing Birkenstocks this last week and no one has said anything.

My friend has lent me some Birkenstock sort of clogs I suppose… but I’m worried they’ll say they need a back. The only thing I’ve seen says about the closed toes though. Open toes and having a back would be my preference as I like some air on my toes!! Honestly how do they think the rest of the world survives..?!

Every secondary school I’ve worked in has had a closed-toe rule because of science labs and DT equipment. Primaries tend to be a little more relaxed about open toes IME.

Are the children allowed to wear them?
What do the male teachers in your school wear?

Children can wear sandals.

I’m assuming the men working there are following the guidelines which we all have to but haven’t inspected their feet as yet.

I wore trainers in school today, am on the hunt for something like a lighter weight trainer I think as a leather sandal with closed toes and back wouldn’t be that comfortable.

Yes I think it is a secondary thing. I’ve just moved to secondary 👍🏼 I’m in the exact same context as primary though, class based, no heavy or dangerous items. But anyway, back to the search for the perfect shoe!

Posted on the wrong thread. Sorry!

I had some menorcan sandals for school and found them really good. Very comfortable and the toe is almost closed but not quite, so they're nice and airy in summer. They were really practical in Nursery and I liked the look too. I used to wear Birkenstocks but found these stayed on my feet more securely and were safer around bikes and trikes etc!

They were like this - image attached.

I’m a science teacher so always have closed toe. Fisherman sandals might work. These look nice and have similar soles to Birkenstocks.

Or walking / outdoor sandals. https://www.keenfootwear.co.uk/collections/womens-sandals?srsltid=AfmBOopr134WNgFEDwpFsz015UsecvdImKmAp0CM91bC4ATPLU0TsUcX My kids lived in these when we were overseas in hot countries and schools asked for closed toe.

Oh I have so many pairs of these from life overseas but school has given me a No on them! 😩

Years ago I had to prove I could run in Birkenstocks. When I proved I could, I was allowed to wear them.

I'd totally forgotten about that.

I wear Birks to schools now, no one has said anything yet. One of the schools I work in has everyone in slippers or Crocs or whatever when it's muddy outside.

Birkenstock Tokio are closed-toe 'clogs', with a strap that can become a back-strap.
Expensive but brilliant

How ridiculous…
Geox shoes really are quite airy and might be an option.