An office worker tired of wearing a suit and tie in sweltering weather has had his workplace branded ‘sexist’ after he was banned from wearing shorts.
The fed-up employee took to Reddit to vent his frustrations, arguing that he should be able to wear shorts in warm weather when his female colleagues can wear dresses or skirts.
In the post, titled ‘Sexist dress codes that leave men out to dry in hot weather’, user mpchooligan lashed out against office attire.
He began his rant saying, “I hate this policy in my office. Women may wear a skirt or dress, but men may not wear shorts. Even in this warm weather we have it.’
An office worker, tired of wearing smart clothes in hot weather, has lashed out at his workplace for being ‘sexist’
He added: ‘We’re not even customer-facing and these days you can certainly buy shorts that look smart-casual enough to wear to the office.’
The disgruntled employee explained that the skirts his female colleagues wear “don’t scream professional” in the traditional sense, and that he and the rest of the male workforce should be able to take their legs out.
He asked, “Is it true that male-dominated management wants to see a ‘leg’ in the office?
“Is it any wonder that people don’t want to go to the office anymore and want to continue WFH?”
And the employee wasn’t the only one who was frustrated. Thousands of Reddit users took to the comments to express their own frustration.
One person wrote: ‘A dress code in a non-public office is downright stupid. They are also unnecessary personnel costs. Not to mention uncomfortable.”
The fed-up worker argued that he should be able to wear shorts on a hot day when his female colleagues can wear skirts and dresses, and thousands of Reddit users agreed
Another office worker, who felt the no-shorts rule was unfair, told a story about a time when their staff protested the rule.
They wrote: ‘The entire staff protested by turning up to work in shorts and calling a bluff – they had to decide whether to double down and send everyone home, effectively closing the doors, or accept that everyone should have a wore shorts.
“Eventually they gave in and allowed shorts.”
Some chimed in with their own views on unfair workplace rules.
Many Reddit users felt they should be able to sit at their workplace.
One person wrote: ‘I work in a luxury hotel and I get to sit on a chair at my desk. But the day shift? They must remain standing.’
The irate employee added: ‘I can promise you that no one who has ever stayed in a hotel or anywhere for that matter has given a single cent whether the receptionist was sitting or not.’
This isn’t the first time an employee has spoken out against their employer’s office dress codes.
In 2017, an employee, Joey Barge from Buckinghamshire, went one step further and came to work in a dress to protest company rules.
After being sent home for wearing smart blue shorts, Joey changed into a bright pink and black dress to the call center.
Although he predicted he would be sent home again, his act of defiance led to a change in the rules – with bosses declaring via email that “gentlemen in the office” can wear three-quarter length shorts in “black, navy blue or beige only ‘. .