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Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
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Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
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Dear General Forum users:
An HR professional asked me to post this query. Since it’s the start of summer, it’s a timely(if very specific) dress-code question:
“With the upcomi
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Forums » Topic Forums » General Forum » Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
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Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
posted at 5/13/2009 10:22 AM EDT
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Posts: 16
First: 10/17/2000 Last: 4/19/2010 |
Dear General Forum users:
An HR professional asked me to post this query. Since it’s the start of summer, it’s a timely(if very specific) dress-code question: “With the upcoming summer weather, we usually relax our 'casual business dress' to a more lenient 'summer dress code,' which includes sandals for women, freedom from ties and collared shirts for men (they can wear polo shirts, etc). My question is this: How do you define what a 'sandal' is for women? And how do you--or should you--administer the policy? These are shoes that the VP of Finance/Admin feels are inappropriate, and some comments that he received when he forwarded the photos on to colleagues. (The HR professional sent us some photos of the sandal in question. It’s a casual (but not beachy) open-toe black leather wedge sandal with a strap that goes between the wearer’s big toe and middle toe. It does not have back strap.) "The comments include: '[The company] can question the amount of foot showing,' 'Some say these were for casual days, not regular work days' and 'Some mentioned that having straps on the back would alleviate the problems.'" So, forum readers—what should the HR professional do? We both thank you for your help! Carroll Lachnit Executive editor Workforce Management |
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Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
posted at 5/13/2009 11:01 AM EDT
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Posts: 1103
First: 3/16/2007 Last: 8/19/2011 |
The environments that I have worked in have either been hospitals, government contractor agencies or within the financial services industry. Consequently our dress code requirements have been more conservative than what one might find in other industries.
I have never worked for a company that allowed flip flops. My last company, at the demand of customers, stopped casual day and went to professional dress every day. This included no open toe sandals for women and no sandals at all for men. Hospitals by their nature would normally not allow sandals and if they do it would be in stereotypical back office functions. In my experience and in an attempt to keep things as equitable as possible "strappy" sandals were frequently not allowed for office workers as patient care staff couldn't wear them. It made life more "consistent" |
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Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
posted at 5/13/2009 11:11 AM EDT
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Posts: 16
First: 10/17/2000 Last: 4/19/2010 |
Thanks! Just to be clear: The footwear is definitely not a flip-flop. It's not made of rubber or plastic. It's an open-toe, backless leather sandal. The setting is a corporate office--no safety issues involved, I'm told. |
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Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
posted at 5/13/2009 11:35 AM EDT
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Posts: 228
First: 11/1/2006 Last: 1/20/2010 |
We have a relaxed dress code during summer months. No flip flops, or any "beachy" type shoes. Also, shoes that make a smacking sound are not allowed. The backless shoe you describe may be a "smacker" |
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Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
posted at 5/13/2009 1:05 PM EDT
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Posts: 237
First: 7/10/2007 Last: 8/31/2011 |
My last employer banned sandals and flip flops as a safety issue since everyone in the stores worked in the stock room at some point. Current employer is the opposite. I dont think some of these people own anything but flip flops (In a 90% female workforce, the free choice of footwear is considered an entitlement). Baffles me why they wear the things in twenty degree weather. If you one day read of my being committed to the funny farm you may rest assured that the constant slapping sound of flip flops going up and down the hall had something to do with it. |
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Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
posted at 5/13/2009 4:54 PM EDT
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Posts: 2146
First: 2/15/2006 Last: 9/14/2011 |
I'll be the lone dissenter. Heck, sometimes even our CEO wheres what I would consider to be "flip flops".
I think ALOT of it depends on your corporate environment. We only have a few positions where this would be a safety issue. But most of our positions are such that this wouldn't matter. We allow sandals and "nice" flip flops...leather strapped with a heel for instance. Now shower shoes or $3 flip flops, the employee would probably be told not to wear again. But we are (1) in the South and (2) in a more relaxed company. And our employees also tend to dress for the occasion -- that is if they have a meeting, etc. they will dress differently than if they know they will be stuck in their office/cubicle all day. Now when I was at the HR Consulting firm, pants (for ladies) were a no-no. And flip flops would have definitely been too. |
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Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
posted at 5/14/2009 7:08 AM EDT
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Posts: 464
First: 6/30/2004 Last: 11/22/2010 |
Wow, I am aligned with rrupert once again.
It's the company's culture that sets this standard. When I was a CPA in a national company (remember the Big 8?), it was three peice suits all the time, all weather, almost all occasions. You could loosen your tie if you were working late in the office, but not in a clients office. Very rigid environment. Over the years I worked for a number of firms and the standards were all over the place. Professional and executive staff were usually more dressy than others until I got to my current employer. Human Services non-profit dealing with all sorts of community clients. One department in particular deals with teenagers, and usually troubled teens at that. We hire fresh out of college grads with social work type degrees. These folks dress in a fashion that helps them relate to kids. While we don't allow torn jeans or jeans worn too low, we do allow a very casual dress code, which even includes flip flops. Not just Fridays, but every day. The business includes a teen drop in center for runaway and homeless youth and you can imagine the different styles of clothes the clients wear. We want the case managers to work with these kids and we don't want something as transient or as subjective as fashion to get in the way. For the professional staff, when I dress up, I look like I could be playing golf at the Country Club. This does not translate into $ in the paycheck, but I truly enjoy being able to wear blue jeans to work and not be looked at sideways. |
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Are sandals OK under a summer dress code?
posted at 5/14/2009 8:01 AM EDT
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Posts: 1771
First: 10/24/2002 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Flip flops can be made of leather. In fact, they can be made of anything whatsoever, as long as they have a toe thong in the front and are open at the back.
That said, I personally hate the sound of flip flops flapping away outside my office. I find the sound very loud, annoying and distracting. And I'm sure I'm not the only person in the working world who feels this way. |
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