Office shorts debate flares up again as heatwave tests dress codes

A prolonged heatwave in London has brought the annual office dress code dispute back into focus. As temperatures climb, more male employees are reaching for tailored shorts, prompting managers and HR teams to clarify, or enforce, policies that many consider outdated.

The numbers tell a story of rapid change. A YouGov survey conducted this year found 68 per cent of British workers now deem shorts appropriate for the office, up from just 37 per cent in 2016. Yet that still leaves nearly a third of the workforce opposed, a sizable minority that includes clients and senior decision-makers. Across the Atlantic, a Bloomberg poll of US business professionals put support at only 45 per cent, with critics labelling the look "unprofessional".

Aesthetic and cultural flashpoints

Opponents cite more than tradition. Japanese firms that recently relaxed rules have encountered complaints about "leg hair harassment", while footwear choices, flip-flops, sockless loafers, sandals with socks, create fresh HR headaches. A separate British poll found 69 per cent consider sandals acceptable at work, slightly more than those backing shorts.

Cultural signalling also plays a role. James Ford, a former adviser to Boris Johnson, argues that wearing shorts aligns with a left-leaning, anti-establishment aesthetic, citing The Guardian's endorsement of the garment as evidence. "If you want to go to work dressed like some granola-chomping hippy who needs to crowd-source opinions on the right way to tie your shoes, sure, you go ahead," he wrote.

Shorts look sloppy and unprofessional. And this is not a good look for any business.

Sector split and what comes next

Financial services and law firms largely maintain bans, while creative agencies and tech start-ups tend to allow shorts in summer. Employment lawyers advise that any policy must be gender-neutral and consistently applied to avoid discrimination claims. With hybrid working now standard, some employers are sidestepping the issue entirely by letting staff dress for the day's schedule, formal for client meetings, relaxed for desk-based work.

As another heatwave looms, the practical pressure on dress codes will only increase. Companies that have not updated their guidelines since before the pandemic may find the matter forced upon them by staff turnover and recruitment competition.