Shorts in the office
It's summer. The sky is cloudless, the sun is shining non-stop and the mercury on the thermometer is rising to over 30 degrees.
You're not on vacation, you're sitting in the office instead and beads of sweat are running down your forehead. Your concentration is waning and your longing to cool down is growing by the second.
On such days, you may wonder whether employees have a right to "heat-free". Or whether you can at least come to the office in shorts on such hot days.
We will inform you and also give you tips on how best to get through the office day in the heat!
Are shorts allowed in the office?
In view of the high temperatures, many people find it tempting to reduce their clothing to the bare minimum at work on hot summer days. However, caution is advised here.
In your free time, you can dress however you like within the framework of the applicable laws. You are not accountable to anyone but yourself.
In the workplace, however, your employer sometimes decides what you can and cannot wear in the office. Some companies have a fixed dress code that you as an employee must adhere to, even when temperatures rise.
Loose clothing is taboo here. This often applies to banks, insurance companies, law firms and other sectors with customer contact.
However, there is often no precisely defined dress code. In this case, it is important to find out what is and is not permitted in the company. Take a look at what your colleagues (especially in summer) and superiors are wearing and adapt accordingly. Etiquette in everyday business life has become more relaxed.
IN MANY INDUSTRIES, IT IS QUITE COMMON FOR JACKETS AND TIES TO BE LEFT IN THE CLOSET ON MORE THAN JUST "CASUAL FRIDAY".
However, the office is not a beach bar or a swimming pool. Short shorts or even an airy Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops are therefore a "no go" for adult men in the office, even in midsummer temperatures and with a relaxed dress code. Such an outfit is reserved for leisure time. But Bermuda shorts with longer trouser legs have no place in the office either. Shorts or Bermudas are okay for leisure and sports. In the office, however - even if it is warmer than usual - the usual conventions should be adhered to.
Ladies are allowed to wear light skirts (and not just in summer). But miniskirts or even hot pants are just as taboo for women in the office as bare male legs peeking out from under shorts. In this respect, men are not really at a disadvantage when it comes to outfits in the summer heat.
Correct clothing in the summer heat
Rising temperatures are no reason to do without elegant clothing. If you are in Italian or Spanish cities at the height of summer, you will find business people dressed correctly even when the temperatures there are above 30 degrees. In everyday office life, you should therefore wear long trousers and a long shirt even in midsummer temperatures in this country.
If you don't have an appointment and aren't sitting in an open-plan office, you can roll up your sleeves from time to time. You can also occasionally roll up your trouser legs slightly above your ankles. However, this should only be done when you are unobserved. However, if this dress code has been agreed with your boss, you can try out the cool flanking look. We have taken a closer look at how to achieve this in another article.
Tip: Contrary to popular belief, long, thin cotton or linen trousers are much cooler than shorts. This is due to the constant flow of air along the legs.
No matter how hot it is, you should never go without socks. Open shoes (e.g. sandals) are also not really suitable for the office.
On the other hand, there should be nothing wrong with smart, closed canvas shoes if the dress code is not too strict.
No heat-free time for employees
The offices are not air-conditioned and the windows face south. This means that temperatures quickly rise in the workplace at the height of summer. According to workplace regulations, the temperature in workspaces should not exceed 26 degrees Celsius. If the temperature exceeds 30 degrees, the employer is obliged to take protective measures
The employer must ensure that windows and glass walls are protected from direct sunlight, e.g. by blinds, awnings or heat-insulating glass, in order to keep the temperature in the workrooms as low as possible. In addition, refreshing drinks and possibly some fruit should be made available to employees on hot days.
If the office has air conditioning, summer temperatures outside can usually be tolerated quite well. However, air conditioning systems should preferably be set so that it is not too cool in the office. If possible, it should not be more than six degrees colder in the office than outside.
A fan can also be very useful when temperatures are high. However, if you want to set up your own fan, ask your boss for permission first. You should ask whether you can use the electricity from the socket for this. Safety regulations must also be observed when using fans. However, there is no right for employees to be off work in the heat. Exceptions only apply to pregnant women or employees with special health problems.
Conclusion: Keep cool!
Make sure you choose good, breathable quality clothing, especially in summer. In the bugatti online store, you will find a large selection of fashionable, summery clothing suitable for the office, from comfortable business shirts to light suits and pants to comfortable shoes.
To get through the working day well even in the heat, you should also bring
take a change of shirt with you to the office
occasionally run cold water over your wrists
make use of your flexitime arrangements as far as possible and move work to the cooler early mornings
Have plenty of (not too cold) drinks
enjoy your evening outdoors after work
As you can see, you don't really need shorts at work to get through the office day in summer.
Read more
Various items are put on and taken off again and the closet is rummaged through more or less desperately. The first date is coming up and you want to make a good first impression.
Nylon or leather? - More than just a means to an end. Bags and rucksacks are everyday companions and are present in almost every situation. Backpacks in particular have become increasingly popular ...