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Boss Sends Guy Home For Violating The Male Dress Code, So He Decides To Follow The Female One Instead
Office dress codes have become a hot-button issue in recent years, especially as hot temperatures outside force people into less-than-modest attire. An employee at a call centre in Buckinghamshire, UK, named Joey Barge recently faced up against his company’s code when he was sent home for wearing a smart pair of shorts on a nearly 30-degree summer day. In rebellion, he took a tip from a fellow Twitter user and came back in a dress.
“See you soon, twitter. I’ll be sent home soon,” he posted with a photo of himself sporting the neon-pink and black smock. Surprisingly enough, 20-year-old Joey was allowed to remain at work after changing, undoubtedly benefiting from strict UK laws that prohibit companies from discriminating against employees based on their sexuality or gender identity. His boss must have feared a trend of men turning up to the office ‘dressed up’ in solidarity with Joey, and promptly sent out a memo that the dress code had been temporarily amended – a smashing victory on Joey’s part, though we must admit that his dress looked rather fetching.
Follow the whole story with photos below, and let us know what you think in the comments!
RELATED:
UK temperatures are currently scorching at 30°C and higher, and office workers are feeling it
Call centre employee Joey Barge, 20, decided to test his company’s dress code to stay cool
When it didn’t quite work out, a Twitter user suggested a clever way to bite back…
…And Joey went for it
However, he was allowed to stay, protected by anti-discrimination laws on gender expression
His boss, probably in shock, made some quick adjustments to the dress code after Joey’s stunt
“Ok but this was me sat in my office in a dress,” he wrote on Twitter, flaunting his new style
Internet reactions began pouring in, with some praising him and his “nice legs”…
…And others taking issue with his “big baby” attitude, as well as the dress itself
What do you think? Was Joey’s solution extra or unprofessional? Tell us in the comments below!
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What do you think ?
Leanne Dyksterhuis 8 years ago
It's not like his balls are hanging out in those shorts. Should we really be burning fossil fuels to cool an office to the point where we are all wearing sweaters just because we are afraid of seeing a man's knees? Plenty of dress codes state dresses, skirts and shorts be no more than a few inches above the knee. Seems like he complies with that in both outfits.
Daria B 8 years ago
Sent home from work for inappropriate clothing? Really?! I mean, I understand working uniforms and dress codes, but sent home for a thing like that? That's age inappropriate.
Cassie 8 years ago
From a call center, no less. It's not like he's greeting clients in person.
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John L 8 years ago
As they say in the military, "Good Initiative, Good Judgment". But even better, he could have worn a kilt, and claimed Scottish heritage. I'll bet the boss would have been in a Real bind then. ;D
DancingToMyself 8 years ago
The real kilt costs money, he probably didn't want to go that far. :)
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Master Markus 8 years ago
That lady who was in the military in Iraq - We get it, you suffered more. Just because there are worse things doesn't mean that the guy doesn't have the right to be comfortable. There's a reason I didn't join the military: all the wars are in hot places now. Also I'm incredibly short so they wouldn't let me in anyway.
Tiffany Harding 8 years ago
My coworker and I were just talking about how it's kinda unfair that we women can have sandals that make us look practically barefoot, but the men still have to wear their regular shoes in the summer.
Cherie 8 years ago
Yeah, but guys' shoes are quite often better designed.
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Andrew Keane 8 years ago
It's ridiculous the people calling him a big baby. You'd swear the highest minds made these rules, so they follow like sheep.
Nora Miller 8 years ago
I worked in an office prior to retirement. When it got hot outside women wore skirts and dresses to keep cool. Why can't men wear something equally as cooling? Especially in an office that doesn't deal with the public on a visual basis.
Luna Kittenwarrior 8 years ago
To all of the babyish, immature people shaming a man for wearing a dress, it takes bravery to embarrass yourself in public just to change a rule a bit. It's hot this season, and it's uncomfortable to have warming clothing when it's hot. Have a heart, have a brain, and have sympathy.
Cherie 8 years ago
I worked in an office (windows all around) where in the summer, the folks in the north end were wearing sweaters, but we at the south end saw the thermostat climb to 88 degrees. The director told ppl 'get comfortable, folks, til they get the a/c fixed'. Us girls were in sundresses, sandals. The guys wore khaki shorts and sandals. My manager's office (far from windows and with a door) was frigid. He wore flannels and a hoodie to work! Lol
Culdee 8 years ago
The critics are wholly misguided. They call him a baby for not tolerating the hot weather, but that's not why he did it. He did because the policy allows *women* to wear summer dresses to stay cool, but what do they allow the men to do? Nothing, they just have to suck it up and be miserable. Not a single critic addressed why they favor the double standard.
Leanne Dyksterhuis 8 years ago
It's not like his balls are hanging out in those shorts. Should we really be burning fossil fuels to cool an office to the point where we are all wearing sweaters just because we are afraid of seeing a man's knees? Plenty of dress codes state dresses, skirts and shorts be no more than a few inches above the knee. Seems like he complies with that in both outfits.
Daria B 8 years ago
Sent home from work for inappropriate clothing? Really?! I mean, I understand working uniforms and dress codes, but sent home for a thing like that? That's age inappropriate.
Cassie 8 years ago
From a call center, no less. It's not like he's greeting clients in person.
Load More Replies... John L 8 years ago
As they say in the military, "Good Initiative, Good Judgment". But even better, he could have worn a kilt, and claimed Scottish heritage. I'll bet the boss would have been in a Real bind then. ;D
DancingToMyself 8 years ago
The real kilt costs money, he probably didn't want to go that far. :)
Load More Replies... Master Markus 8 years ago
That lady who was in the military in Iraq - We get it, you suffered more. Just because there are worse things doesn't mean that the guy doesn't have the right to be comfortable. There's a reason I didn't join the military: all the wars are in hot places now. Also I'm incredibly short so they wouldn't let me in anyway.
Tiffany Harding 8 years ago
My coworker and I were just talking about how it's kinda unfair that we women can have sandals that make us look practically barefoot, but the men still have to wear their regular shoes in the summer.
Cherie 8 years ago
Yeah, but guys' shoes are quite often better designed.
Load More Replies... Andrew Keane 8 years ago
It's ridiculous the people calling him a big baby. You'd swear the highest minds made these rules, so they follow like sheep.
Nora Miller 8 years ago
I worked in an office prior to retirement. When it got hot outside women wore skirts and dresses to keep cool. Why can't men wear something equally as cooling? Especially in an office that doesn't deal with the public on a visual basis.
Luna Kittenwarrior 8 years ago
To all of the babyish, immature people shaming a man for wearing a dress, it takes bravery to embarrass yourself in public just to change a rule a bit. It's hot this season, and it's uncomfortable to have warming clothing when it's hot. Have a heart, have a brain, and have sympathy.
Cherie 8 years ago
I worked in an office (windows all around) where in the summer, the folks in the north end were wearing sweaters, but we at the south end saw the thermostat climb to 88 degrees. The director told ppl 'get comfortable, folks, til they get the a/c fixed'. Us girls were in sundresses, sandals. The guys wore khaki shorts and sandals. My manager's office (far from windows and with a door) was frigid. He wore flannels and a hoodie to work! Lol
Culdee 8 years ago
The critics are wholly misguided. They call him a baby for not tolerating the hot weather, but that's not why he did it. He did because the policy allows *women* to wear summer dresses to stay cool, but what do they allow the men to do? Nothing, they just have to suck it up and be miserable. Not a single critic addressed why they favor the double standard.
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