On Feet, Work and A Plea That You Don’t Mix the Two
How do y’all feel about people who take their shoes off at work?
I’ve run across this a lot in my lifetime and I find it a little odd. I would never even think about kicking off my shoes and traipsing around the office barefoot or just in my socks. And yet, people do it. What is up with that?
I won’t say that I’ve never been barefoot at work. I used to have a profession that required me to stay very late into the night. Sometimes in the silent darkness of the wee hours, I would walk around without my shoes on. But usually no one else was around. And if someone else was around, it was usually another poor coworker who was also on her eighteenth hour of work. And we’d both be barefoot and eating sandwiches from Subway and bitching about life.
But I’ve never in all my life just casually strolled through the office during the day with no shoes on.
For one thing, it’s highly unprofessional and tacky. For another, it’s rather rude. And lastly, it’s kind of disgusting. I really don’t need to see my coworkers’ toes.
And yet, I’ve seen my coworkers’ toes. I’ve seen them often. And, frankly, I’m not pleased.
The excuses for one going barefoot at work are all over the place. Pregnant women need to rest their feet. When it’s cold outside, people need to switch from boots to shoes. Those who wear sandals in the summer can just easily kick off their shoes and wiggle their toes. And yet, none of these reasons explains why anyone would need to get up and move about their place of employment without their shoes on.
But whatever the reason, it’s wrong. And it’s odd. And it’s gross.
Just do your coworkers a favor and keep your shoes on at work.
shoes stay on at work, period
shoes should stay on when on the plane as well.
You are just mean!
You know I read this blog.
You know when I read a post about co-workers and feet I am going to think about particular feet.
And you know that none of us ever wants the image of those feet in their head EVER AGAIN.
Mean.
Mean.
Mean.
I am sorta guilty of this. I only take them off at my desk where no one can see, though.
No, no, NO.
Feet should never be exposed anywhere, anytime.
EVER.
Wow! Someone has a serious foot phobia!
Or maybe I’m observing the beginnings of a nation-wide foot hysteria?
Should we start to punish people for going barefoot where it’s not expected? Throw them in jail for exposing their toes? Because their bare feet might offend?
What is the big deal about seeing someone’s bare feet in the workplace? Do you folks get this worked up over seeing someone’s bare fingers, too? Should I be wearing gloves at the office so you don’t get grossed out by those appendages, either?
Yes, it might be a bit unprofessional to walk around barefoot in the office all the time, but seriously — what is the big deal about seeing someone’s bare feet? They’re just feet. Lighten up and get over it.
I find it quite comical that someone who took my post to mean I was calling for the jailing of those who expose their feet at work is telling me to lighten up. PRICELESS!
For the record, I do not have a foot phobia. I don’t mind feet at all. I’d just rather not see my coworkers walking around in their suits without any shoes. Call me old fashioned, but there is a time and place for shucking your socks and a professional workplace is neither.
Put on your shoes, lighten up and get over it.
My intention was to be comical. So I’m glad you found my comments about going to jail for being barefoot amusing!
Yes, Dr. Sparky…. you are indeed old-fashioned. Times have changed. Try to be more open-minded about relatively minor things like someone going barefoot at your workplace.
As for your suggestion about putting on my shoes, I appreciate the thought, but I simply can’t do that. For so many reasons…
I think it depends on the culture where you’re working. In my workplace I see the female employees doffing shoes & freefooting, not so much the men. As much as I’d like to go barefoot at work myself, I think it wouldn’t work with a suit & tie.
I probably should just try & find a job someplace wher I can work in my profession, make a decent living, & go barefoot on the job if I want to.
And I go barefoot on planes too, & they haven’t fallen out of the sky. At least not the ones I’ve been on!
I have never/would never walk around barefoot at work but I have brought in slippers to wear one time when I broke my leg.
I’m afraid if one of my co-workers were traipsing around in barefeet I’d be following behind them squirting Lysol.
I’m almost always barefoot in the office at work, so Dr. Sparky, it’s a good thing you don’t work in the same office as me, or you would be constantly offended.
It does not worry me that you are so into wearing shoes, but they are a bit oppressive; for me comfort is much more important than someone’s else’s view as to what is decorous. My feet are a great design, working well after 47 years, fantastic value for money too.
Actually, it turns me on to see bare feet in the workplace. Women’s feet are really cute with their painted toes and all. Even toe cleavage in open toed shoes is almost as good a barefoot.
Umm….do you really want to be turned on at work? Not sure I want to work in that office.
Definitely agree: shoes should stay on in the office. Saw this other blog about barefeet out and about: http://aemayer.com/blog/2011/08/barefootmovement/