JFF - ...Office Etiquette

Updated on October 02, 2011
L.M. asks from Overland Park, KS
21 answers

Do you think flip flops are ok to wear to work?

I am strongly against that. Some woman's feet are just plain nasty, and then to stare at unkept toes in flip flops in an office environment, gives me the shivers.... ugh...

I know you get some cute flip flops with flowers and gems and cute designs, but still .. a flip flop is a flip flop, no matter how much you decorate it.

Unless you have the most beautiful feet in town... I prefer proper work attire, proper shoes.

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So What Happened?

My grandmother (bless her heart) always told me that you can tell allot about someone, just by looking at their feet. If their feet are in a bad condition, they often don't take good care of themselves either..

If you are waaay tall, or have a bad back, like me, those little ballet flats are very cute and they cover toes and heels, and I wear them allot when I have those "off" days... They look like normal shoes, but still comfy and easy to take on and off...

Featured Answers

S.L.

answers from New York on

I think it's odd you are spending so much time noticing people's feet. Are you talking the colorful rubber flip flops (WAY casual) or sandals that are made like flip flops? I often wear leather sandals that some people call flip flops but I call sandals since they are dressier than flip flops.

3 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

Why are you staring at people's feet? As long as flip-flops are not against company dress code then it's no one's business if someone wears them to work.

3 moms found this helpful

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K..

answers from Phoenix on

We can wear flip flops on Fridays. Plus, it's super hot here, so I will take what I can get. I think it depends on the office atmosphere, and the industry you are in. Just because you work in an office, doesn't mean it's a lawyer's office, or some stuffy corporate office. For instance, a lawyer's office is probably going too have a different dress code than a construction office.

I guess I really don't pay enough attention to study someone's feet. There are tons of fashion no-no's that can be seen at any office on any given day - muffin top, panty lines, ill fitting clothes, bad hair cuts, etc. Even a peep toe or strappy sandal, which are professional, still expose your feet. I know you are strongly against funky feet, so have an idea for ya - stop looking at them ;-p

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♥.O.

answers from Washington DC on

Well, yes and no. Yes, if they take them off once they get to work and then they can slip them back on after work. I see a lot of women do this who take the bus or train and don't want to have to walk in their heels. However, they're not wearing them around the office as they change into their heels as soon as they get to work. Otherwise, no I think they're inappropriate for the workplace.

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J.K.

answers from Kansas City on

not at work, even for teachers. I always hated to go to school and see the kids teachers wearing them. Might as well wear your pj's too.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

I'm not sure where you work, but we aren't even allowed to wear open toed shoes.
Flip flops would be completely out of the question.

From an employer's standpoint, proper shoes are necessary due to liability issues.
Flip flops don't protect your feet in any way, shape, or form.

That doesn't even include the ickiness of certain people's feet.

Just my opinion.

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J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Flip flops to me are for home. I would feel funny wearing flipflops to an office. But I live in flip flops outside of work.
It's funny you brought this up. I had a government interview last week and the canidate behind me was wearing a nice button up blouse, dress slacks, and flip flops. WTH? I thought wow, really...flip flops. I couldn't believe it.
It was just strange.

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C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

I HATE flip flops. They are just annoying to listen to and most people make NO effort to take care of their feet. Most people slop around when they wear flip flops.

I think they are fine at the beach or pool but that's it.

Ask ANY foot doctor and they will give you a HUGE list WHY they are horrible for your feet.

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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Ewww. No. Not unless you work at a pool and are a lifeguard or something. But in the office?? Heck no. I could not take anyone serious in a office setting if I was in a meeting and glanced down to see their knarly gross toes in a stinky flip-flop!~ lol

I would probably laugh....so no, never appropriate.

M

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

If your company follows OSHA rules then flip flops are not considered sage attire in the building. If not then the dress code should cover it. I bet that they are considered sandals and considered okay though.

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

Dont you still have to look at snarly toes with a nice dressy open toes shoe that is not a flip flop?

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E.S.

answers from New York on

Cool question.

Totally against flip flops. It takes the professionalism out of the office, and yeah, then there's the nasty feet issue. Plus, it makes you appreciate non-office, comfy-wear even more!

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M.M.

answers from Fresno on

Maybe for safety reasons but other than that if the company allows for it then by all means. I have some really nice sandals and flip flops and if I could get away with wearing them to work I would. As for the women who are not taking care of their feet...as long as their not propping their feet on your desk, who cares what their feet look like. I wouldn't want to see nasty feet either but don't worry about them and just do the best at your job. Good luck to you and fab question!!!

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Does this office not have a dress code that eliminates flip flops? They've never been considered appropriate for much of anything except very casual wear. During my early working years even sandals were not allowed and we had to wear hose. Can't do that with flip flops. lol

Dress requirements have definitely gotten more lax but I agree that flip flops are not appropriate no matter what condition one's feet are in.

I don't agree with your grandmother tho I used to. Over time I've seen that some feet are more difficult to keep free of callouses and dry flaky skin than others are. When a women has a family and is working full time too she may not have time for the intensive care that her feet require. It's a matter of priorities. Read your kids a bedtime story and spend time soaking and filing your feet?

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C.P.

answers from Columbia on

Flip flops are not appropriate for work. BUT very nice sandals on well-kept feet are acceptable.

If someone came in with their hair unkempt and nasty, someone would say something. Feet are no different.

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H.G.

answers from Dallas on

Not proper attire imo...

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I agree. Flip flops are flip flops. My pet peeve is with people that wear flip flops with suits and/or nice pants.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

I'm so glad I don't work in an office :D

The again, where I grew up, flip flops are the *height* of formal shoes (geta) although they are worn with socks (tabi). Now THOSE are shoes I wouldn't want to wear in an office ;)

I live in my flips. I have bad ankles and HIGH arches, so I'm constantly spraining them in "regular" shoes. LOL... kind of like The BIRDCAGE... where the houseboy falls down all the time when he has to wear shoes. That's me. I can wear heels (3-6") and flips and boots. But not "real" shoes. And I CANNOT wear heels when I do work in an office. Because I'm already 6'1.

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K.L.

answers from Medford on

Flip flops are the most dangerous foot wear you can have. They slip on wet floors, they dont protect your feet from kicking a table leg, or anything that could fall on them. You cant run well or climb a ladder if you need to escape a fire, and they make your feet fatter every year you wear them. Why would you wear them at all?

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

I personally don't think flip-flops are professional shoes. not sure what you do or where you work....but I can't think of a place, other than a beach shop, that flip flops would be acceptable.

My feet aren't nasty thank you very much!! :) I take care of my feet!! I get pedicures at least twice a month!!! And I just got compliments on my toe nail color today!!!

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

I think flip flops are inappriate for work also but I have the hardest time finding nice closed toe shoes for anything. Sometimes I can find a nice pair of sling backed pumps and get a decent fit but or some reason with most closed toe shoes I can't get an arch that fits my feet. I always have my toe nails nicely polished and keep my feet smooth and nice looking.

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