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Instagram boss Adam Mosseri recently came out as “pro” shorts in the workplace. He said that it was a “hot debate” in the Instagram office, though “not all shorts are created equal” and not everyone can “pull them off.”
We posted the question to our readers on LinkedIn: Do you think it’s appropriate to wear shorts to the office? Over 7,000 people have cast their vote so far.
As of Friday morning, the majority of respondents, 54%, said no, compared to 20% who voted yes. Another 25% of respondents said “it depends.”
The survey is far from scientific, and the results could shift as more readers vote. Still, the early results provide an interesting look into people’s evolving views of the office dress code. Gone are the “Mad Men” days of mandatory suits. And with Gen Z firmly in the workplace and sweltering summer temperatures potentially swaying people’s views, it’s a good time to revisit the polarizing topic.
A lively debate over dress code and etiquette
Readers in the comments below the LinkedIn poll debated what, if any, shorts dress code would be appropriate.
Joella Shepherdson commented that chino shorts should be allowed, but basketball shorts shouldn’t. She voiced worry of a “double standard.”
“I think if skirts are acceptable, shorts should be too, but they should be subject to the same workwear rules as normal,” she wrote.
Stephanie Cary wrote that it may depend on the industry. Startups and fashion may be more open to the apparel, she wrote.
What about a temperature threshold? Jay Martin wrote that shorts were okay if it was over 90 degrees.
Of course, the heat is outside the office for much of corporate America. Many workplaces pump cold air into their cubicles. April Weygand drew a comparison: “The men wear shorts in the summer while the women are wearing sweaters because of the crazy AC.”
Donald Peace narrowed in on Mosseri’s comment that “not everyone can pull it off.” Peace called it a “clearly subjective judgement,” describing the Instagram head’s view as an “HR nightmare.”
Working from home has changed standards of dressing. Brian Bower wrote that he sometimes wears pajama bottoms while working virtually.
“Businesses up top,” he wrote. “Party below.”
