Most Britons say it is

Key takeaways

  • 68% of Britons say it is acceptable for men to wear shorts in the office, with 69% saying the same for women
  • Only 37% had considered shorts acceptable office attire for men in 2016
  • While men’s and women’s views are the same on men wearing shorts to the office, men are more likely to say it is ok for women to do than men
  • Over-65s are divided on shorts in the office, while all working-age groups are overwhelmingly permissive

As Britain basks – or wilts – in the sunshine, many workers will be hoping to keep cool by dressing more casually at the office.

If so, then the results of a new YouGov survey will come as good news. The data reveals that men’s shorts are now widely regarded as acceptable office attire, with two thirds (68%) of Britons say so, with just 27% disagreeing.

While these figures are largely unchanged from the last time we asked in 2022, they represent a substantial shift from 10 years ago, when a majority of Britons (56%) frowned at the prospect of being able to see men’s knobbly knees in the office, while slightly more than a third (37%) were supportive.

Older Britons – those aged 65 and above – are less likely to find shorts acceptable, although even among this group they are permitted by 50% to 45%. In the 2016 study, all age groups were either opposed or divided on the matter.

The public are likewise relaxed about female workers donning shorts in the office environment at about the same rate – 69% say it is ok while 25% disagree.

Intriguingly, there are slight differences between men and women in this regard. While the genders responded identically on the acceptability of men wearing shorts in the office, women prove less permissive about female workers doing so (64%) than men do (75%).

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The gender differences are particularly pronounced when it comes to whether it is appropriate for women to wear tops that expose the midriff. While only 30% of Britons think this is acceptable office attire, men (42%) are more than twice as likely as women (20%) to say so.

For their part, women are much more likely to think it is ok for people to wear sandals in the office than men, by 82% to 55%, as well as vest tops by 39% to 31%. These two differences may be down to people using themselves as a frame of reference when thinking about the answer, with sandals and vest tops being more common as everyday apparel for women than men.

Flip-flops, by contrast, are broadly rejected as office-wear by the public, with only 28% deeming them acceptable.

See the full results here

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Photo: Getty

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