banned from going barefoot at work

ben_m_g

I'm still not convinced bare feet are acceptable..

As a boss; staples, pins etc. are all common place in offices, and wet feet on power extension leads are asking for trouble.
I would hate to be a boss trying to explain how one of my workers got injured not being dressed 'appropriately' and why I didn't stop it.

Of course in an emergency you should never have to stop and put your shoes on.

The smell would be a concern, OP may wash daily and have excellent hygiene. But I know that this is not the case for everybody in every office. The guy opposite me has a terrible hygiene problem, but was completely unaware how it was being picked up on, I would hate to think what adding cheesy feet into the mix would do.

Southend1

ben_m_g wrote: »

I'm still not convinced bare feet are acceptable..

As a boss; staples, pins etc. are all common place in offices, and wet feet on power extension leads are asking for trouble.
I would hate to be a boss trying to explain how one of my workers got injured not being dressed 'appropriately' and why I didn't stop it.

Of course in an emergency you should never have to stop and put your shoes on.

The smell would be a concern, OP may wash daily and have excellent hygiene. But I know that this is not the case for everybody in every office. The guy opposite me has a terrible hygiene problem, but was completely unaware how it was being picked up on, I would hate to think what adding cheesy feet into the mix would do.

I don't think the discussion was about allowing it for everyone. Only as a reasonable adjustment for OP. Flip flops would protect from rogue staples. Or she could be allowed to remove shoes at her desk as long as she puts them on when walking about.

Marvs_Mayhem

You know what the bloke next to me at my old place always did it and it drove me nuts! Mind thats because his feet smelt like an old locker room and the fan blew the scent my way.

dickydonkin

sniggings wrote: »

if the workplace requires steel toe caps then fair enough, if not and sandal, open top shoes etc are allowed, I can't see why going bare foot when at your desk any reasonable person would consider it unreasonable.

The smell, if there is any, would be lessened with no shoes on.

There is no H&S legislation that specifies that bare feet in a workplace is not allowed, however, it is a legal requirement for the employer to ensure the safety of their employees (and others).

I accept that the risk is minimal in an office environment and impact or puncture wounds would likely be more likely result in discomfort rather that a major injury, however, if for example something did fall onto the OP's foot and fractured it, the required report to the HSE could arouse interest to the enforcing body as to why the employer allowed staff to walk around a workplace bare footed.

With reference to your quote in respect of 'steel toe caps', it is important to remember that safety footwear are not designed just to protect toes.

Some workplace environments do not require steel toe caps, but due to conditions underfoot, may require safety footwear to have anti-slip soles for working in a kitchen for example or footwear that is anti-static when working in an area where there is a risk of igniting vapours/gases.

My stance would be however that sensible footwear should be worn in an office environment - and that should be incorporated into a dress code.

sniggings

dickydonkin wrote: »

There is no H&S legislation that specifies that bare feet in a workplace is not allowed, however, it is a legal requirement for the employer to ensure the safety of their employees (and others).

I accept that the risk is minimal in an office environment and impact or puncture wounds would likely be more likely result in discomfort rather that a major injury, however, if for example something did fall onto the OP's foot and fractured it, the required report to the HSE could arouse interest to the enforcing body as to why the employer allowed staff to walk around a workplace bare footed.

With reference to your quote in respect of 'steel toe caps', it is important to remember that safety footwear are not designed just to protect toes.

Some workplace environments do not require steel toe caps, but due to conditions underfoot, may require safety footwear to have anti-slib
p soles for working in a kitchen for example or footwear that is anti-static when working in an area where there is a risk of igniting vapours/gases.

My stance would be however that sensible footwear should be worn in an office environment - and that should be incorporated into a dress code.

if open shoes are allowed, then the OP's feet sitting at a desk I would think are safe.

The OP not allowed to not wear shoes at their desk is more likely to cause a greater risk to the OP.

PC gone mad again.

ben_m_g

Southend1 wrote: »

I don't think the discussion was about allowing it for everyone. Only as a reasonable adjustment for OP. Flip flops would protect from rogue staples. Or she could be allowed to remove shoes at her desk as long as she puts them on when walking about.

Fair point if that is the case, as long it was managed along the lines of exceptions for medical reasons (or such) then it wouldn't turn into a where whatever you like type of thing.

..

I've worked in offices for years and am an H&S auditor, footwear is more of a cause of accidences then you would believe.

Many moons ago (one of my first jobs) they started cracking down heavily on standardisation including footwear. You had a lot of the same types "PC gone mad" types, until it was explained that a contractor had left some tools / equipment out and a guy lost his toe, then had a series of injections due to the rust concern.

Apparently he would kick off his shoes and would actually bring slippers in!

dickydonkin

sniggings wrote: »

if open shoes are allowed, then the OP's feet sitting at a desk I would think are safe.

The OP not allowed to not wear shoes at their desk is more likely to cause a greater risk to the OP.

PC gone mad again.

Don't shoot the messenger - I did state the situation from a H&S law perspective.

You are of course assuming the OP sits at the workstation for the duration of the shift.

The reality will be that the OP will need to go to the toilet, have a coffee break, will need to consult with other colleagues face to face, may need to replenish stationery.......I can go on. Very few office personnel will stay at their workstation for the duration of their shift.

Also consider fire alarm activations (planned or otherwise), and you can see that a office worker is not fixed to their workstation - nor should they be as they should be allowed regular breaks from their desk.

Sorry - sensible footwear compatible for the relevant workplace environment should be worn.

Southend1

dickydonkin wrote: »

Don't shoot the messenger - I did state the situation from a H&S law perspective.

You are of course assuming the OP sits at the workstation for the duration of the shift.

The reality will be that the OP will need to go to the toilet, have a coffee break, will need to consult with other colleagues face to face, may need to replenish stationery.......I can go on. Very few office personnel will stay at their workstation for the duration of their shift.

Also consider fire alarm activations (planned or otherwise), and you can see that a office worker is not fixed to their workstation - nor should they be as they should be allowed regular breaks from their desk.

Sorry - sensible footwear compatible for the relevant workplace environment should be worn.

Shoes can be removed and put back on as required!

I think when you consider the bigger picture the risk to OP's health and safety from being forced to wear shoes all the time is greater than that of removing the shoes while at her desk.

While the general office risk assessment may conclude that employees should wear shoes at all times, a specific risk assessment for OP could come to a different conclusion in this case.

ben_m_g

Southend1 wrote: »

Shoes can be removed and put back on as required!

I think when you consider the bigger picture the risk to OP's health and safety from being forced to wear shoes all the time is greater than that of removing the shoes while at her desk.

While the general office risk assessment may conclude that employees should wear shoes at all times, a specific risk assessment for OP could come to a different conclusion in this case.

I'm know i'm being glib, so take with a grain of salt..

Health and safety not wearing shoes: puncture from foreign objects, trips and falls, impeding exit in the case of an emergency, crushing / items dropped, stubbing/impact damage, burns and (very unlikely) electrocution.

Health and safety not wearing shoes: sweaty feet?


I have stated that if the situation is right, then I personally would look the other way for shoes to be removed. But employers would be well within their right to consider the above and act accordingly.

sangie595

It's amazing how long a debate can continue over a simple issue. If we avoid all the staples, tacks, carpets, and forms of footwear that might be lying around the office, it comes down to "the employer has told us we can't be barefoot in the office, and I don't agree with them". That's tough. "You are not allowed to be barefoot in the office" is not an unreasonable decision, whether it is agreed with or not. Break an instruction and you get disciplined. Is it really worth getting disciplined over having to wear some form of footwear in the office? It isn't as though it doesn't leave you a lot of options about what footwear you chose, and if you can't decide, then discuss it with the employer, taking into account your circumstances.