NWMR: Thongs in the Office (semi-vent)

sandrabrooke · July 2014

Well, the flip flop kind.

So I set up a meeting with an EVP we are in the process of auditing. And like normal we start making small chat with him as everyone joins/calls in to the meeting.

My co-worker (who is wearing flip flops) starts talking about how "tight her thongs are". how "dirty her thongs are", and how "she needs a replacement for her thong before she goes out tonight". Oh, and my favorite "my grandson plays with my thong". AHHHHHH.

I was mortified. First of all, are flip-flops office okay for you? Next time, I really have to step in and change the subject. Sadly, shes a higher level than me, so not sure how to broach the subject. Blah. Shes like 20 years older, so maybe its just an age difference.

groovygrl · July 2014

LOL I thought you were going to post about underwear.
I think the flip flop thing really depends on your office attire & norm. I personally wouldnt wear them unless they were more like a dressy sandal that happened to go b/w the toes but I don't know that I'd really think twice about someone else wearing them unless there was a meeting with external ppl or the rest of the outfit was realllllly casual. I work in a business casual/casual type of place though, esp in summer.

banks81 · July 2014

My office does not allow flip flops. But its located in Chicago so people often wear them walking to and from work. So I know there are times I've seen coworkers wearing them, but I assume they forgot to change into their dress shoes. I think the rule is that you shouldn't be able to hear the flip/flop sound. So I would wear sandals that go between the toes that have a back on the heel.

Samiantha101 · July 2014

No flip flops here.

sadie+w · July 2014

Wow, I would be mortified! I work in a fairly casual environment. I think it's pretty rare to see someone in flip flops.

I am guessing her terrible lack of professionalism is not a reflection of you, so I wouldn't be too worried.

Slb22 · July 2014

I work in probably the most casual environment there could be. I came from a job where everyone had to wear suits so lots of things were shocking to me when I saw what people wore to work (vp of finance wearing flip flops and patriots T shirts for example). Now that I have been there for a while flip flops don't bother me for our regular staff, but the exec team being too casual does. It seems unprofessional. They don't need to be in suits, but they should dress nicer that the rest.

chloebeth930 · July 2014

I thought you were talking about underwear too!

I would never wear flip flops in our office. We have casual Fridays, and I even hesitate to wear jeans.

If that happens again, I would break into her conversation and kind of laugh saying something like, "I didn't realize you were talking about your shoes when you said Thongs!" Maybe she will get the hint that it isn't appropriate conversation, especially if people could be thinking that she was talking about underwear.

catahoulatte · July 2014

Whew. I am relieved this is about flip flops.

I am in a relatively casual office environment, but flip flops are a little too casual. I wear dressy flat sandals, but not my reef flip flops-if you can visualize the difference.

cedenton · July 2014

Nope. No flip flops. I accidentally wore them to work last week (forgot to take them off at home) and thankfully I had different shoes at the office. If not, I would have had to go to the mall and buy shoes (across the street).

I'm wearing Toms today that perfectly match my outfit, but even that makes me nervous. I work in a super corporate environment, though.

kristennd · July 2014

We're on the casual side of corporate casual here (government agency) but our written dress code does ban flip flops and there's a reminder email at the beginning of every summer.

It would have been fine to tell her about how she could be misinterpreted. But someone else will eventually if you're not comfortable.

Mustardseed2007 · July 2014

We're allowed to wear flip flops but not beach sandals. So there are dressy flip flops that people often wear, like yellow box or something like that. They are very popular. We live in the south so it's a combination of the heat and a love of big rhinestones. I wear them sometimes, but just in my position in our office I do try not to.

[Deleted User] · July 2014

I once worked in at a place where the owner hated the sound of flapping shoes. All flapping shoes were forbidden as his office was the first office in the hallway.

Some flip flops are dressy enough but people can't manage to figure out what is an appropriate flop and what isn't. So I am fine saying no flops in the office (for a business to business casual office). But then again, I am the bitch that hates jeans on Fridays for the same reason.

catahoulatte · July 2014

LibraryChica said:

*insert Thong Song here* I totally thought this was going to be about exposed buttcrack. No flip flops allowed here, though this is Florida and someone always tries. Some people wear them to commute, which I really don't get. UO? I think flip flops are gross. They're beach shoes, people! I think commuting in them is weird (especially in a city -- all that grime!) and I feel like if you drive to work, which 98% of my coworkers do, and your shoes are too uncomfortable to walk the 15 minutes max from the lot to your desk than you need better shoes. Eta: Bump ate my paragraph breaks.

Haha! I'd never wear them on Metro because metro skeeves me out, but I loooove wearing flip flops everywhere. If you step in a puddle, they dry quickly, if you run across a cool playground with your kid while you're running around, you can kick off your flip flops and run in the grass...

That statement makes me sound like a hippie. LOL.

*sparky* · July 2014

I also thought this was going to be about underwear, like the whale tail showing above the pants.

Anyway, the only time people wear flip flops in my office is on Casual Friday when jeans are allowed. And your CW's use of the word thomg does come across as slightly inappropriate especially if you had people listening in on the phone. If someone starts talking about things I automatically assume they are talking about underwear.

MommyAtty · July 2014

This deserves to be Post of the Week, if there were such a prize. Loved loved loved it. And no way in HELL would I wear flip flops to the office. Some of the admins wear dressier flip flops with wedge heels, but if anyone above that level did, I think there would be a discussion with their boss. We are business casual, but with an emphasis on business.

sandrabrooke · July 2014

It's okay everyone. Today she bought me lunch and complained how new thongs are equally annoying since they aren't worn in yet.

my ears hurt.

groovygrl · July 2014

I totally thought of you guys yesterday... I am one of those ppl who will wear flip flops (I have never used the word thong for those and cannot get on board with that LOL) for my drive & to walk into work b/c all my shoes hurt since my feet got so wide after pregnancy & I can't find work shoes that are comfy for walking more than around my building...I have a 3 block walk to my office from parking garage so it isn't just to run into a building from the parking lot.

So anyway, yesterday I wanted to go to another bldg to check out a meeting room (not to meet anyone, just walk by & see the room) so I kept the flops on b/c of all the walking & I knew the shoes I brought would be uncomfortable to walk around in and unfortunately had to go see a different space unexpectedly which was another block away...and at that one I ran into some coworkers from another dept! Gah. I was embarrassed, apologized for my flip flops, told them I wasnt expecting to have to walk around before I got to the office, etc.... and then I had to go see ANOTHER space after that & I put the regular shoes on for that just in case

LOL.

FWIW the ppl I ran into just laughed and were like, who cares, whatever, you're out walking around on a hot day and I believe it was genuine...but I was still embarrassed and thought it was funny that this conversation was going on on here...

*sparky* · July 2014

@groovygrl - you just reminded me. I actually did wear flip flops to the office a couple of times at the end of my PG because I could not get my fat feet into anything else. But they were my fancy sparkly ones so it was ok.

katlizabeth · July 2014

Is the term thong a generational thing? My parents always call them thongs and we grew up knowing them as thongs. I now call them flip flops. I occasionally wear them to work-depends on how casual the rest of my outfit is.

groovygrl · July 2014

*sparky* said:

@groovygrl - you just reminded me. I actually did wear flip flops to the office a couple of times at the end of my PG because I could not get my fat feet into anything else. But they were my fancy sparkly ones so it was ok.

I was pregnant 5 yrs ago. HA! But my feet got wide but not longer so now I not only still wear a freaking size 5 but I need a wide. Flip flops are my friend.

And I thought maybe thong was regional kind of like sneaker vs tennis shoe?

anchalmasako · July 2014

We are business casual office, and honestly don't see to many folks wearing flip flops (LOL at thongs - haven't heard them called that in quite awhile). Every now and then I'll see someone wearing those black platform flip flops with rhinestones, and it looks totally unprofessional in my opinion. When the thongs are more like dress sandals with heels, it seems to be more in the dress-shoe territory, so not quite as obscene in the workplace.

rodiesmum · July 2014

I was thinking abt the underwear and how weird itd be if she was talkin about it! Lol! Anyway our ofc doesnt allow flip flops except of course if there was a typhoon/flooding and your shoes got wet an that is the only footwear u have available

jellybean529 · July 2014

Being allowed to wear flip flops aside (they're okay in our office) -- who the hell talks about their shoes that much?? It sounds to me almost like she's saying it for the shock value.

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