Office Worker Flip Flops Out of a Job
“You can’t wear those here!” It was a hot summer day, and instead 1)...... the usual “Good morning” from
his boss, Philip Dale 2)...... told to go home and change out of his casual shorts and flip flops. He refused
and, by the end of the morning, he was out of his job.
“I work in an office and we don’t 3)...... to meet clients. Why can’t I wear what I want?” said Mr Dale. “It’s
sexual discrimination. Women can wear skirts and shorts. Why do men have to wear trousers and ties?”
But the company 4)...... agree. “This is work, not a holiday on the beach,” said a company spokeswoman.
“It is true that Mr Dale does not have to work with customers, but he has to go in and out of the building and
we must think about our image. What is more, Mr Dale’s contract says very clearly, ‘Employees must wear
suitable clothes in the workplace.’ It’s a question of professionalism. Shorts and flip flops are not formal
enough.”
However, Mr Dale’s lawyer said, “This is a question of human rights. Companies cannot tell their employees
what to 5)...... . Of course, employees should wear clothes that are suitable for their work, but there is nothing
wrong 6)...... shorts in the summer. We’re talking here about a very old-fashioned company. In a modern
company, like Adidas, for example, employees can wear what they want. But the issue here is the question
of sexual discrimination. 7)...... they must have rules about clothes, they cannot have 8)...... rules for men
and others for women. It’s very simple, really.”