Getting fired for you shoe (or lack of) choice!

I came about thisclose to getting fired the other day for wearing flipflops at work the other day. My choice, I wouldn't be wearing anything. UGH! I need to wear black dress shoes (I work in a video store...seriously, come on!) and it's like 8 hours of torture on my feet!
I understand the whole liability issue behind the closed toe shoe thing, but still...
I did, however, discover how much some of the other girls at work are regarding their feet! One even talked about how she loves to go barefoot everywhere! So that was awesome!
P Just thought I would share my little tid bit of frustration on behalf of my toes!

 

Yeah, it's all about health and safety isn't it. I'll bet the tribal people that go barefoot/naked all the time would just choke on rules like those.

 

That sucks Kirsten. How dangerous can a video store be on your feet?!

 

Good to know you're alive and well, Lea. However as relieved as I am, it does raise a few questions. Fancy sending me an email? I've arrived safely in Kuwait by the way. It'll be a while before I'm set up with my computer and a connection, but I'm being extravagant with my mobile for the moment. Hardly worn shoes so far, including (and this is the bit that's relevant to the thread) going barefoot into my new school for the first time today, and going around a massive shopping centre. In fact when the security chap called me over he turned out to be only interested in my bags. When he saw just a pair of shoes and socks in one and some paperwork in the other, he just stapled up the bag that the shoes in and sent me on my merry barefoot way. It would probably have been defying security to open the bag to get the shoes out later had I chosen to. An amusing thought there. It's all smart dress code in work once the pupils are in so I'm glad I got to tour the school barefoot today. I felt the heat on my feet a bit but it wasn't impossible to walk around in the car park or even to stand still while loading the stuff onto the minibus although I definitely wouldn't want to be out in that heat for too long, barefoot or otherwise. Still it's good to know the score finally, and it looks like I can go barefoot in most places, and it'll cool down a bit in a month or so. Sorry to hijack the thread, but wanted to give you guys an update on top of my first sentence and it's awkward posting from my phone. One other thing. I reckon the inventor of air conditioning must be one of the most celebrated people in this part of the world. I'm going to test this theory when term starts by finding out how many of my pupils know his or her name.

 

I don't get why black dress shoes are needed in a video store. All the customers are rather casual, and a video store doesn't seem to me like a place where you'd need to make an impression. That's too bad that you had to go through that, barefoot_kirsten, because it seems to be such a pointless matter.

Perhaps you should bring the shoes (or wear them) to work and then take them off all day long instead of wearing flip flops. Then, at least, they could figure out that the required footwear were hurting your feet!

 

I know the frustration regarding footwear on the job. I thought women would have it easier when it comes to wearing flip flops at work. Black dress shoes sounds a little strict for working in a video store.

My job involves delivering and stocking general merchandise to convenience stores. There are many customers wearing flip flops, slippers, a few who have come in barefoot and on occassion you see a couple of guys without their shirts, a very casual environment. The clerks still must wear closed toed shoes, however they are allowed to wear shorts, and can expose their tatoos, but not their feet, go figure.

My job requires me to work independently, so I have cheated and have worn my flip flops on rare occassions while on the job even though it may be looked down upon. I keep my shoes and socks handy inside the cab of my truck just in case.

 

yeah, the only thing I've had happen was dropping movies on my toes or smacking my foot on the counter!
I worked in a cafe for a little while a few months ago, and the girls there wore capris, ballet shoes, or flip flops. Now we were working with espresso machines and hot coffee!

 

Indeed, rules that apply in individual operations must be followed.
However arbitrary they may be, they do exist.
One liquor store dismissed me for walking in barefoot.
I transferred my shopping elsewhere.
The owner of my local bakery, where I've been a customer for 10 years, manifestly does NOT appreciate me coming in barefoot.
I "need" her baked goods far more than I "need" to purchase them barefoot.
I also shop elsewhere.
Thus, society.
Counterpoint, indeed.
In quest of ultimate harmony and tonic resolution.

 

you dont run into a lot of tribe people at the video store....there is lots of severed toes going to landfill sites that used to belong to good people that didnt wanna follow the rules...maybe start your own video store and wear whatever you want

 

What's the point of this rule, though? Hardened bare feet are only slightly more prone to injury than shoed ones, and the deformation of the feet that follows years of wearing shoes is significant, unnatural and can be detrimental to your balance, for example.

I've got no problem with rules as long as they make sense. This rule of yours seems to be one of vanity or a misplaced sense of professionalism, and serves no practical purpose.

OP, just find a job you can do barefoot.

 

I'm pretty used to shopping barefoot by building up a repertoire of places that accept me. Each little "acquisition" gives me the courage to try the next place BUT there is always an extra heartbeat or two as I approach the threshold: will they or won't they?
If they will, great! If they won't, I hope I have some shoes in the car.
How do you spell Life? C-O-M-P-R-O-M-I-S-E
Who knew?

 

I have mentioned this before but it still amazes me the places that will not allow barefeet in case you drop something heavy or something heavy falls on your feet, yet jandals or soft shoes are fine.

If that is the case why dont they insist everyone wears steel capped boots before entering there stores how stupid would that look.

Fortunately here in New Zealand we have very few places that prohibit barefeet

 

Originally Posted by Urod
I know it's a challenge for you people, but try to work up some respect for those little things called "rules".

A business is free to establish any rules for its employees that do not contradict established law. Either respect the rules or work elsewhere.

I moonlight as a college professor. On my first lecture of any semester I always sternly warn people against wearing open-toed footwear of any kind and abbreviated garments (shorts, short-sleeved tops, etc.) of any kind to my classes.

I have thrown several people out (male and female) for not abiding by my rules, and it was very amusing to watch them having a cow over it. I don't want them missing classes (no professor does), but I want them to learn the quintessential ability to respect rules of engagement.

________________________________________________

What happened to the above posting? It must have ticked someone off enough that it was removed. I was in college 10+ years as an undergrad and grad student. I never saw any professor with such tight-assed rules. College is a time to "test the waters" and experience new things no matter how unconventional they may seem. Not wearing shoes is hardly a crime against society. It sounds more to me like a prudish conservative who wants to force his/her values on others no matter how archaic they may be.

What college is this where you moonlight? Certainly it must be a strict religious institution. Geez man, get your head out of the sand and live a bit. Your values belong in the dark ages. Kick off your shoes, have a beer, smoke a joint.

"Turn on, tune in, drop out" Dr . Timothy Leary!! Oops you probably wouldn't know him - he had a real degree and taught at a real school.

 

I find this even more interesting now because I am actually a university student! I'm going to school to be a registered nurse! I have never heard such bizzar rules, and I attend a very respected school! I have had a number of students comment on my feet, a friend of mine even saying, "that's disgusting," but I simply say, I don't like shoes! Most people I don't know well just know me as the "girl who doesn't wear shoes" and that is that!
But the day my boss came in, she went on and on about how it's company expectation that we wear closed toe black dress shoes. However, I dug into the paperwork today for the other dress code rules....I'd just hate to break it to both her and the other staff that lulus, capris, colored shirts under our work shirts, untied long hair, jeans, no name tags, and anything above a knee length skirt is also not allowed!
Alas, it is only a summer job until I go back to school! I just thought that it was strange (and quite frustrating) that this is the ONLY part of the uniform she chooses to pick on!

 

Sorry for the confusion ! The mentioned post (of Urod) got deleted due to guideline violations. Trolling - i.e. a continued campaign against the barefoot lifestyle - is not allowed here.

So, some of you picked it up and quoted it before the deletion took place - this why it's still around.

 

What we need is a way to stop people making unnecessary rules.
I propose a "Rule Tax", anyone passing a rule to control other peoples behavior should pay a substantial sum to the government, at least a thousand bucks, say.
Anyone second that?

 

I wonder how many times the government would pay itself under that proposal.

 

i do not understand why would they care what you wear on your feet in a video store? this is just a bull shit way to exercise control.

kirsten, a question are you the same person who use to post here in the barefoot forums a couple of years ago?

 

but when you qualify will they let you be a barefoot nurse? Maybe they're more chilled about it in Canada but I just can't see barefoot nursing take off here in the UK shame but there you go

 

if you get a shit job expect, to be treated like shit, do shit work and, shit "management."

if you go to a shit school, expect to be treated like shit, have shit "teachers," and a shit "education."

if you go to a shit college expect to be treated like shit, have shit "instructors" and, a shit "education."

if you go to a shit church except to be told your nothing but shit, treated like shit and, have shit "ministers."

if you have shit "friends," expect to be walked and shitted upon by, so called shit "friends."

if your born into a shit "family," expect the shit "parents" to shit and walk all over you in the name of "love."

moral: take steps to make drastic changes in your life now or, else your fucked but really, really, really good!