Mack Debates: Shorts in the Office

Should you free the knees at work?

In recent weeks, a few pressing, if unspoken questions have been swirling around Mack Weldon HQ: When is this month’s bagel breakfast? Which heroic employee will, at long last, throw out the carton of expired half-and-half in the fridge? And, most germane to this blog post: Given how uncomfortably humid it is, is it okay for guys to wear shorts in the office?

Regarding the first two, answers remain devastatingly out of reach. But when it comes to shorts in the office, we thought it possible to arrive at some sort of consensus. Indeed, a few brave employees have already worn them—a pleated pair here, a corduroy pair there. And yet shorts still tend to feel like something of an outlier.

This is partly due to shifting norms around dress codes, particularly in an era where more and more people are working from home. Before the pandemic, many wouldn’t even consider wearing shorts to the office; now it’s hard to square the freedom to wear sweats on the couch one day with the directive to wear a suit to the office the next.

Last month, The Washington Post published a helpful guide to wearing shorts in the office. The answer they landed on was more or less, “You really shouldn’t, but…”—giving some leeway depending on the type of short (tasteful, not too short) and your position at work (the higher up you are, the safer it is to free the knees). In general, you can always follow the lead of other employees at your office, especially those senior to you. But if you’re wondering whether it’s okay in the first place, it’s probably not worth the risk.

As for the situation at Mack Weldon HQ—where wearing a nice t-shirt and jeans is typical—we decided to ask some folks in the office to weigh in. Herewith, a selection of their responses:

YES

“If it’s over 95 degrees, I’m doing it.” – David, senior graphic designer

“Personally, I wouldn’t think twice if a guy is wearing shorts in the office. I honestly didn’t even know it was a big debate until David wore shorts that one time and everyone commented on it.” – Elena, brand manager

“If you can feel appropriate to your office environment while wearing them, you should feel free too!” – Dan, VP of brand

“I think shorts to the office depends on the industry you work in. Overall, I think it can be fine. (Our forthcoming pleated shorts could be work appropriate…) – Henry, design director

NO

“For me personally, I’m anti. Something about how you see more of a person’s leg when they’re sitting in shorts feels indecent for the office.” - John, VP of creative

“If the office is outside, shorts are a welcome option.” - Tavish, creative project manager

“I’m a firm believer in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Work is for pants; life is for shorts (and also pants sometimes).” - Sam, copywriter

“I AM TOTALLY AGAINST IT. Read the room (and legs) and tread carefully. A ladder to success can easily be caught by unruly leg hair.” – Matthew, VP of design

That’s certainly one way to look at it.