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Not Cool, Dude: Connecticut Town Bans Flip-Flops at Work

By Christopher Coble, Esq. on June 14, 2019

Don't worry: If you only work in Greenwich, Connecticut, you can maybe still wear flip-flops to work. But if you happen to work for Greenwich, Connecticut, we have some uncool news, dude. Town employees may no longer wear flip-flops or "slide sandals " to work this summer. Or ever, for that matter.

"You don't want people to get hurt," town HR director Mary Pepe told the Greenwich Time. "One of the things that this is trying to do is prevent slips and falls or trips and falls. Stopping those from happening is a great way to avoid workplace accidents or sprained or twisted ankles and other injuries." It's good to know that someone is looking out for the safety of your little piggies, even if they won't let them breathe.

The (Footwear) Provisions State

Thankfully, there are some exceptions to the footwear restrictions. Greenwich lifeguards, camp staff, and swim instructors at the town's beaches or municipal pool can still cruise in sandals. And if your open-toed footwear closes around the back of your foot or ankle, it may still be allowed. But "a backless sandal with a Y-shaped strap that passes between the first and second toe" or "backless and open-toed piece of footwear that includes a single strap across the top of the foot" is strictly off limits.

"We didn’t want this to be a fashion statement," Pepe said, adding that the new policy wasn't in response to a specific incident and has been in the works for some time. I guess that's better than banning baggy pants because God told you so, or outlawing man buns for being too "extreme."

Thank God for Closed-Toe Shoes

"Some people have even come up and said, 'thank God you're doing this,'" Pepe said. "I'm sure there are people who are unhappy with this change, but we haven't heard anything from them. And nothing formal has been filed as an objection to it." Legal challenges to gender-neutral dress codes that don't appear to target religious garments can be tricky, however.

But, as the saying goes: If you outlaw flip-flops at work, only outlaws will wear flip-flops to work.

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