He Was Sent Home From Work For Wearing Shorts. Came Back In A Dress

A British call centre employee challenged the dress code rules at his workplace in the most brilliant way. After he was sent home from work for wearing a pair of shorts, Twitter user Joey decided to walk in to work in a pink dress - acceptable workplace attire for women - instead. And boy, did his stunt work! Not only did he manage to get the dress code policies changed at the office, he also won major viral fame at the same time.

Joey, a resident of Buckinghamshire, England, posted a series of tweets about the incident on June 19. "If women can wear skirts/dresses at work can I wear smart shorts like so?" he tweeted along with a picture. "Answer: nope. Just been sent home from work," he added in another tweet.
 

If women can wear skirts/dresses at work can I wear smart shorts like so? pic.twitter.com/UD0AQ6ZCbP

- joey (@jBarge_) June 19, 2017

So, to really drive his point further, Joey decided to put on a pink dress and see if that was acceptable at work. "See you soon, Twitter. I'll be sent home soon," he tweeted along with pictures showing wearing the dress.
 

What looks better pic.twitter.com/aj7S4sPrtJ

- joey (@jBarge_) June 19, 2017

pic.twitter.com/tIvA7UvDoN

- joey (@jBarge_) June 19, 2017

His move apparently worked and forced the management to change certain rules, keeping in mind the soaring temperatures in UK caused by a heatwave.
 

Partial win? pic.twitter.com/SKh1WcbcR4

- joey (@jBarge_) June 19, 2017

And even though the management suggested he go home and change given the new dress code, Joey decided to stay in the dress for the rest of the day. "They said it was a bit too colourful and asked if I wanted to go home and change because they were letting us wear shorts because of my 'protest' - but I said I was happy to stay," he told Daily Mail.

His tweets have since blown up and many on Twitter are debating the dress code policies at most workplaces.

"They sent you home? You aren't customer facing and it was still a smart outfit," comments one Twitter user.
 

Why is only one of these outfits accepted???? pic.twitter.com/yFAsldKSrR

- Ryan T DaSilva (@RTDaSilva3) June 21, 2017

My fiancé took a skirt with him 2 work 2 change into in protest if they tried to send him home 4 wearing shorts yesterday. #DressCodeSexism

- Naomi Harvey (@NaiElizaHarvey) June 21, 2017

I have male and female staff in my team who are public facing. I would happily let them wear clothes that were comfortable for them 1/2

- Jennifer (@Jennife24683838) June 22, 2017

As long as it was smart but wouldn't even think about it like "men's clothes" v "women's clothes". Clothes are clothes 2/2

- Jennifer (@Jennife24683838) June 22, 2017

I fought for shorts too ! I'm the reason why my company can wear shorts now, I even argued about dresses and thought about doing the same!

- Tobe (@TobeOswin) June 21, 2017

I've never understood why skirts/dresses are accepted, but dress shorts aren't "professional enough?" I like your way of protest good sir.

- Spaz (@spazattack13) June 21, 2017

Made my day. pic.twitter.com/jrEPTsSb1k

- Julie Sutton Salek (@tampajulie) June 22, 2017

This isn't an isolated incident. With temperatures soaring to 30 degrees Celsius in some parts of UK, a group of teenage boys from ISCA Academy in Exeter, Devon, did something similar at school. The teens showed up to class in skirts in order to protest the school's 'no shorts' dress code for boys.