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The Importance of Wearing Correct Footwear for Your Job

Not only is it important to dress appropriately for work but extra care must be taken when choosing the correct footwear suitable for your job role. Selecting the correct footwear can not only allow you to have a more seamless integration with your colleagues but they can also be vitally important for protection.

In a typical office environment there are unspoken rules you must follow to fit in with the normal etiquette of the office. To start, beachwear sandals and flip flops are an absolute no-no. Not only are they bad for your feet when wearing them for hours on end at work, they give virtually no support to your foot and they are the height of fashion indolence giving the air of laziness and reminding people of their student surfing days. It just screams inappropriateness!

Most women choose to throw away the high heeled fashion stilettos and plump for a smart pump or low heeled court shoe in the office, not only will your feet thank you at the end of each day, but you will also fit in with the other female staff around the office, as no one wishes to be the butt of all jokes at work.

In the office it is usually a good idea to take a look at what your other colleagues are sporting and use that as a general rule of thumb.

Aside from etiquette and fitting in, it is important to consider the other side of the coin, which is that you need to wear the correct type of work or safety shoes if your job warrants it. Who wants stubbed toes or squashed feet from wearing incorrect safety boots while doing your everyday job? Not only would it hurt but you could need time off to heal injuries and in some cases, your company’s insurance wouldn’t cover your medical expenses or sick pay if you choose not to wear the specified safety footwear.

The safety section of footwear can vary widely from an extreme job like a lumberjack where you will need hard soled, safety toe capped, leather safety boots with added support at the ankle, to a nurse who would require breathable, comfortable non slip, hygienic and easily removed shoes for working in hospitals.

Safety footwear should be robust enough to prevent foreign objects, such as wood and metal splinters from penetrating the main body and causing injuries to your foot, and be hard wearing but also comfortable at the same time, as they will be protecting the average foot for over 8 hours a day. Of course if your job in mainly outdoors, waterproof and an anti-slip sole should also be added to the list of must-haves too!

The best piece of advice in these situations is to speak to your company Health and Safety officer, or line manager, to see what footwear you should be wearing for your job role. They may also supply you with catalogues to choose your new workwear shoes from too rather than having to go and hunt for your own.

Choosing the correct footwear for your job can be tricky but it is a must for full job satisfaction, comfort and safety. Remember, if in doubt check your other colleague’s footwear for a guide and in safety situations get the right information from your line manager.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kay Riley .