So I (19f) work at a retail clothing store with a business casual dress code that’s VERY lenient. My managers (I have 4) are really cool and don’t really care on what we wear as long as we don’t wear graphic tees (unless it’s a pattern) and no booty shorts. I also live in Texas and if you know that it get hot asf. Plus the AC at my job is utter shit so I wear shorts to keep me cool (which go down to my knees). I do also wear dresses and skirts that go to that same level but wear shape wear to a paint so I asked one of my managers Jewel (Late 20sF who is top rank at my store). She said it was for me as long as they match the length of my dresses and skirts. Her only stipulation is that they can’t be booty shorts which we both laughed at.
A few days ago one of my managers Rick (Mid 30s M) came to talk to me on my break to tell me that someone had reported me for wearing shorts the day before (which was a dress up day meaning we can wear almost whatever) and that the dress code said not to wear shorts. But my other manager Jewel said that it was fine as long as they go to my knees. I tell Rick this and say that Jewel gave me the okay. He says in a condescending voice and smirk “Oooohhhh okay… I’ll have a talk with Jewel”. When my break is over I head to the office to ask if shorts were REALLY okay but as I walk in I see Rick looking absolutely defeated in a chair while Jewel yells at him say “SO IF THIS SKIRT ID OKAY THEN WHY NOT WEAR SHORTS THE SAME LENGTH? It makes no sense!” She has out website pulled up and is physically pointing at the computer screen to prove her point. She also had a look that said “Rub your goddamn neurons together! See my point!!”
They notice me and while trying to hold it together I’m just like “So hey I just wanted to make sure the whole shorts thing is okay?” Jewel changes her face to a cheery smile and says “Oh yeah girl you’re fine, (she glares at Rick) you see there are even some dudes here wearing shorts in pictures on the official site so I see no issue. Don’t worry about it, after all we’re in Texas and it’s hot as fuck here”. I laugh awkwardly and I say “Coolio ima head back see you later!” As I close the door I hear more verbal lashing from Jewel and I even hear her say “If there’s a problem with dress code TALK TO ME! You shouldn’t even be talking like that to preppie on break! You should know better!” I bolt out to get a breath to compose myself from laughing my utter ass off.