PARIS — A heat wave in Europe tested company dress code policies recently, as seen when bus drivers in Nantes, France, protested a ban on wearing shorts.
The six men turned up to work in skirts instead of the expected uniform of long pants, according to the Telegraph, denouncing the “unacceptable” working conditions in vehicles with no air conditioning.
“Our uniform is not appropriate for these high temperatures. We envy women at moments like this,” said Didier Sauvetre, a driver from the CFDT union.
Temperatures in the buses were near 50C, according to Gabriel Magner, another union member.
“A modern approach would allow us to wear long shorts from time to time. Women drivers can wear skirts, but not the men. It’s a form of discrimination.”
As a result, the company, Semitan, decided to relax its strict dress policy — temporarily.
“‘Equipping all the staff would have a huge cost and the new buses are all equipped with air conditioning, even in the cab,” said CEO Pascal Bolo. “My office is not air-conditioned, either.”
