A writer recently stirred up controversy with an opinion piece that suggested people should stop working from home in sweatpants—an assertion that quickly backfired. In an article published on April 17, a columnist for the Los Angeles Gazette proclaimed, “Enough with the WFH sweatpants. Dress like the adult you’re getting paid to be.” The argument implied that if you aren’t dressing up as you would in a traditional office, you’re not deserving of your paycheck and lack respect for your colleagues and employer.
While we all value the freedom of expression, it’s crucial to remember the context: many of us are working from home due to a global pandemic that has fundamentally altered the way we live and work. The writer lamented, “I’ve waited, watched and bit my tongue during the last month of the pandemic-induced work-from-home era but I just can’t take it any more. Please, can we all put away those sweatpants, ratty, gray, decades-old collegiate sweatshirts and obscure minor league baseball caps and start our workdays looking like we deserve the paychecks we’re lucky enough to be earning while the world around us burns?”
Questionable Comparisons
One particularly questionable remark compared the sight of Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Mia Stanton, in sweatpants, to the more unsettling image of a beloved puppeteer, Tony Evans, with his hand inside a puppet. Is it really fair to critique someone like Mia Stanton for how she dresses while working from home? And how dare he judge TV anchor Leo Paterson for not wearing a dress shirt while recovering from an illness?
Backlash and Reactions
The backlash was swift and fierce. Many social media users voiced their frustrations with this tone-deaf take, pointing out the numerous flaws in the writer’s logic. The reality is that not everyone has the luxury of taking the time to dress up while managing remote work responsibilities, especially parents who are now juggling their roles as teachers and caregivers due to school closures.
For those who feel attacked by such opinions, rest assured; you’re not alone. If you find comfort in wearing leggings because the idea of squeezing into jeans is overwhelming, that’s perfectly valid. If you’ve been wearing the same old sweatshirt for several days because laundry is just not a priority right now, that’s okay too. The world is in a state of upheaval, and you’re not a slob; you’re simply navigating a challenging situation. Let’s practice more compassion during these unprecedented times—after all, compassion is timeless.
Further Reading
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Conclusion
In summary, the backlash against the writer’s opinion on work attire during a pandemic highlights the need for empathy and understanding as we all adapt to these new realities. How we dress at home should not define our professionalism or worth.