"Startups are kicking off a surprising new workplace trend: no shoes in the office. From AI unicorns like Cursor and Speak to a growing number of small tech firms, employees are leaving their footwear at the door in the name of comfort, creativity, and culture. Fans say the policy makes offices feel more relaxed and collaborative, while skeptics warn it risks blurring professional boundaries-and exposes some questionable sock fashion choices."
"staffer Ben Lang says he's never worked at a startup that didn't have a no-shoes rule: "I've only worked at startups that have a no-shoes in office policy," he wrote in a viral X post that received over 1.1 million impressions. The custom is catching on elsewhere, too: Andrew Hsu, cofounder of Speak, an OpenAI-backed AI language app valued at $1 billion, added that his team has followed the policy for years."
Several startups, including AI unicorns and Gen Z-founded firms, have adopted no-shoes policies that require employees to leave footwear at the door. Reported benefits include greater comfort, informality, and enhanced creativity and collaboration. The trend extends beyond a few companies, with more than a dozen firms embracing socks or slippers in office spaces. Proponents link relaxed dress to reduced anxiety and increased innovation. Critics warn the policy may blur professional boundaries and raise hygiene or presentation concerns, and some observers note questionable sock fashion choices.
Read at Fortune
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]