Ad
Friday, March 13, 2026

Bricklayers Find Clever and Funny Way Round ‘No Shorts’ Ruling

ADVERTISEMENT

The weather has been pretty hot up and down the country in the UK in recent months it’s fair to say. In actual fact, pretty hot is putting it lightly to say the very least. Anyone that works outside would probably appreciate how some brickies felt when their boss told them not to wear shorts at work, even though it was a whopping 26 degrees Celsius. What would you do if you were told the same? In a hilarious twist, perhaps you should take a leaf out of those brickies books..

The brickies were told they were not permitted to wear shorts, even in weather so hot that it was uncomfortable for them to work in jeans and other work trousers. The brickies, who were based at a construction site in the town of Chertsey in Surrey, almost contemplated looking for other work until they found a way around the ruling with a truly ingenious, and let’s face it, funny move.

Brickies Find An Ingenious Loophole to the Ruling

Proving that there is more to brickies than meets the eye, they discovered a way round, what they saw as unfair rules, by using the gender equality regulations to their benefit. How did they do it?

The clever chaps turned up to work wearing a stunning array of women’s summer frocks and dresses. As well as using the gender equality regulations, they also took inspiration from stories involving schoolboys who have done similar at their school, where similar rules have been upheld about wearing shorts.

The fellas, who were working at Bellway Homes construction site, turned up wearing an assortment of dresses and skirts. Simon Miles wore a denim skirt belonging to his wife, stating that he was going to find another job and that many of his colleagues were really finding it uncomfortable and difficult to work in jeans. That was until he and the rest of his workmates realised that as there were female employees that worked in the office on site who obviously wore skirts and dresses, that they couldn’t possibly do anything if the brickies did the same.

Bricklayers Loved Their Skirts and Dresses

Adam Houdoire, one of Miles’ colleagues opted for a budget option of a supermarket £10 dress. Houdoire curiously said something we never thought a bricklayer would say about woman’s clothing – that he loved it and felt that it gave him a lot more freedom to work more comfortably than he would have been able to in jeans or other forms of trousers.

In a strange reversal of roles, Miles also noted that he had been wolf-whistled by a man, suggesting that he had never experienced that before.  Joking aside, we feel that this funny little tale gives insight to a more serious issue. If bricklayers and other construction site employees have to work in hot climates and we want them to do the best work they can, does it not make sense to allow some leeway with regards to the health and safety regulations.

ADVERTISEMENT

Popular Categories

Latest posts

Scaffold supplier TRAD UK flags potential price adjustments as global tensions rise

TRAD UK has warned customers that external market pressures linked to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East could lead to price adjustments in...

Don’t rely on digital tools to solve your problems – a strong management approach is critical

Scaffolding contractors have a lot on their plates. There is technical and legislative compliance to meet on every job, while also running and growing...

The digital foundations behind scaffolding’s next tech shift

NASC and CISRS have completed a comprehensive digital overhaul that marks a fundamental shift in how the scaffolding sector manages training, compliance and communication. Since...

Layher system scaffold supports Prestwich Travel Hub regeneration project

Rose System Scaffolding has completed the scaffolding package for the Prestwich Travel Hub, the first phase of a £100m+ regeneration of Prestwich Village in...

Sheffield scaffolder to walk 1,200 miles for suicide prevention charity

A scaffolder from Sheffield is set to walk 1,200 miles from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in support of suicide prevention charity Andy’s...

CITB reshapes training funding with new large employer fund

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced changes to how training funding will be distributed to employers from 1 April 2026. The update introduces...

Scaffmag Issue 29 released with focus on technology, skills and industry change

Scaffmag has released Issue 29, bringing together interviews, analysis and project stories from across the scaffolding and access industry. The new edition for Spring 2026...

Young workers least likely to discuss mental health, research shows

More than one in three UK tradespeople say their job is harming their mental health, with young workers among the least likely to seek...

NASC warns scaffolding skills gap could leave 40,000 roles to fill

NASC has warned the UK scaffolding and access sector could need around 40,000 roles filled, as it published its Skills Gap Report 2026 based...

Construction industry says Spring Statement lacked measures to boost building

Construction leaders have offered a mixed response to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, with industry bodies warning that the government missed an opportunity to...

Latest news

Magazine

Spring Issue #29 | Past issues >>

Trending now ⚡︎

Young workers least likely to discuss mental health, research shows

More than one in three UK tradespeople say their...

CITB reshapes training funding with new large employer fund

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced changes...

NASC warns scaffolding skills gap could leave 40,000 roles to fill

NASC has warned the UK scaffolding and access sector...

Scaffmag Issue 29 released with focus on technology, skills and industry change

Scaffmag has released Issue 29, bringing together interviews, analysis...

Construction industry says Spring Statement lacked measures to boost building

Construction leaders have offered a mixed response to Chancellor...

Related articles

Latest topics

Second chances and scaffolding: the man giving ex-offenders a route back into work

When Aaron King talks about turning points, he does...

Scaffold supplier TRAD UK flags potential price adjustments as global tensions rise

TRAD UK has warned customers that external market pressures...

The digital foundations behind scaffolding’s next tech shift

NASC and CISRS have completed a comprehensive digital overhaul...
ADVERTISEMENTS