Ad
Friday, January 16, 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 news

David Brown returns as President and Chair of NASC and CISRS

Redaction notice An earlier version of this article referred to “interim” leadership arrangements at NASC and CISRS. This was incorrect. David Brown has formally resumed the...

The story behind Scaffolder’s Day, and how it became an industry fixture

Each year on 14 January, the scaffolding industry marks Scaffolder’s Day. There is no formal programme, no governing body and no official endorsement. Yet...

Safety & Access adds CITB Site Safety Plus courses

Safety & Access has added CITB Site Safety Plus (SSP) courses to its training portfolio, extending its offer to include site safety and management...

Embrace Building Wraps marks climate milestone with 20,500 trees planted

Embrace Building Wraps has begun 2026 by confirming that it has helped plant more than 20,500 trees as part of a long-running climate commitment...

Scaffolding project manager convicted after temporary bridge collapse

A Finnish court has handed a suspended prison sentence to a scaffolding firm project manager over the collapse of a temporary pedestrian bridge in...

Funeral details confirmed as NASC publishes tribute to Wayne Connolly

The National Access & Scaffolding Confederation has published a detailed obituary for its President and Chair, Wayne Connolly, alongside confirmation of funeral arrangements following...

The real value of competition in scaffolding

Anyone who’s ever worked in a management or sales position in scaffolding will tell you that competitors are always on your mind. Perhaps you...

Engineering excellence in the Alps: Pilosio’s Olympic challenge

When the iconic Zuel ski jump in Cortina d'Ampezzo needed renovation ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, the project demanded more than standard scaffolding...

Layher Allround supports complex heritage restoration at Royal Victoria Country Park

Layher UK has worked in close partnership with Skill Scaffolding on a demanding heritage restoration project at the Abbey in Royal Victoria Country Park,...

GEDA transport system supports renovation of Augsburg landmark

Renovation work is continuing at the Perlachturm in Augsburg, a historic city in the German state of Bavaria, close to the Austrian border. The tower,...

Latest news

ADVERTISEMENT

Magazine

Winter Issue #28 | Past issues >>

Popular

Scaffolding project manager convicted after temporary bridge collapse

A Finnish court has handed a suspended prison sentence...

The story behind Scaffolder’s Day, and how it became an industry fixture

Each year on 14 January, the scaffolding industry marks...

Funeral details confirmed as NASC publishes tribute to Wayne Connolly

The National Access & Scaffolding Confederation has published a...

The real value of competition in scaffolding

Anyone who’s ever worked in a management or sales...

Embrace Building Wraps marks climate milestone with 20,500 trees planted

Embrace Building Wraps has begun 2026 by confirming that...

Related articles

ADVERTISEMENTS

Latest topics

POP UP Products marks 20 years in business

Access equipment manufacturer POP UP Products is marking its...

David Brown returns as President and Chair of NASC and CISRS

Redaction notice An earlier version of this article referred to...

The story behind Scaffolder’s Day, and how it became an industry fixture

Each year on 14 January, the scaffolding industry marks...

Safety & Access adds CITB Site Safety Plus courses

Safety & Access has added CITB Site Safety Plus...
ADVERTISEMENTS