“Barefoot and Bonkers? Why I’m Not Buying the Shoeless Office Trend”

By Erika Willitzer, Founder of Small Town Wow

Let me set the scene: You walk into a high-tech startup in Silicon Valley, expecting sleek desks, buzzing minds, and maybe a kombucha tap. Instead, you’re greeted by a sea of bare feet and fuzzy slippers. No, this isn’t a pajama party or a quirky spa retreat—it’s the latest workplace trend sweeping America’s startup culture. And I’m here to say: No thank you.

The Rise of the Shoeless Office

According to recent reports, companies like Cursor (an AI coding firm valued at nearly $10 billion), Speak (an OpenAI-supported language startup), Whop (a Gen-Z digital goods marketplace), and even Substack have embraced a “no-shoes” policy.

Employees walk around in socks, slippers, or nothing at all. Some offices even offer shoe covers for visitors to keep the floors pristine.

Ben Lang, a Cursor employee, proudly declared on X (formerly Twitter) that he’s “only worked at startups that have a no-shoes in office policy.” His post went viral, sparking everything from admiration to allergy-induced sneezing emojis.

The Argument for Comfort and Creativity

Supporters claim this trend fosters comfort, informality, and even creativity. Anita Williams Woolley, a professor at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business, suggests that relaxed environments can reduce anxiety and help build meaningful workplace relationships. In a world where burnout and stress are rampant, some leaders see shoelessness as a quirky but effective way to boost morale.

Gen-Z workers, shaped by remote work and pandemic-era flexibility, seem especially drawn to these culture-driven perks. For them, ditching the dress code is a symbol of freedom, authenticity, and innovation.

But Here’s Where I Draw the Line

Let me be clear: I’m all for creative workplaces. I’ve built a career helping small-town businesses embrace bold ideas and emotional intelligence. But walking around barefoot at work? That’s not culture—it’s chaos.

To me, this trend feels like the professional equivalent of wearing pajamas to the grocery store. Sure, it’s comfortable. But it also screams, “I’ve given up.” There’s a difference between relaxed and sloppy, and I worry that this fad blurs that line.

Workplace culture should inspire pride, not confusion. When we start treating the office like a living room, we risk eroding the boundaries that help us show up with purpose and professionalism. And let’s not even get started on hygiene.