If you really want to Welcome someone, why welcome them shoeless !!! It amazes me how human minds can start moving backwards in time when the rest of the world moves forward ! This is a very common sighting at the entrance of a work place. For some reason, footwear is not welcome when you go to work (not everywhere, but typical in many offices). I am not sure if this is a commonly followed practice in many countries too, but I can confidently say that a sign board such as above is very commonly used in offices inside schools, colleges, government offices, private firms etc. However, not something practiced at Corporate firms and larger workplaces, so thats a good thing. But then why this distinction?
Even though I am not in full agreement, to a large extent, I can understand this practice being followed at holy places to observe sanctity, cleanliness etc. In India, its also customary for people to remove their footwear before entering into their homes; again makes logical sense not to bring in dirt, grime and diseases into the house. But the same definitely do not apply to a place where someone works. At work, if there is a dress code, then it includes foot wear too, hence when you go to sit down and work, you must have your footwear on you, along with all of the other pieces of clothing and accessories.
Earlier, I mentioned about backward thinking ! Here’s why.. something that i’ve observed with this practice/”RULE” is that; while its implemented at work places, its not followed in unison ! For example, the Boss of the firm need not remove his/her footwear while entering into the same office where his/her employees are working bare footed. While the employees ensure to remove their shoes before entering, a visitor at the firm may not follow this practice. If there is really no uniformity in such conventional ways, then why follow them in the first place. In these recent years, COVID outbreak taught us a lot of new ways of life and I was personally happy to see some of the changes it bought about in such practices where removal of footwear was taken off even at places of worship. I think people should start living in the new age, where Logic and Reality takes priority over such meaningless customs.
To sum it up… Let me set this straight from my end, in the hopes that a trend gets set for generations to come. I have a small office and I am putting up a board that’ll read: PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE YOUR FOOTWEAR WHILE ENTERING. Folks, give this a thought and lets have best practices rather than pest practices.
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