‘Tie Optional To Thigh Optional’: Harsh Goenka’s Viral Post On Japan’s ‘Shorts At Work’ Culture Sparks Debate

A humorous LinkedIn post by Industrialist Harsh Goenka has ignited a conversation on workplace fashion after sharing a light-hearted post about Japan’s reported move to encourage men to wear shorts to the office during soaring summer temperatures.

Sharing the update on LinkedIn, Goenka wrote, “With temperatures soaring, Tokyo is encouraging men to wear shorts to work. A few women have complained of ‘sunehara’ referring to the discomfort of being forced to see their colleague’s leg hair.

Japan has gone from ‘tie optional’ to ‘thigh optional.’ 😄 Should India also encourage shorts to work? Mind you, Indian legs are more hairy than the Japanese! Or should we allow lungi or dhoti?”

His tongue-in-cheek remark, “Japan has gone from ‘tie optional’ to ‘thigh

optional.’ 😄” became the standout line of the post and quickly caught the attention of social media users, many of whom joined the conversation with witty takes and practical suggestions.

One user found the post both amusing and reflective, writing, “This is equal parts hilarious and thought-provoking! Honestly, a little basic discipline goes a long way for both professionalism and personal sanity.

Otherwise, if it’s weather today, it’ll be religion tomorrow, and individual choices next. Before you know it, someone shows up in a Batman costume and the office floor looks like a comic convention. Just imagine the daily stress: ‘Wait, where’s Ramesh today? Oh, he’s in the Batcave.’ 😃”

Another commenter suggested that India should consider alternatives better suited to its climate, saying, “😄 ‘Tie optional’ to ‘thigh optional’ is quite the evolution! Maybe India’s answer isn’t shorts, but breathable, climate-appropriate business attire that keeps everyone comfortable without compromising professionalism.”

Echoing a more balanced perspective, a third user wrote, “A light-hearted post, but it does raise an interesting question. As workplaces evolve, perhaps the guiding principle should be balancing personal comfort with consideration for others, rather than a single dress code for everyone, every day.”

The humour continued in the comments section, with one person joking, “Shorts? Sure. But given our average leg-hair density, hair removal cream might become part of the employee welcome kit. 😄”

Others focused on practicality rather than comedy. One user pointed out that workplace flexibility often depends on the nature of the job, writing, “Comfortable clothing should be allowed as along as decorum and discipline is maintained. In that regard, most IT offices are already there. And manufacturing sector cannot afford it because of safety issue.”

Another highlighted the challenges of dressing formally in extreme weather, commenting, “In 45°C, even the tie starts questioning its career choices! 😄 Comfort and professionalism don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”

Some even challenged Goenka to lead the change himself. “Harsh Goenka you may take a lead in India and set an example. Dhoti, lungi may be choice depending on region😊” one user remarked.