Restaurant chain Hooters has been forced to amend their new uniform policy following an outcry from employees, who say the new shorts are so skimpy they are essentially just underwear.
Several Hooters employees posted videos to TikTok decrying the new shorts, which when combined with the tight tops Hooters requires, make the women's uniforms look essentially like leotards.
Many of the TikToks have gone viral, prompting the company to issue an updated policy.
See one of the TikToks below.
@theflathootersgirl Visit TikTok to discover videos!
The new uniform was rolled out by Hooters first in Texas and then several other states in recent months, and immediately drew criticism from many employees, who compared the visibly shorter and higher-rising shorts to underwear.
One TikToker captioned her video, "soooo hooters got new panties. i mean shorts."
@lexiusxoxo soooo hooters got new panties. i mean shorts. #fyp #boyaintnowayboy #hooterstiktok #hoot #fypシ #hooters
Another wrote, "love my job but don't love wearing undies to work."
@sick.abt.it love my job but dont love wearing undies to work ☠️ #hootersgirl @Kirsten :)
Hooters initially defended the shorts, saying both customers and employees love them.
"These uniforms have been worn for months in several Texas markets and have received overwhelmingly favorable reviews from both Hooters Girls and customers."
But the various employees' TikToks, of course, tell a different story. One employee claimed in a video that the new shorts "made half the Hooters girls want to quit," and says she was soon contacted by the company's CEO to discuss the matter, who told her she can wear her old shorts if she prefers.
Over the weekend, the company made that policy universal, walking back their uniform policy and allowing employees to choose between the two styles and "determine which style of shorts best fits their body style and personal image."
On social media, the issue proved divisive. Many supported the servers, but others didn't understand the controversy given that a skimpy outfit is part of the job at Hooters.
Odds are when they applied, they weren\u2019t aware that there would be a uniform change that went from short shorts to the equivalent of wearing underwear— ashley misses the tour vibes \ud83e\udd7a (@ashley misses the tour vibes \ud83e\udd7a) 1634336669
I thought boobs were the point of emphasis at Hooters. Lol— Ira Motley (@Ira Motley) 1634335499
First off, Hooters is a synonym for boobs, not butts, if you're gonna slut it up, cleavage is way more comfortable to deal with for 8 hours and much more visually appealing.\nSecond, when these girls signed up, they signed for booty shorts not a thong. Big difference in comfort.— Kel\u00e4ri\u00e9l Grey (@Kel\u00e4ri\u00e9l Grey) 1634344300
Omg if I worked there I\u2019d just wear like a pad with the flaps on them each shift so everyone could see! Oh yup uniform is two short that\u2019s why u can see my pad!— beth jewel\ud83e\ude9e (@beth jewel\ud83e\ude9e) 1634341356
Because:\n\n"In the uniform policy update, Hooters also warned that waitresses and bartenders who feel \u201cuncomfortable\u201d about the tiny new trunks mandate are welcome to put in their letters of resignation."\n\nIt's not just criticism of the sluttiness, it's about the coercion element.— Serenity (@Serenity) 1634325268
New standard issue Hooters uniform:pic.twitter.com/XnEeYVjiXi— \ud835\udd6e\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01 \ud835\udd6f\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf8\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddee (@\ud835\udd6e\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01 \ud835\udd6f\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf8\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddee) 1634334364
Yeah, it\u2019s too short. There needs to be a limit. She\u2019s okay with it, but I\u2019d totally understand if others felt uncomfortable.\n\nThere\u2019s a difference between wearing shorts and underwear to work. If you want undies as a customer, go to a strip club.pic.twitter.com/ZT2Fh12lnx— Pink Starburst \ud83d\udc98 (@Pink Starburst \ud83d\udc98) 1634340469
And several women clapped back at men who were downright angry about the Hooters employees' complaints.
Certain Men on twitter: IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO FORCE ME to take the vaccine for work! \n\nSame Men: Why you girls complaining about new Hooters uniform, don\u2019t like it quit! \n\nWhat a freaking timeline we live in.— Nelini Stamp \ud83d\udc3a\ud83d\udc1c (@Nelini Stamp \ud83d\udc3a\ud83d\udc1c) 1634384900
The Venn Diagram of men who are saying that the women at Hooter's can simply quit if they don't like the new uniform and men who express outrage about vaccine "mandates" even though they can simply quit the job that requires it is a circle.— \ud83d\udda4Katie\ud83d\udda4 (@\ud83d\udda4Katie\ud83d\udda4) 1634347238
Take my advice and dont click to see why Hooters is trending. Servers arent happy that the new uniforms are even more skimpy and the whole feed is just a bunch of men calling them sluts and saying they cant complain because they work at Hooters.pic.twitter.com/IZ2kFRaiiH— Seana Lyn (@Seana Lyn) 1634338523
Hooters has since said it will work harder in the future to give employees more opportunities for "providing input at every stage including future clothing items and accessories."
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