When Jeremy Williams arrived at work Monday, he was wearing one of his favorite pair of blue jeans. When he left for the day, he was wearing "cut-off" jean shorts, thanks to an impromptu tailoring job.
Williams is the information technology director at Salt Lake City-based advertising and public relations firm Richter7, which on Monday implemented a "no pants" policy for all employees through Aug. 21 as a way to cope with the sweltering weather typically experienced during the summer in Utah, said Tim Brown, Richter7 partner and unofficial company morale booster.
"With everyone cooler, creativity seems to be at an all-time high," Brown said in a release. "Admittedly, the men in the office are reluctant because most are shy about displaying their untanned legs, but the women are huge fans of the policy."
Brown told the Deseret News that this is the second straight year the company has instituted the policy, in place because Salt Lake City historically registers its hottest days of the year in July and August.
For the four-week period, all at-work employees, from the top brass down, will be encouraged to wear shorts, skirts, capris, sarongs, kilts — anything but long pants.
Brown said the policy will even include professional meetings with clients. Violators will be fined 25 cents, with all the collected money going toward the purchase of cool treats like ice cream for the office, he said.
In addition, the 40-person agency will provide frozen treats for all employees every time the temperature tops 100 degrees.
As for Williams, he lost his pants, so to speak, because he didn't have any change in his pockets to pay the quarter fine. Instead, he endured a two-bit alteration by a co-worker armed with a pair of scissors.
"I did forget to wear shorts today," he told the Deseret News. "I should have known better.
"I'll probably always have some quarters in my pocket from now on," he said with a laugh.
Despite losing his beloved dungarees, Williams said that he appreciated the company's efforts to boost morale in these difficult times, weather-wise and economically.
"I love the atmosphere here," he said, "and I love how they have fun ideas like this."
e-mail: jlee@desnews.com