Heatwaves push office workers from Tokyo to London to swap trousers for shorts

Extreme heat across Asia and Europe is prompting a shift in workplace dress codes, with more men opting for shorts and casual clothing. Tokyo's metropolitan government led the change by expanding its existing 'Cool Biz' campaign, which previously discouraged ties and jackets, to now encourage staff to wear shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers. As heatwaves intensified across Europe, workers in other cities followed suit in adopting lighter attire. In some cases the shift was backed by employers and local authorities, while in others workers made the change independently. The trend reflects growing pressure on traditional office dress norms as rising temperatures make formal clothing increasingly impractical.