Women’s and men’s work shoes complete an outfit that is meant to impress bosses and co-workers: this is why work shoes should be chosen with the same amount of care as with office wardrobes. Office workers have many options for work shoes to choose from. Depending on the office policy, women can wear anything from sandals to sling backs and pumps, while loafers or saddle shoes will work for best men.

Who wears work shoes

Office workers, coal miners, firefighters, and virtually any other type of worker whose work involves danger and hazards require the safety provided by work shoes. The regular work shoes often have waterproof uppers to protect the feet from moisture and stains. Specialized work shoes for various occupations have steel toes (i.e. for construction workers) that prevent the toes from nasty bumps, rubber soles (i.e. for electrical workers) for prevention of nasty electrical shocks, and rubberized work shoes for fishermen that may reach as high as the waist to protect the feet and the whole lower body from moisture. Steel workers also have specialized shoes that protect their feet from molten metal and other hazards. Medical workers, on the other hand, typically wear ultra-light work shoes with solid insole support for long periods of standing. These work shoes are often made of washable plastic polymers. Those who work in offices and banks often wear dress shoes. Most offices require closed dress shoes, as open-toed dress shoes may not give the right support and may look unprofessional.

How to care for your work shoes

You can care for your work shoes the same way you do with your other shoes. For dress shoes made of leather and suede, you typically need to apply water-resistant solutions before cleaning them. There are also special cleaning solutions made for rubber, suede, leather, and other types of shoe materials that you can get from your local shoe or department store. It is important that you do not clean your shoes with detergent or any other cleaning agent because it may ruin the shoes’ finish.

Store leather shoes away from damp or very high temperatures to avoid molds, unpleasant smells, or cracks. Leather can become brittle when exposed to sunlight for long periods. The same is true for rubber. Regular use of rubber shoes is a must. If you keep rubber shoes in storage for long periods of time, the soles tend to harden and crack, making the user prone to accidental slips and falls.