Stupid question: topless on work trip

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Hello, I know this is really silly not to know the answer and I am not sure if this is the right forum to post but it seems the busiest.

I work in sales and have recently moved job to an amazing company who do lovely trips each Summer for the sales team. This year we are going to Greece for a week and it will include some sailing, beaches, and socialising, as well as the usual training.

Is going topless on work trips acceptable, particularly on the sailing days?

I would never normally even think twice, I always go topless and in fact don't own a bikini top, just swimsuits and bikini bottoms. I have 32G boobs and bikinis just look awful in any of the normal bikinis a 28 year old would wear. I end up with a massive zepplin like clegave and they look like comedy breasts. I look much better topless and it is far far more comfortable. If I didn't go topless I would have to wear a swimsuit which is OK I guess but not really 'me'.

My husband has got a bit bored of me talking about this. He more or less doesn't care but knows what these trips can be like. He is a surgeon and I am a drug rep so has been on a couple of conferences and seen some of the socialising. Obvsiously, that is long way beind me and we trust each other totally.

I also wonder if 28 is too old to be going topless anyway and I should grow up a bit.

The people I work with are more or less all 27 - 35 and it will be a 50 50 mix of male and female. Some of my girlfriends at work will go topless and some wouldn't entertain the idea.

Help plesae?

Thanks

AM

P.S. Me and my hubby do post here and follow but on his username but I wanted to keep this bit secret from the couple of friends who know us.

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Personally, I wouldn't go topless on a work trip, regardless of age or mix of genders. I think there is a time and a place for topless sunbathing and I'm not sure a work trip is it.

Even if you may feel comfortable and happy with baring all, your colleagues may be uncomfortable, which could make for some really awkward situations.

I think it's important to let your hair down and have a great time but remain professional.

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Good thoughts. I am not sure my immediate colleagues would be uncomfortable, it is a fairly 'banterish' group with lots of jokey sexy talk and we chat about my boobs (and the other girls') at work a lot.

But other people in the company who I haven't met yet is a really good point.

It is funny you say about remaining professional. I think the topless sunbathing thing is easy to do with a sensible air but the fully clothed socialising in the sun and drinking to late has far more potential to be unprofessional. I am more than happy going to bed early to avoid that and more importantly need my sleep!

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Lovehoney - Rebecca wrote:

Personally, I wouldn't go topless on a work trip, regardless of age or mix of genders. I think there is a time and a place for topless sunbathing and I'm not sure a work trip is it.

Even if you may feel comfortable and happy with baring all, your colleagues may be uncomfortable, which could make for some really awkward situations.

I think it's important to let your hair down and have a great time but remain professional.

+1. I agree completely with this. I personally wouldn’t do it either for these reasons!

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Lovehoney - Rebecca wrote:

Personally, I wouldn't go topless on a work trip, regardless of age or mix of genders. I think there is a time and a place for topless sunbathing and I'm not sure a work trip is it.

Even if you may feel comfortable and happy with baring all, your colleagues may be uncomfortable, which could make for some really awkward situations.

I think it's important to let your hair down and have a great time but remain professional.

+1 I feel the same. I don't have any problems stripping off for sunbathing in my own garden and I would even entertain the the idea of going to a naturist beach but personally I don't think a works trip is the right situation for the reasons stated above.

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First of all it isnt a stupid question . Perhaps in the wrong section of the forum but certainly not stupid .

I think it is important here to keep business and pleasure seperate. This despite the more exotic location ( well compared to some of the business trips I have been on like sunny Blackpool Lol ) is a business trip and therefore business ettiquette needs to be obeserved.Where I differ a little here is perhaps you need to observe your colleauges and just test the water . If for example they start peeling off and leave you being the odd one out then that perhaps then should give you the green light for joning in. I would be tempted to go for something like a tankini top to be worn over a bikini . This would be easier to "dress down" than a swim suit should the aforementioned situtation occur .

You comments about socialising until late is spot on. I was tasked to defend a guy when I jointly worked for the union for "unprofessional behaviour" . I luckily saved his job but had to compromise on getting a transfer away from his current branch of a bank.

But thats my view is to obeserve the others and act accordingly.

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Yes, I agree with all of that. Not that I would ever even consider getting up to anything, there is far more risk at 2AM in a gorgeous bar on a terrace by a beach, than there is when I am topless on a boat.

My friends are all saying to each other 'if you do I will'. Well not all but the ones considering going topless.

Urgh I hate tankinis!

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I agree with mysteron I would see what everybody else does first before deciding. You don't want to end up the odd one out who's not topless. Have you checked out bravisamo for a bikini they have some nice designs you won't fall out of with the bigger boobs. I'm a GG and feel very confident in my bikini from them.

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abi_mo wrote:

Yes, I agree with all of that. Not that I would ever even consider getting up to anything, there is far more risk at 2AM in a gorgeous bar on a terrace by a beach, than there is when I am topless on a boat.

My friends are all saying to each other 'if you do I will'. Well not all but the ones considering going topless.

Urgh I hate tankinis!

It's not really about risk in my opinion. Taking sex/opportunity for sex out of the equation, colleagues getting drunk together definitely opens up opportunity for 'misbehaviour' but drinking is more socially accepted than being topless in the company of colleagues.

The reality is that we live in a society where drinking is accepted/expected but being nude and open about sex is not so much. Whether it should be is another conversation entirely but I think it's important to consider the ideals we live with, and there is a possibility for someone to be offended or feel uncomfortable in the presence of a topless colleague. I would feel a little bit uneasy myself, and I am by no means a prude (as you can imagine with working at Lovehoney!)

I would echo the advice to see how the situation plays out and if the opportunity arises and everyone in your company is comfortable with the idea, go for it!

Hope you have a lush trip - sounds perfect, especially after the sunshine we have had here this past weekend!

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I've been on work trips like this (sales rewards) - and the company featured an awful lot of sexy women from eastern europe. We all took our significiant others along, I can assure you that topless bathing did not happen and would have been highly inappropriate because of the work setting.

Would have loved to have seen it though - it was a joy to see the pretty young women in their bikinis anyway.

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I agree with Rebecca, work trips are great for bonding and getting to known eachother outside of the office. But it’s also a professional atmosphere and you still need to consider this.

Topless bathing is pretty much the norm on most beaches and on holiday especially when it comes to comfort etc, but when your away the people aground you are usually strangers who you may never bump into again. The people on the work trips will see you every workday till you leave. Also if you are considering any promotions etc you have to be careful as bosses and managers will talk and getting topless May spark the wrong impression with some people.

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Adding to what I have previously said. The key thing here is not to be the odd one out and observe especially say the more senior management .I must also stress here that a colleagure should not also be pressured into doing something like going topless if they are not comfortable with it. That is just to balance things up and should apply to all genders even though I know it doesnt apply to here yourself as you are comfortable with it .

I found your comments on tankinis quite amusing and agree. I was just using that as an example of a clothing arrangement that you could dress down in . A swimsuit rolled down just looks clumsy IMO and its obvious a swimsuit doesnt appeal to yourself either. But the idea was just to go prepared .So I am sure you can trhink of a better clothing arrangement for the beach /boat trip.

And yes I am jealous ! Enjoy yourself

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Lovehoney - Rebecca wrote:

Personally, I wouldn't go topless on a work trip, regardless of age or mix of genders. I think there is a time and a place for topless sunbathing and I'm not sure a work trip is it.

Even if you may feel comfortable and happy with baring all, your colleagues may be uncomfortable, which could make for some really awkward situations.

I think it's important to let your hair down and have a great time but remain professional.

Another +1 to this. I think it's essential to remain professional on work trips. I'm a bit of a crazeball but certainly wouldn't dream of getting the ladies out on a work trip!
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Thank you so much everyone.

Just to clarify a couple of things...

This isn't a massive company conference. It is a holiday and described as such. There are 12 people from my team going, 7 girls, 5 guys, all under 35. We will be joined by about the same number from around the EU and we have just looked through the list, it will be 8 more girls and 5 more guys, again all under 35. I have never been on a company holiday like this before but have been on lots of corporate conferences in the sun and agree totally about topless being inappropraite there. No customers will be there.

Also, this isn't a euphanism for a bit of holiday sex. I know no one is suggesting it but I certainly woudln't get involved with anything like that at work even though my husband would arguably give me a weekend pass if I asked. Not positive. But he did years ago for a girlie weekend with two single friends.

So, talking to the girls here there are three of us who want to, all because we normally do it and would love a bit of colour for the summer. I can't wait to get into a backless summer dress I just bought.

One of us also pointed out that it won't be like when we were 21 and going to Ibiza. We won't be stood up chatting in beach bars topless, it be in little groups on the beach possibly miles away from the guys or on a deck on the boat, again, probably in just a group of girls. I agree though that they will be on show getting in and out of water and walking around the boat for drinks and so on.

We also said that the guys we work with are nice and there aren't any we wouldn't feel comfortable seeing us topless. The only person we weren't keen on seeing us was our old dragon of a boss and she isn't going.

Having said all that, I have just ordered a backless sunsuit rather than a proper swimsuit, it isn;'t really me, but does have straps which are easy to pop down but also enough at the front to cover my boobs but still give a clevage tan.

I can't bring myself to buy a bikini top and will just bring bikini bottoms and see how things go.

I also, if I am honest, am not sure if I am too old for all of this and should just put them away. But I have never been in the sun and not let the girls out to play!

Thanks for all the advice. Keep the thoughts coming, not made my mind up totally and going on Saturday.

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Enjoy yourself . Dont worry about the age thing . Age is just a number . Its how you feel that counts. I am 55 and fitter than I was in my 20s .

I honestly dont think there is going to be a problem here . All I would say is dont be the first to peel off but just wait for some of the others in particular the most senior ranking person amongst your group .It sounds like you may have to find somewhere to change if changing into your bikin bottoms .

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Just a final thing to think about and I aint being a killjoy here. Just think about pictures and whos taking them and where they will end up . Pictures like these you dont want ciculating about the workplace #Awkward . Unless of course you are comfortable about this.

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Yeah. Would not want pictures at all.

To be honest, I have more or less decided that I will sunbathe topless but go in my sunsuit and shorts on the first day. I won't offer an oppotunity for photos and if I am standing up I will put something on.

I can't wait, I am really looking forward to it. Best of all no need for driving/taxis etc as everything arranged so I can relax every single day.

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Yeah i'd not be ok with a colleague doing this, nor would i be ok with my partner going aeay and it being his colleague going topless, as the guys in particular, will probably look.

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Don't worry, I won't if I am the only one doing it. Of course guys look, so what!

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Why don't you get a swim suit and take it with you. See what the other girls are doing and go with the flow. You can always take it back when you get home

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