People are only just finding out reason Royal Mail workers wear shorts all year round

With the weather extremely cold across the UK, you’re probably wondering why posties still wear shorts even when it’s winter. But there’s a very clever reason why…

It might be freezing cold across the UK right now, but that hasn’t stopped our Royal Mail workers from wearing shorts. In fact, whether it’s hot or cold weather, there’s a clever reason their uniform remains the same all year round.

Thanks to a post on Reddit, someone asked whether it was a rule or “silly” tradition passed down over the years. It turns out the purpose is quite simple – and smart. The post read: “Postmen/woman of the UK, why do you wear shorts all year round?” While another post also asked the same exact question. So what is the reason?

Fortunately, the questions prompted Royal Mail workers to get involved to reveal it’s a mix between getting hot on the job and a simple bet.

One claimed: “It really is just because it gets hot doing the job. One round I wear trousers just because of the wind but it’s that particular village happens to be the highest point of the town and is a massive wind tunnel. All other rounds I’m in shorts pretty much all year.”

A second in the industry added: “The depot had a running bet where everyone paid £1 a week into a pot, with the winner got to give the entire fund to a charity of their choice.

“The competition was to see who could go furthest into the winter in shorts. As the snow kicked in during January it was down to two die hards. Eventually as spring kicked in it was deemed a tie, the pot was split between the two, raising several hundred each.

“At the end of the competition a supervisor also added to the pot out of his own pocket and both got a free cooked breakfast from the work’s canteen for a week in recognition of their efforts!”

Someone else admitted: “Skin is waterproof. Walking all day is hot work.”

In another post, another user claimed: “Skin dries faster than trousers when it rains, they get in and out the van a lot and at my father-in-law’s post office depot, anyone that doesn’t show up in shorts has to put a quid in the jar.”

Meanwhile one Reddit user penned: “Same reason footballers are still wearing shorts playing in freezing rain. Once you’re burning a certain number of calories you don’t feel the weather at all.”

Speaking about posties, this person said: “Seen a few today in shorts. I admire their stealth.”

However, it is thought in severe conditions some delivery workers admit to wearing waterproof trousers. So next time you see your postie wandering around in shorts when it’s freezing, just know it’s been a busy day for them!