Sock it to the shoes: why more offices are going footwear-free

British companies are trialling no-shoes policies as a way to improve focus, comfort and morale - but not everyone is convinced

Slippers, socks and the occasional novelty toe warmer are fast becoming part of the office dress code for startups hoping to ease stress and boost creativity.

It might sound like a gimmick conjured up during a yoga retreat, but asking staff to leave their shoes at the door taps into something more serious: how to make the workplace feel a little less like work.