A bizarre workplace dress code allegedly operating behind the scenes at The Howard Stern Show is raising eyebrows. Female staff at the SiriusXM New York City offices are reportedly banned from wearing sneakers, while their male colleagues can apparently turn up in whatever footwear they like.
One insider claimed the rule is still in place, even if it is not always strictly enforced. Some women reportedly keep a spare pair of 'work shoes' nearby in case certain executives are expected in the office. The alleged policy has now prompted questions about whether it is simply an old-fashioned dress code or a gender-based double standard.
Alleged Sneaker Ban Targets Women, But Not Men
'There is this rule that it doesn't matter what kind of footwear men wore, but the women are not allowed to wear sneakers at work,' one insider told The US Sun.
The source claimed some female employees still keep non-sneaker shoes handy, just in case senior executives make an appearance. In other words, sneakers might be fine until the wrong person walks through the door.
The insider also suggested the rule should have disappeared after the pandemic, when more relaxed dress codes became the norm both at home and in the office.
'Times have changed,' they said, while questioning why men and women would have different footwear expectations in the first place.
Howard Stern Show’s ‘insane’ women-only dress code rule revealed: report https://t.co/Ks31RceZEP pic.twitter.com/TWFV7pgCbp
— New York Post (@nypost) August 12, 2026
Stern's Long History of Strict Dress Codes
The alleged sneaker rule may sound unusual, but it reportedly fits into a much longer history of Stern taking an interest in how his staff look at work.
The 2013 'Pelican Brief' presentation remains a memorable moment for fans of the show. During the presentation, Stern criticised the appearance of members of his team, arguing that some staff looked unprofessional and needed to smarten up. He also addressed visible branding, saying that logos were not permitted unless they were connected to The Howard Stern Show.
That presentation offered a revealing look at Stern's strict expectations for how his staff should present themselves at work.
And it seems the clothing rules did not disappear during the pandemic. One insider claimed staff were discouraged from wearing sweatshirts or hats during Zoom meetings. They also said the no-logo rule applied to everyone working on the show, not just those who appeared on camera.
Double Standard or Sexism? Here's the Difference
So, is this a double standard or sexism? The distinction matters.
A double standard is when two groups are subject to different rules or expectations in essentially the same situation. If male employees really can wear sneakers while female employees cannot, that would meet the basic definition of a gender-based double standard.
Sexism goes further. The term generally refers to prejudice, discrimination or stereotyping based on sex or gender. A workplace rule could therefore be described as sexist if the different treatment is rooted in gender-based prejudice or reinforces gender inequality.
That does not automatically mean every different rule for men and women is unlawful discrimination. Whether a workplace policy breaches employment law would depend on factors including how the rule is written, why it exists, how consistently it is enforced and the laws that apply.
But for now, the available reports establish an allegation and not a definitive finding about the show's workplace practices.
