Flats = problems?

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post this question in, but here it goes:

I work at a sports bar, I'm a server so our dress code is basically a sports jersey (usually football, basketball, hockey or soccer), black shorts or pants, and close toed shoes.

Now, most of us, (myself included) wear shorts and flats because anything else just gets way too hot running around for hours.

But the problem being on your feet in flats for 6-10 hours at a time is that they KILL after a while!

So I'm wondering, is this okay? Or is excessive wearing flats and being basically 'bare foot' for hours at a time bad for you? I mean there are many cultures who don't even wear shoes and they're okay, right?

I don't want any problems to arise so I do plan to invest in some more supportive 'flat' shoes

I don't know a whole lot about whether or not it's bad for you.. but my sister works at a shoe store and they sell little gel arch inserts that you can wear inside of shoes that give a little bit of an arch and more support. Maybe that is something you might want to investigate.

And hey.. wearing flats is probably better than heels!

Ugh, any way you slice it, restaurant work is hard on your feet. I still have weird callouses on my feet from my time as a server. However, I'd be more worried about the soles - at every restaurant where I worked, we had to have non-slip soles. I fell more than once even in those, and I watched a guy give himself a concussion slipping back in the kitchen.

I'd recommend getting something comfortable with good soles, even if your feet are a little hot - and every now and then, get your legs massaged!

I would think no matter what shoe you are wearing your feet are going to hurt from standing and walking for that long.

If your flats really mimic "barefoot", then that's a good thing. Helps to strengthen all the muscles of the foot and lower leg.

Besides, what do most people do after a long day on their feet? Take off their shoes!

I can't offer an opinion on restaurant work specifically, but from personal experience I'd like to suggest looking specifically for good arch support, insole cushioning and a wide toe box.  If you're on your feet in bad shoes for long enough, especially if you're overweight, you could end up with falling/fallen arches, plantar fasciitis (basically the tendons in your foot/heel become swollen or ripped), and bunions, among many other possible problems.

Our feet are so important! Definitely do your best to treat yours right.

definetly do as much as you can as far as support goes

I made the mistake of running with crappy running shoes, and ended up with morton's neuroma and lateral column stress. could hardly walk for mooonths. ended up seeing a specialist and having to spend $400 on orthodics.

as for flats vs heels. i think flats are better. my pediatrist flat out told me "heels were invented by kinky old german men and were never meant as proper foot-wear".

as long as you get some really good insoles, you should be ok. just be sure that if you feel any serious pain other than regular sore feet, go to the dr. 
believe me, wearing pretty shoes vs practical is definetly not worth the consequences.