21st September
2016: Can women be legally required to wear high heels in the workplace?
It is
easy to see why companies enforce uniforms, right? It is important for all
staff, especially those representing the brand to the public, to look smart and
presentable. But how far can business’ go to ensure that their work force meet
their standard of ‘smart’?
Earlier this year, Nicola Thorp was sent home, without
pay, after she refused to tolerate her employer, PwC's dress code: that she had to wear shoes with a 2 inch to 4 inch heel. When Ms Thorp asked if a man would be expected to do the same shift in
heels, she said that was laughed at.
Outraged, Thorp set up an
online petition, which already has collected over 150,000 signatures. The issue
will be debated in parliament early next year, in the mean time, the Government Equalities Office
released a statement saying “[We are] taking action to remove the barriers to
equality for women at work, which is why we are tackling the gender pay gap… Employers
are entitled to set dress codes for their workforce but the law is clear that
these dress codes must be reasonable. That includes any differences between the
nature of rules for male and female employees.”
Sadly, Thorp isn’t alone in
suffering this kind of discrimination in the workplace, Melissa
Sadler also
shared her experiences on an online forum. “My job requires me to wear heels.
As a result, my feet often bleed and physically hurt... I understand that heels
look smart, but so can smart flat shoes”.
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| Image credit: http://astroplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/desk.jpg |
Nadia
Khomami. (2016). Receptionist 'sent home from PwC for not wearing high
heels. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/11/receptionist-sent-home-pwc-not-wearing-high-heels-pwc-nicola-thorp
. Last accessed 20.09.16.
Hagan,
Sofie and Deborah Frances-White (2016). "The Guilty Feminist". 20.
Shoes with Jessica Fostekew [Podcast]. Available: http://guiltyfeminist.com/20-shoes-with-jessica-fostekew. Last
accessed 20.09.16.
Unknown. (2016). London receptionist 'sent home
for not wearing heels'. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-36264229.
Last accessed 22.09.16.
Unknown. (2016). Make it illegal for a company
to require women to wear high heels at work. Available:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/129823. Last accessed 22.09.16.
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