High heels at work? UK petition calls to end ‘sexist’ dress codes

[rooster59]

High heels at work? UK petition calls to end ‘sexist’ dress codes

By Natalie Huet

Can your employer force you to wear high heels at work? Some are finding the legal ground on the topic is shaky – just like it can be when perched up on stilettos.

Temporary receptionist Nicola Thorp was sent home in London for wearing flat shoes, and she’s since set up a petition calling for Britain to make that illegal.

“Employers are allowed to impose different dress codes for men and women, which is fair enough, as long as that dress code doesn’t favour one of the sexes. Now my point is that by making women wear high heels you are acting favourably towards men, because their footwear doesn’t affect their posture, their ability to move,” she explained.

Thorp made headlines this week describing how she had arrived in flat shoes for her first day to work as a receptionist for accounting company PwC last December, only to be told she had to wear heels. She said she refused an offer to go buy a pair and was sent home without pay.

The petition has attracted more than 120,000 signatures so far. That’s above the threshold needed for parliament to consider holding a debate and review rules Thorp calls “out-dated and sexist.”

“The law in this kind of situation can never cover all eventualities. And as a society we change and evolve over time, so it’s the job of the judges in interpreting that law to ensure that we keep fairly up to date,” said employment lawyer Rebecca Tuck.

Portico, the temping agency through which Thorp got the job, says it has reviewed its uniform guidelines upon PwC’s request and now leaves women the choice between wearing heels or not.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-05-14

[Keesters]

Perhaps men who agree with Ms Thorp could wear high heels to work in support.

Edited May 14, 2016 by Keesters

[expat_4_life]

I call BS, it's government overreach to legislate/dictate dress code - governments should mind their own business.

[bentfarang]

Maybe men can also wear revealing clothes. A skirt above the knee might not be inappropriate for women, but could men go to corporate meetings showing their calves? Bare arms? I say men are being done in.

[Grouse]

women should where short skirts and heels and feel lucky

[ilostmypassword]

I call BS, it's government overreach to legislate/dictate dress code - governments should mind their own business.

Just like it's government overreach to regulate coal dust in coal mines. High heel shoes are bad for women's health. You can look it up.