Campaigners at the Trades Union Congress conference last week called for current laws to be changed to prohibit companies from forcing women to wear high heels at work.
The campaign comes after a receptionist was sent home for wearing flat shoes to work. She was told that she must wear shoes that have a two to four inch heel to adhere to the company’s dress code. After refusing to do this, she was sent home without pay. She complained that this was discriminatory – her male colleagues were allowed to wear flat shoes, but she had been told to wear heels. Over 150,000 people have now signed a petition she created to modify the law.
As it stands, it is legal for a company to require their female employees to wear high heels as part of their dress code. Campaigners argue that laws regarding dress codes are sexist and should be amended so that women have the option to wear flat formal shoes in the workplace.
One of the delegates at the conference, Penny Robinson, urged the Prime Minister, Theresa May, to swap her heels for sensible flat shoes to promote equality in the workplace. Theresa May is notorious for her extensive footwear collection – leopard print kitten heels, diamanté heeled brogues, red leather patent shoes and so on. Her choice in shoes has even compelled the Daily Telegraph to produce a gallery of her greatest footwear hits!
Will Theresa May be kicking off her heels and opting for some sensible loafers to attend cabinet meetings? Frankly, we think not.
